Artistic Director (Buffalo Opera Unlimited, Inc.)
The Opportunity
The Artistic Director will help guide Buffalo Opera Unlimited (BOU) and its dedicated board into the future, building on its 37-year history of producing professional opera with an emphasis on regional artists. The Artistic Director provides leadership and oversight of the artistic and technical aspects of Buffalo Opera Unlimited’s productions to achieve highly professional performances. This half-time position reports directly to the Board of Directors.
Responsibilities
The Artistic Director is charged with ensuring that the following responsibilities are executed either directly or through delegation.
Direction
The Artistic Director is expected to stage direct and/or music direct at least one production per season as part of their responsibilities.
Consistent with BOU’s mission of providing opportunities for regional artists, BOU maintains its prerogative to utilize guest conductors and stage directors from time to time as it sees fit, either seasonally, yearly, or on an otherwise staggered basis.
Artist Selection and Relations
Select cast members including principals, chorus, actors, supernumeraries, and understudies; the production teams including stage director, conductor, choreographer, chorus master, and designers for sets, costume, lighting; stage manager and other production-related staff.
Productions
Oversee production meetings (design, stage director, and full team).
Attend rehearsals and performances; facilitate post-production debriefs; serve as liaison to music director, stage manager, and stage director.
Music Direction
Conduct or arrange for music director of all productions; hire orchestra contractor; hire rehearsal accompanist following consultation with conductor.
Marketing
Provide content for press releases and engage in media interviews.
Community
Maintain friendly, constructive, and fruitful relations with members of the WNY community, including the music and theater programs at area universities and colleges and other arts and community not-for-profit organizations to build on BOU’s tradition of collaboration.
The Company
BOU is committed to diverse programming, producing opera and performances of other musical genres. Productions include classic operatic repertoire, contemporary works, world premieres, and family-friendly programming. BOU provides professional opera and other diverse vocal music to Buffalo and the surrounding Western New York region. BOU engages a diverse and multigenerational audience to secure the longevity of opera as a living art form.
Qualifications and Characteristics
· Experienced musician with knowledge of opera repertoire
· Experience in some or all of the specified responsibilities for organization[s] with similarity to BOU
· Demonstrated leadership and management skills
· Strong communication and collaboration skills
· Demonstrated commitment to diversity
· Commitment to BOU’s mission of providing opportunities for regional artists
· Bachelor’s degree in a related field or comparable experience
· Knowledge of Western New York talent preferred
Candidates are asked to submit a letter of interest and their résumé. Finalists will be asked for three relevant letters of recommendation and a work sample, if available (video of a production for which the candidate provided leadership).
Salary range: $30,000 - $40,000 commensurate with experience
Application deadline: Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and the position will be filled when a qualified candidate is identified.
E-mail application materials to: bouopera@gmail.com
Buffalo Opera Unlimited is a not-for-profit (501c3) and an equal-opportunity employer, with a 37-year history of creating a diverse and inclusive environment. BOU has a tradition of diversity in casting and of including the work of composers of color in its repertoire. We believe that our team must reflect the diversity of our audience and our community. In this spirit, BOU encourages applications from candidates of color.
