Join The Team

Neighborhood Choir Program Choir Director

Direct a Community Choir at Openhouse as part of Community Music Center’s Neighborhood Choir Program for Older Adults & Adults with Disabilities that includes 17 choirs at San Francisco senior and neighborhood centers.

This choir for older adults and adults with disabilities is a collaboration between Community Music Center and Openhouse SF, whose mission is to enable San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ+ seniors to overcome the unique challenges they face as they age by providing housing, direct services and community programs. The choir sings an evolving variety of styles including popular songs, show tunes, cabaret, jazz, and traditional choral arrangements. Choir members practice, sing, help organize performances, and perform in the community.

CMC developed its Neighborhood Choir Program to provide the many personal, social, artistic and quality of life benefits that musical activity can bring to older adults. Choirs are tuition-free choirs and are designed specifically for older adults (ages 60 and above). Learn more about CMC’s Neighborhood Choir Program here.

Start Date: October 2025, with a training prior.

Schedule: Tuesdays: 11:00am – 12:30pm at Openhouse, 75 Laguna Street, San Francisco

Position purpose:
To direct a choir(s) of older adults including developing repertoire, conducting choir rehearsals, coordinating with an accompanist, preparing participants for performances and participating in evaluation. The Choir Director will inspire the participants and set a tone for fun and friendly engagement through music. The position reports to CMC’s Program Director and is supported by and works with a project team including an accompanist, the Neighborhood Choir Coordinator, and partner sites involved in the program. Training will be provided on issues related to choral singing and older voices and the methods of this project.

Principal Job Responsibilities:

• Develop culturally relevant repertoire for a Community Choir(s) for older adults in conjunction with the project team.
• Train, rehearse and direct the Community Choir(s) including vocal/physical warm ups, learning music and preparing for public performance (in person, online and hybrid formats as needed).
• Support opportunities for socializing among choir participants including at rehearsal breaks and potlucks after performances.
• Take attendance at each choir session, ensure choir members sign in and following up with choir members who miss rehearsals.
• Work with CMC Neighborhood Choir Coordinator to coordinate details for the Choir’s public performances
• Work with accompanist to prepare music
• Work with CMC Neighborhood Choir Coordinator to supply written lyrics and music for participants
• Develop positive relationships with the choir and the project team through effective and timely oral and written interpersonal communications
• Arrange for a substitute Choir Director in his or her absence
• Participate in evaluation process of Choir(s)

Qualifications:

• Choral conducting experience required
• Knowledge of choral music and experience with a variety of musical styles and traditions
• Ability to arrange and transcribe music for chorus, facilitating growth in repertory suited to and reflective of the Choir community
• Ability to develop strong working relationship with an accompanist
• Energetic, with a willingness to learn from the senior community
• Cultural sensitivity and awareness of cultural background(s) of chorus members
• Excellent people skills, good communicator
• Problem solver who is able to kindly and firmly resolve conflict
• Able to work with diverse range of musical abilities and sensitivity to issues related to older voices
• Punctuality

Compensation: Per session, payment is 2 hours at CMC Group Rate ($50/hour) and 1 hour of Prep at CMC Private Lesson Rate ($47/hour)

How to apply: Email a resume and cover letter to CMCfacultyopenings@sfcmc.org. Please include “CMC Neighborhood Choir Director” in the subject of your email.

Application Deadline is September 30, 2025 or until position is filled. Only those being considered will be contacted. No phone calls, please. CMC is an equal opportunity employer.

Please note: Research has shown that people from groups who have been affected by gender, racial, and/or disability discrimination often apply to work opportunities only when they meet 100% of the requirements. We are most interested in having candidates who are passionate about CMC’s work and ready to approach the opportunity with enthusiasm leveraging their skills towards CMC’s mission and goals. We encourage applicants to apply whether or not they meet all the requirements.

Non-Discrimination Statement and Policy
Community Music Center does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, students, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

The faculty of Community Music Center share the belief that the joy and satisfaction of learning to make music should be available to everyone, regardless of age, talent or means.