Ravinia® is both North America’s longest-running not-for-profit music festival and its most artistically diverse. Over 100 different events by a mix of classical, rock, pop, jazz, R&B, indie, and country performers make up a typical summer season on our two open-air and two indoor stages. Each year the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is featured in six weeks of concerts, many with Chief Conductor Marin Alsop. During the same summer months, the Ravinia Steans Music Institute provides young professional classical and jazz musicians with career-advancing training and concert settings.

Offstage and year-round, Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play education programs engage 85,000 children and adults—in schools with little to no music curriculum, in our Chicagoland communities, and at our 36-acre park—in our mission to make music equitably accessible to all.

Ravinia embraces diversity in all forms and is committed to providing an equitable and inclusive environment for all staff, musicians, guest artists, audiences, and community members. Ravinia is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We encourage individuals of all identities and abilities to apply.

Ravinia is seeking a team of Production Assistants to assist in the coordination of all non-technical backstage operations for the 2024 summer season. These positions are highly coveted and past employees have gone on to obtain full-time employment within major arts organizations across the country.

Dates of Employment

Late May through Mid-September 2024 (with some flexibility).

General Responsibilities

Assistants will help perform the daily operations of the Production Department, this includes, but is not limited to; artist transportation, hospitality shopping, setting dressing rooms, restocking inventory, and general office work. 

Additional Notes

In addition to the general responsibilities, these positions integrate areas of production management including: arts administration, music business, technical coordination, and event coordination. Candidates with any of these backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Stage elements are handled by a union crew. There are no technical/on-stage aspects to this position.

Compensation

$16.50 per hour. Thirty to forty hours per week with opportunities for overtime and overtime pay.  Free attendance at some concerts.  Some meals provided.  Monthly cell phone stipend. Internship credit is available. 

Ability to work well as part of a team and independently.  Strong communication, organizational and problem-solving skills.  Attention to detail.  Acceptable driving record**. Comfortable driving Ravinia’s fleet vehicles.  Consistent source of transportation at any time of day or night and a reliable cell phone.  Ability to work outside of normal business hours (position requires extensive evening and weekend hours, some seven-day work weeks). 

**Driving Record Requirements to Operate Ravinia Fleet Vehicles

• Drivers must be age 19+
• Record must be free of any violation for speeding in excess of 19 mph over the speed limit within the last 3 years
• Record must be free of multiple speeding violations (of any severity) within the last 3 years
• Record must be free of any at-fault accident violations within the last 5 years

Ravinia reserves the right to extend requirements beyond those noted above.

Applicants Must Attach:

• a cover letter
• resume

All hiring is contingent upon receipt of an approved background and driving record check. Ravinia employees are required to sign an employment agreement and a confidentiality agreement. 

Application Deadline:   April 30, 2024