Assistant Professor of Music, Composition

James Madison University; Harrisonburg (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Music, Composition. The successful candidate will teach, create, and collaborate across the School of Music and College of Visual and Performing Arts, while maintaining an active creative agenda.

Beginning Fall 2027, the new faculty member will lead the composition program, mentor students, and contribute to the university’s vibrant performance and scholarly culture.

Qualifications

• DMA or PhD in Composition, or ABD with expected completion before Aug 10, 2027
• Demonstrated record of creative activity as a composer (public performances, commissions, recordings, publications)
• Evidence of effective teaching
• Experience teaching composition or music theory

Responsibilities

• Teach composition at bachelor's and master's level and co-lead the composition program
• Engage in creative scholarship appropriate for tenure/promotion at a research university
• Teach courses related to composition (instrumentation, orchestration, counterpoint) and theory/aural skills
• Contribute to recruitment and curricular development, and to annual Contemporary Music Festival

Education

DMA/PhD in Composition

ABD candidates considered

Evidence of effective teaching

Experience teaching composition and/or music theory

Job description

Working Title:

Assistant Professor of Music, Composition

State Role Title:

N/A

Position Type:

Instructional / Teaching Faculty

Position Status:

Full-Time

FLSA Status:

Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division:

College of Visual and Performing Arts

Department:

100028 - School of Music

Pay Rate:

Commensurate with Experience

Is this a JMU only position?

No

Is this a grant-funded position?

No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position?

No

Beginning Review Date:

11/27/2026

About JMU:

Mission: We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision: To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are: Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The James Madison University School of Music seeks an outstanding artist-teacher for our full-time, tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Composition, beginning in Fall, 2027. We are seeking an accomplished and creative composer willing to collaborate with colleagues both in and outside of the School of Music, who is also a dynamic teacher interested in teaching a variety of courses within and across traditional curricular boundaries. The successful candidate will be a collegial member of the faculty and an effective communicator and will demonstrate and maintain an active creative agenda appropriate to the university.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Composition instruction and co-leadership of the composition program at the bachelor’s and master’s level
• Engage in creative scholarship appropriate for earning tenure and promotion at a research university
• Teaching courses related to composition such as instrumentation, orchestration, and counterpoint
• Teaching theory and/or aural skills courses within the undergraduate and graduate curricula
• Teaching other courses based on the candidate’s interest and specialization
• Contribution to composition recruiting through leadership, outreach, and proactive communication with prospective students
• Contribution to music theory/composition area curricular discussion and development
• Contribution to organization of JMU’s annual Contemporary Music Festival

Qualifications:

Position qualifications:

• DMA or PhD in Composition. ABD candidates with an expected completion date before August 10, 2027, will be considered.
• Demonstrated record of creative activity as a composer, including public performances, commissions, recordings, publications, presentations, and recognition
• Evidence of effective teaching
• Experience teaching composition, music theory, or both

Preferred qualifications:

• Established or emerging national and/or international profile as a composer
• At least three years teaching experience at the college level (including graduate assistantship teaching duties)
• Evidence of effective teaching at the graduate level
• Experience with electronic, computer or electroacoustic music
• Demonstrated potential for leadership in curriculum development and program innovation

Additional Posting Information:

The James Madison University School of Music is an active program with about 400 undergraduate majors, 75 graduate students (DMA and MM), and 200 music minors. The School of Music consists of 45 full-time faculty and 25 part-time faculty that produces more than 200 performances and presentations annually, promoting a vibrant culture of research, scholarship, and creative activity. Housed within the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the School of Music offers the Bachelor of Music in music performance, music education, composition, music theatre, and music industry; the Bachelor of Arts in Music with concentrations in Music Studies and Music Industry; Master’s degrees in composition, conducting, music education, and music performance; and Doctoral degrees in Performance, Pedagogy and Literature and Conducting, Pedagogy and Literature.

The College of Visual and Performing Arts strives to create an educational environment that inspires responsible citizenship.

Review of applications will begin on 11/27/2026.

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:

• Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.
• E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: [phone].

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at [phone] or [e-mail]. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.