The Heritage Chorale

Heritage Seeks Artistic Director

Heritage Chorale, an amateur chorus based in Oak Park, Illinois, is seeking a professional musician with substantial choral conducting experience to serve as its artistic director (AD).

Our mission is to present a broad and varied repertoire of choral masterworks, both sacred and secular, from many periods. Our chorus takes on a substantially higher level of musical challenge than is found in most amateur groups. Most of our singers, currently numbering about 30–40, are highly trained or have long and extensive singing experience.

The chorus’s season normally runs from early September through April (with a break from mid-November to early January). The chorus performs two programs each year (one in the fall or winter and the other in the spring) and gives two concerts of each program. Additional singing events, some in cooperation with other groups, may be scheduled.

The AD manages the musical affairs of the group under the general direction of its governing board. The AD selects the music for concert programs, chooses professional instrumentalists and soloists as needed, oversees the annual commissioning of a piece, oversees concert costs, and helps to select concert venues. Music for the fall program must be selected by July 10 so that the scores can be available by August 1. In addition to conducting the group’s concerts, the AD leads all regular two-hour weekly rehearsals, held on Monday evenings (7:30–9:30). Supplemental rehearsals, including dress rehearsals, may also be held. The AD serves as the artistic voice of the group, writing program notes and speaking on behalf of the group at concerts, fundraising events, and postconcert receptions. Maintaining high-quality singing is an important objective of the group, and the AD helps by auditioning prospective new singers and, with support from the board, re-auditioning or otherwise monitoring existing singers to ensure that no singer is detracting from the desired choral sound.

Heritage Chorale was founded in 1984, along with Spectrum Choral Society, its umbrella not-for-profit corporation, and has been in continuous operation since then. The corporation is governed by officers and a board of directors. The board is well organized, and its members are committed to ensuring the well-being of the group. The AD is an ex officio member of the board, which meets monthly. The corporation is financially sound and stable, with income derived from individual donors, program book advertising, fundraising events, government grants, concert ticket sales, and membership dues. In addition, chorus members and others volunteer in a number of ways to keep the group operating smoothly and without additional expense.

The AD serves as a paid part-time contractor under the supervision of the board. A second such contractor serves as piano accompanist at rehearsals and, as needed, for performances.

At this time, Heritage Chorale’s artistic director, members, accompanists, guest artists, and audience members are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to participate in the chorus’s activities. Heritage Chorale follows CDC, county, and local guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you have questions about the position, please email Sarah Campbell, president of Heritage Chorale’s board of directors, at opportunity@heritagechorale.com.

To apply for the position, e-mail your résumé with cover letter to Sarah Campbell at the above address.