Assistant Professor & Director of Opera Studies

CMU Group; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Carnegie Mellon University School of Music in Pittsburgh invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor and Director of Opera Studies beginning Fall 2027. The director will produce three opera productions per year and participate as stage or musical director on at least one production annually.

The candidate will audition and cast student performers, coordinate with vocal coaches and staff, engage guest artists, and collaborate with designers and production staff.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in music or related field.
• Proven track record directing (stage or musical) with professional opera companies or university programs.
• Significant experience in music/stage direction and knowledge of operatic repertoire.
• Proficiency in coaching, conducting, acting techniques and/or stagecraft.
• Working knowledge of common Western European languages sung in opera (Italian, German, French, etc.).
• Experience staging operatic works for performance in unconventional spaces.
• Ability to mentor student directors, collaborative pianists, and stage managers.
• Proven collaboration with other disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Produce three opera productions each year.
• Serve as stage or musical director for at least one production annually.
• Audition and cast student performers with voice faculty.
• Coordinate with vocal coaches and music staff.
• Engage guest artists and participate in the design process.
• Work closely with the Production Manager.
• Teach coursework based on expertise and program needs.

Skills

Music Direction

Stage Direction

Opera Direction

Collaboration

Education

Master's degree or higher

Job description

Carnegie Mellon University: College of Fine Arts: Music

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Description

The Carnegie Mellon University School of Music invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor & Director of Opera Studies beginning in Fall 2027.

The Director of Opera Studies is responsible for producing three opera productions each year. The Director will serve as stage or musical director for at least one of the productions each year and will audition and cast student performers in collaboration with the voice and vocal coaching faculty; coordinate with vocal coaches and music staff; serve on audition and recital panels; engage guest artists; participate in the design process; and work closely with the Production Manager. The successful candidate will also teach coursework based on their expertise and program needs.

About the program

Founded in 1912, CMU's School of Music offers Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Music degrees in instrumental, piano, and vocal performance and composition; a Bachelor of Fine Arts in electronic music; and a Master of Music in collaborative piano. In collaboration with the School of Computer Science and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the School also offers both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Music and Technology. With 42 full-time faculty, 55 part-time faculty (including 22 from the Grammy-Award-winning Pittsburgh Symphony), and 13 administrative and technical staff, Carnegie Mellon's School of Music blends the one-on-one conservatory model of musical mentorship with the resources and research capacities of an R1 university. Carnegie Mellon is renowned for its interdisciplinary work, including but not limited to the areas of arts and technology, machine learning, AI, and new media.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will hold a master's degree or higher, or equivalent professional experience, and a record of directing (stage or musical) with professional opera companies and/or university programs.

The successful candidate will demonstrate significant experience in most of the following areas:

• A proven track record of Music and/or Stage Direction, with a comprehensive knowledge of the operatic repertoire
• Proficiency in coaching, conducting, acting techniques and/or stagecraft
• Proficiency or working knowledge of the common Western European languages sung in opera (Italian, German, French, etc.)
• Staging operatic works for performance in unconventional spaces
• Working with designers to create original operatic productions
• Mentoring student directors, collaborative pianists, and stage managers
• A track record of collaboration with other disciplines

Carnegie Mellon Universityis an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or related condition, family status, marital status, parental status, religion, ancestry, veteran status, or genetic information. Furthermore, Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate and is required not to discriminate in violation of federal, state, or local laws or executive orders.