Stratus Chamber Orchestra
Music Director Search
Lead Stratus Into Its Next Chapter
We are looking for a conductor who combines outstanding musicianship with curiosity, imagination, collaborative leadership, and a genuine desire to build something meaningful with musicians, audiences, and the broader community.
This is an opportunity for the right person to do more than conduct concerts. We are looking for an artistic leader who will help us answer an important question:
What can the 21st-century concert experience be?
Stratus has a strong foundation and a committed community of musicians and supporters. We want to build on that foundation while exploring new ways to make the chamber orchestra experience compelling, relevant, and memorable for both longtime concertgoers and people who may not yet see themselves as traditional classical-music audiences. Stratus is committed to growing its impact on the community through respect of musical traditions and continuous innovation to insure relevance in the 21st century.
The Music Director position at Stratus Chamber Orchestra, a program of Augustana Arts, entails leading a semi-professional orchestra composed of dedicated musicians striving for the highest standards of excellence in musicianship. The orchestra members bring a diverse range of training and experience, boasting involvement in various professional orchestras, leadership roles within academic and community ensembles, and teaching positions across the Denver Metro area.
The Music Director will provide artistic leadership for Stratus Chamber Orchestra and work closely with the Board, musicians, and staff to develop an evolving artistic vision for the orchestra.
We are seeking someone who can:
Develop compelling and imaginative concert programs that balance familiar repertoire with works that challenge, surprise, and engage audiences.
Bring exceptional musical preparation, rehearsal technique, and conducting skills to every performance.
Help define and articulate Stratus's artistic identity and its place in the Denver-area musical community.
Think creatively about the concert experience and ways to deepen the connection between musicians and audiences.
Build a strong, respectful, and collaborative relationship with the orchestra's musicians and leadership.
Work effectively with organizational leadership to advance Stratus's artistic and organizational goals.
Participate in appropriate community, audience, donor, and promotional activities.
Help Stratus build audiences and strengthen its connection with the community.
Bring energy, curiosity, and a willingness to experiment while maintaining the highest standards of musical excellence.
The Music Director We Seek
We are less interested in a particular résumé than in finding the right leader and artist for Stratus.
The successful candidate will bring:
Exceptional musicianship. A conductor with strong command of the repertoire, excellent rehearsal skills, and the ability to inspire musicians to perform at their highest level.
Artistic vision. Someone who has ideas about where orchestral music can go and can translate those ideas into compelling programming and performances.
Collaborative leadership. Someone who listens, communicates clearly, treats musicians with respect, and understands that artistic leadership is built on trust.
Curiosity and creativity. A willingness to explore repertoire, programming concepts, and concert experiences that can engage both experienced classical-music listeners and new audiences.
Audience awareness. An understanding that building an orchestra's future requires not only excellent performances but meaningful connections with the people who attend them and our donors.
Organizational partnership. Someone who recognizes that a successful nonprofit orchestra requires artistic and organizational leadership to work together toward common goals.
Responsibilities of the Music Director include:
Collaborating with the Executive Director of Augustana Arts to select innovative programming and conducting an annual season that typically includes four concerts (two in the fall and two in the spring) with 1-2 performances each.
Work with Executive Director on a 3-year programming plan that enables development of repeat ticket buyers and appeals to donor organizations.
With Executive Director, envision concert season lineup and present draft
Work with Executive Director to refine season lineup to optimize for ticket sales, donor attraction/retention and fit to the 3 season programming plan
Enable growth of Stratus by finding/supporting opportunities for more performances beyond the core season that may involve either the full orchestra or a subset of performers.
Demonstrate a passionate and practical vision for how a chamber orchestra can better serve the community through both traditional and non-traditional approaches.
Preparing for and leading rehearsals to ensure Stratus Chamber Orchestra continues to offer high-quality concert experiences throughout the concert season.
Working as requested in conjunction with the Education and Program Manager and Executive Director to incorporate underrepresented communities, including intentional engagement with youth and adults through strategic and creative programming.
Participating in auditions and selection processes for regular and alternate membership with Stratus.
Coordinating with the Stratus Personnel Manager to address player needs for each concert and coordinating with the Stratus Production Manager to address logistical concerns of rehearsals and performances.
Engaging in effective communication and interaction with audiences and the broader community, upholding the goals and mission of Stratus and Augustana Arts.
Networking with directors of musical groups, guest artists, and fellow musicians to develop collaboration relationships and participation in the local, regional, and global musical community.
Working with the Executive Director to develop and adhere to the fiscal year budget for Stratus.
Participating in and suggesting marketing initiatives to promote Stratus Chamber Orchestra effectively.
May be called upon to perform tasks and responsibilities related to the position of Music Director of Stratus Chamber Orchestra as needed by the organization.
Qualifications
Candidates should have:
Demonstrated excellence as an orchestral conductor in the Colorado area.
Strong rehearsal and communication skills.
A record of successful musical leadership.
The ability to work collaboratively with professional musicians and organizational leadership.
A compelling vision for how a chamber orchestra can grow its relevance in the 21st century.
Experience with chamber orchestras, innovative programming, audience engagement, community partnerships, or nonprofit arts organizations is necessary.
We recognize that outstanding candidates may come to this opportunity through different career paths. We encourage applications from conductors whose experience and vision demonstrate the potential to lead Stratus into its next chapter.
Compensation
This position is budgeted to pay between $1,500 and $2,000 per month based on credentials and experience. Further earning opportunities are available if additional services are required of the Music Director.
No health or retirement benefits are provided with this position.
What Success Looks Like
Over the first several seasons, we hope our Music Director will help Stratus:
Leverage and grow its artistic identity and reputation.
Present distinctive programs that give audiences a reason to return—and a reason to bring someone new.
Deepen the relationship between musicians and audiences.
Attract and retain excellent musicians.
Develop new audiences while continuing to serve those who already love Stratus.
Build a productive and trusting relationship among the Music Director, musicians, Board, and organizational leadership.
Help us explore what a compelling 21st-century orchestral experience can look like.
About Stratus
Stratus Chamber Orchestra is a 30-40 piece Denver-area semi-professional orchestra committed to presenting high-quality orchestral performances in an engaging and intimate setting. All musicians have conservatory educations and are paid for their efforts.
Stratus is part of Augustana Arts, a 30-year-old organization dedicated to creating a different kind of music experience – one that breaks down barriers, welcomes every audience, and celebrates curiosity over convention.
We believe great performances begin with great musicianship, but they don't end there. We want our concerts to create a sense of connection among musicians, audiences, and the music itself.
As we look ahead, we are thinking intentionally about how Stratus can serve both our traditional audience - those who already love orchestral music - and the curious audience, people who may be interested in classical music but are looking for a different way into the experience.
Our next Music Director will play an important role in shaping that future.
Why Stratus?
Exceptional musicianship - Every Stratus musician is conservatory-trained and compensated for every performance. You will be working with serious, committed musicians who care deeply about the quality of the music we make.
A focused rehearsal model - Our four-rehearsal schedule gives the Music Director meaningful time to develop interpretation, ensemble, and musical expression without sacrificing the practical realities of a working orchestra.
25+ years of artistic achievement - Stratus has built a strong artistic reputation over more than two decades, giving our next Music Director a proven foundation on which to build.
Stability you can build on - Stratus benefits from the longevity, financial health, and organizational stability of Augustana Arts, providing a solid platform for artistic growth.
A leadership team committed to innovation - We are not simply looking to preserve what has worked. We are committed to exploring new ideas in programming, audience engagement, and the concert experience.
A chance to put your vision to work - We are looking for an artistic leader with ideas. The next Music Director will have a genuine opportunity to shape Stratus's artistic identity, programming, and future direction.
Room to grow - We see the Music Director role as an opportunity that can evolve. As Stratus develops and potentially adds concerts, programs, educational initiatives, community partnerships, or other services, there is an opportunity for the artistic leadership role to grow with it.
An orchestra ready for its next chapter - Stratus has the musicians, reputation, organizational foundation, and leadership commitment to build something special. We are looking for the person who wants to help us determine what comes next.
Help Lead Stratus Into Its Next Chapter
We are looking for a conductor who combines outstanding musicianship with curiosity, imagination, collaborative leadership, and a genuine desire to build something meaningful with musicians, audiences, and the broader community.
This is an opportunity for the right person to do more than conduct concerts. We are looking for an artistic leader who will help us answer an important question:
What can the 21st-century concert experience be?
Stratus has a strong foundation and a committed community of musicians and supporters. We want to build on that foundation while exploring new ways to make the chamber orchestra experience compelling, relevant, and memorable for both longtime concertgoers and people who may not yet see themselves as traditional classical-music audiences. Stratus is committed to growing its impact on the community through respect of musical traditions and continuous innovation to insure relevance in the 21st century.
To learn more about the context of this role, what we’re looking for, and our view of success, read the job posting here.
To learn more about the responsibilities of the role, qualifications, and other details read the job description.
About Stratus
Stratus Chamber Orchestra is a 30-40 piece Denver-area semi-professional orchestra committed to presenting high-quality orchestral performances in an engaging and intimate setting. All musicians have conservatory educations and are paid for their efforts.
Stratus is part of Augustana Arts, a 30-year-old organization dedicated to creating a different kind of music experience – one that breaks down barriers, welcomes every audience, and celebrates curiosity over convention.
We believe great performances begin with great musicianship, but they don't end there. We want our concerts to create a sense of connection among musicians, audiences, and the music itself.
As we look ahead, we are thinking intentionally about how Stratus can serve both our traditional audience - those who already love orchestral music - and the curious audience, people who may be interested in classical music but are looking for a different way into the experience.
Our next Music Director will play an important role in shaping that future.
Why Stratus?
Exceptional musicianship - Every Stratus musician is conservatory-trained and compensated for every performance. You will be working with serious, committed musicians who care deeply about the quality of the music we make.
A focused rehearsal model - Our four-rehearsal schedule gives the Music Director meaningful time to develop interpretation, ensemble, and musical expression without sacrificing the practical realities of a working orchestra.
25+ years of artistic achievement - Stratus has built a strong artistic reputation over more than two decades, giving our next Music Director a proven foundation on which to build.
Stability you can build on - Stratus benefits from the longevity, financial health, and organizational stability of Augustana Arts, providing a solid platform for artistic growth.
A leadership team committed to innovation - We are not simply looking to preserve what has worked. We are committed to exploring new ideas in programming, audience engagement, and the concert experience.
A chance to put your vision to work - We are looking for an artistic leader with ideas. The next Music Director will have a genuine opportunity to shape Stratus's artistic identity, programming, and future direction.
Room to grow - We see the Music Director role as an opportunity that can evolve. As Stratus develops and potentially adds concerts, programs, educational initiatives, community partnerships, or other services, there is an opportunity for the artistic leadership role to grow with it.
An orchestra ready for its next chapter - Stratus has the musicians, reputation, organizational foundation, and leadership commitment to build something special. We are looking for the person who wants to help us determine what comes next.
Apply
How to Apply
Candidates should submit:
A letter describing their interest in Stratus and their vision for the orchestra.
A current résumé or curriculum vitae.
Links to recent conducting videos.
A list of recent conducting engagements and repertoire.
One to three professional references.
With your application, we request that you begin to share your vision for Stratus and how you would approach creating compelling concert experiences for both traditional and curious audiences.
Application deadline: [DATE]
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