Position Overview:

• Perform on the piano before live audiences as soloist, chamber musician, member of large ensemble, and in staged productions.
• Coach vocal and instrumental students and provide support in lessons, rehearsals, and performances.
• Display flexibility in playing piano in multiple styles of music.
• Play for auditions for orchestras, bands, or other musical groups.
• Lead other student and professional musicians in musical ensembles for staged productions.

Department Specific Essential Job Functions:

This position is primarily a teaching role, teaching students more than 50% of the time. A Collaborative Pianist in the School of Music will be expected to collaborate with teachers and students in all three of the following settings:

• Music directing UCO productions in both Musical Theatre and Opera. In this setting, collaborative pianists must coach the students in the leading roles and teach music to the ensemble (not just notes/rhythms, but details of diction and communication of text, as well as molding the vocal sound of the show), and (depending on the needs of the production) rehearse and conduct the orchestra.
• Playing in students' applied voice lessons and in various performance classes and ensembles (for example: Musical Theatre I through Musical Theatre VIII class track). In these cases, the faculty member is the teacher of record, but collaborative pianists are expected to co-teach by making corrections and observations in order to reinforce the aims and objectives the faculty are working to instill in the students.
• Coaching voice students in one-on-one meetings. In this setting, the collaborative pianist/accompanist is expected to work with the students to not only make sure the technical aspects of the musical elements are correct (notes, rhythms, intonation, etc), but also coach them on diction in all the major singing languages, interpretation, character, phrasing, etc.

The candidate will demonstrate:

• Technical training and a high degree of proficiency in piano performance.
• Expertise and experience in musical theatre, opera, and vocal accompanying.
• Sight-reading proficiency.
• Flexibility to perform other related duties as assigned (which could include faculty performances, some accompanying for courses, competitions, Master classes, etc.)

Qualifications/Experience Required:

Requires a university degree in field plus 3+ years of relevant experience in the chosen field or 7+ years of equivalent work experience that provides knowledge of and exposure to fundamental theories, principles, and concepts. Requires the application of expertise in a chosen field to achieve results.

Qualifications/Experience Preferred:

Master's degree in related field and 6+ years progressive responsible experience and proficiency in discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

In order to thrive in this collaborative environment with faculty and students, the following skills and experiences are job requirements:

• Strong sight-reading ability and performance skills.
• Strong communication skills.
• Satisfactory skill in reading and performing from an open score.
• Satisfactory skill as a collaborative pianist for solo instrumentalists and vocalists and chamber groups of players or singers.
• Satisfactory skill as a collaborative pianist for large ensembles.
• Ability to rehearse large groups of vocalists and instrumentalists in musical theatre and/or operatic productions and lead performances from the piano.
• Satisfactory skill as a performer and accompanist in formal performance situations.
• Satisfactory knowledge and experience in the genres of musical theatre

The following are preferred skills:

• Ability to conduct performances of musical theatre and/or operatic productions from the podium.
• Satisfactory knowledge of opera literature and repertoire, and classical art song literature.
• Satisfactory knowledge of diction skills in the standard classical vocal repertoire.
• Ability to transpose music and fit individual styles or purposes as needed, whether at sight or with preparation.

Physical Demands:
Reasonable accommodations (in accordance with ADA requirements) may be made, upon request, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.