Music Director, Folkestra

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Part time

Job summary

A music and arts center in Gateshead is seeking a Music Director for Folkestra, the youth folk ensemble. The role involves directing rehearsals, nurturing young musicians, and fostering an inclusive environment. The ideal candidate has advanced folk music skills, excellent communication abilities, and a passion for inspiring youth through music. This freelance position offers £60 per hour, and requires flexibility in working hours.

Qualifications

• Self-motivated and adaptable to a changing environment.
• Experience with directing youth ensembles aged 13-19.
• Comfortable teaching by ear as well as creating resources.

Responsibilities

• Plan and direct Folkestra rehearsals and performances.
• Support the musical development of Folkestra players.
• Work closely with peers to connect with other artistic programs.

Skills

Playing folk music to an advanced, professional standard

Excellent communication skills

Inclusive music practice

Ability to share passion for music and inspire students

Directing and rehearsal technique at a high level

Job description

Deadline for applications: 12pm, 6th November 2025

Reports to: Senior Producer, Creative Learning

Location: The Glasshouse International Centre for Music

Working hours: 7-8 Sundays per term, 3-6pm, plus concert days, as required, and 3‑day residential in April

Salary: Freelance, £60 p/h

About The Glasshouse International Centre For Music

We’re a place where you can hear rock legends or pop icons on the same night as folk trios or opera singers. Where new musicians are nurtured and showcased on the same stages as platinum‑selling performers. And where youth choirs and tambourine‑shaking toddlers practice in the same spaces as our acclaimed orchestra Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Whether you’re front of house, waiting in the wings or keeping things running behind the scenes you will be part of a team that means 2 million people enjoy top‑notch gigs, concerts and classes in our own venue at Gateshead Quays, out in communities across the North‑east and through live‑streamed performances and digital lessons.

Folkestra

Make Music: Young People would like to engage an inspirational, energetic, and dynamic musician with a deep knowledge of folk music repertoire and styles as Music Director for Folkestra. Folkestra, the youth folk ensemble of The Glasshouse, is an auditioned ensemble for young people aged 13 to 19. Originally founded by North East folk legend Kathryn Tickell, the group was established to provide the North’s young folk musicians a space to develop, rehearse, and perform challenging folk arrangements together to high standards, and to learn and develop as folk musicians.

The Music Director for Folkestra is a significant music leadership role. The person appointed will excel at nurturing and developing the creativity, musical potential and performance skills of the players. In addition to striving for high quality performances, Folkestra focuses on connections to educational and community folk networks, as well as with the folk training ensemble, Reely Folk. They form a central part of The Glasshouse’s commitment to inclusion, and are committed to providing pathways both into Folkestra, and onwards to becoming a professional musician.

About You

Are you self‑motivated, happy working in a team environment and flexible enough to adapt to a changing environment? If this sounds like you, read on to find out how you can hit the ground running.

Experience

• Playing folk music to an advanced, professional standard
• Performing at a professional level
• Ability to share passion for music and inspire students
• Folk programming, including arranging music for flexible ensembles
• Being comfortable teaching by ear as well as creating suitable hand‑outs and resources to support the learning of folk tunes
• Teaching creative music‑making skills through a variety of approaches within a group setting of varied abilities and diverse knowledge base
• Directing and rehearsal technique at a high level
• Being adaptable with students of different ages, levels of knowledge, and learning styles
• Motivating young people in an ensemble context
• Using initiative and being resourceful and efficient
• Excellent communication skills, both with young people and with colleagues
• An inclusive approach to working with young people
• Working with and directing youth ensembles with young people aged 13‑19

Skills And Knowledge

• Excellent communication skills, both with young people and with colleagues
• Inclusive music practice
• Safeguarding in education contexts

Main Duties And Responsibilities

General

• Plan for and direct Folkestra rehearsals, sectionals and residentials, and lead Folkestra performances
• Support the musical development of Folkestra players, motivating and working with them to support them in achieving their potential
• Work closely with peers to connect Folkestra with other areas of The Glasshouse International Centre of Music’s artistic programme

Evaluation and Reporting

• Contribute to the evaluation and monitoring of programme performance where required
• Support and contribute to consultation with young people, as required

Programme (artistic)

• Work with the Senior Producer on artistic planning for Folkestra, to form cohesive and strategic approaches
• Keep up to date with current developments in relation to your own performance practice, specialist education and learning practice
• Develop and lead high‑quality inclusive music learning activities performances, events, rehearsals, recordings and resources, as agreed
• Lead exemplary practice in inclusive group music‑making.
• Work with colleagues to remove barriers to engagement and make sure music learning activities meet a range of different needs, interests, and contexts
• Attend Artistic Leadership Team meetings as required and contribute to integration of Folkestra within wider Make Music and Glasshouse artistic programming.

Programme (operational)

• Liaise efficiently with colleagues on scheduling and all other operational elements
• Attend team and organisational meetings as agreed
• Understand and work in line with operational handbooks and guidelines

Marketing and Comms

• Work with the Senior Programme Leader to support effective recruitment of young people

Health and Safety and safeguarding

• Work with Designated Safeguarding Officers and Director of Safeguarding to implement safeguarding policies and procedures throughout the programme to maintain high standards of safeguarding and pastoral care of children and adults at risk
• To accept personal responsibility for understanding and following Health and Safety, Child protection, Equality and Diversity and other policies within the Trust

But don’t worry if you’re not a perfect match for the job description and criteria, we’d love you to apply anyway. We are more interested in your determination, positivity, and willingness to get stuck in.

Our commitment to your development

At The Glasshouse, we’re always learning. And we know that when it comes to training, everyone is different. So, you’ll work closely with your manager to identify what your training journey will look like. If you have a specific interest or you would like to develop your skills in a certain area, we want to hear about it. This may be through gaining a qualification, on‑the‑job training or learning within your team, but whatever path you take, through training and support, we’ll help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to thrive in your role.

Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion

At The Glasshouse, we encourage a working environment that’s welcoming, inclusive, and diverse. Different backgrounds, views and experiences are valued so everyone can be themselves. Our venue and programmes are for everyone, so we want to make sure this opportunity is available to everyone, no matter your background or the challenges you’ve faced.

For example, we would love to hear from you if you:

• Are D/deaf. Have a disability, learning difficulty or significant long‑term health condition which affects your daily life
• Describe yourself as neurodiverse (this might include dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, ADHD, autistic spectrum, and others)
• Grew up in a family receiving Universal Credit or state benefits
• Have ever lived in council or social housing or been on the housing register
• Have ever lived in sheltered accommodation or experienced homelessness
• Experienced being in care at any point in your life
• Have been a refugee or asylum seeker
• Are from the African, South, East and South‑East Asian, Middle East, Latinx or North African diaspora, or have experienced racism
• These are some common examples of challenging circumstances but there may be others. Everyone is welcome to apply.
• We do not discriminate because of race, colour, religion, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation or expression, age, disability or any other protected characteristic as outlined in the Equality Act 2010.

Safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expect all of those that work with us to share this commitment. We operate a robust safeguarding framework and continuous assessment and development to support safer working practice across out workforce. Our roles are subject to a safer recruitment process which includes relevant background checks and the disclosure of criminal records, sanctions, and investigations where appropriate.

Click here for more information and to apply

Closing date for applications: 12pm, 6th November 2025

Interview date: 23rd November 2025

Interview Task: The interview will involve leading 15 minutes of a rehearsal with the ensemble.

We understand that interviews can be a nerve‑racking experience. We want you to feel comfortable so you can be yourself and shine, so if you have any questions about the role or the application process, please contact Isabella, People Coordinator at [e-mail]