Potomac Valley Youth Orchestra

Celebrating 33 years of Excellence in Music Education!

Assistant to Concert Band Conductor

Job Opportunity | Deadline: September 2, 2023

Job Title: Assistant to Concert Band Conductor

Reports to: Concert Band Conductor

Primary Purpose: Help the conductor enhance the musical instruction and development of the ensemble. Specific duties include:

-Regularly coaching sectionals within the rehearsal framework, as well as pullouts as needed, with a focus on woodwind sections
-Walking around the ensemble to maintain a constructive, educational environment
-Conducting the full ensemble as needed during rehearsals to allow the conductor to observe the ensemble
-Marking score for errors when not otherwise engaged
-Assisting with seating auditions
-Listening to any virtually submitted playing requests as needed
-Assisting with communications among the principal conductor, ensemble manager, and students on specific rehearsal issues
-Assisting with setting up and tearing down the rehearsal room as needed
-Filling in for missing percussion or other instrumentation if needed

Duty Schedule: Six weekly rehearsals per semester on Tuesday evenings, approximately every second week (*), plus two concerts per year (typically May and December). Willingness to communicate during the week with the principal conductor. Must have own transportation.

Educational Qualifications/Certification: Bachelor’s degree in music from an accredited college or university preferred. Strong candidates enrolled in an ongoing music degree program would be considered.

Special Knowledge/Skills: Knowledge of instrumental techniques, particularly of woodwinds; musical coaching skills and knowledge of rehearsal techniques; conducting skills; ability to work well with middle school aged teenagers of high skills and varying backgrounds; ability to work well with adults, both peers and supervisors.; familiarity with percussion instruments would be a plus.

Compensation: This is an annual contract position. Pay commensurate with experience.

Applicants are requested to submit a 1-2 page resume and clearly indicate that they are applying to the Concert Band Assistant Conductor position.

To apply or for inquiries, contact:
William Hollin
PVYO Music Director
philharmonia.pvyo@gmail.com

* PVYO currently is filling a newly-created position for a Wind Ensemble Assistant Conductor. Because both the Wind Ensemble and Concert Band Assistant Conductor positions require attendance at half of the semester’s rehearsals (approximately every second week) and are on different days, applicants for the position with the Concert Band may also apply for the Wind Ensemble position.

 

Assistant to Wind Ensemble Conductor

Job Opportunity | Deadline: September 2, 2023

Job Title: Assistant to Wind Ensemble Conductor

Reports to: Wind Ensemble Conductor

Primary Purpose: Help the conductor enhance the musical instruction and
development of the ensemble. Specific duties include:

-Regularly coaching sectionals within the rehearsal framework, as well as pullouts as needed, with a focus on woodwind sections
-Walking around the ensemble to maintain a constructive, educational environment
-Conducting the full ensemble as needed during rehearsals to allow the conductor to observe the ensemble
-Marking score for errors when not otherwise engaged
-Assisting with seating auditions
-Listening to any virtually submitted playing requests as needed
-Assisting with the communication among the principal conductor, ensemble manager, and students on specific rehearsal issues
-Assisting with setting up and tearing down the rehearsal room as needed
-Filling in for missing percussion or other instrumentation if needed

Duty Schedule: 6 weekly rehearsals per semester on Monday evenings approximately every second week (*), plus two concerts per year (typically May and December). Willingness to communicate during the week with the principal conductor. Must have own transportation.

Educational Qualifications/Certification: Bachelor’s degree in music from an accredited college or university preferred. Strong candidates enrolled in an ongoing music degree program would be considered.

Special Knowledge/Skills:  Knowledge of instrumental techniques, particularly for woodwinds; musical coaching skills and knowledge of rehearsal techniques; conducting skills; ability to work well with high school aged teenagers of high skills and varying backgrounds; ability to work well with adults, both peers and supervisors; familiarity with percussion instruments is a plus.

Compensation: This is an annual contract position. Pay commensurate with experience.

Applicants are requested to submit a 1-2 page resume and clearly indicate that they are applying to the Wind Ensemble Assistant Conductor position.

To apply or for inquiries, contact:
William Hollin
PVYO Music Director
philharmonia.pvyo@gmail.com

* PVYO currently is filling a newly-created position for a Concert Band Assistant Conductor. Because both the Wind Ensemble and Concert Band Assistant Conductor positions require attendance at half of the semester’s rehearsals (approximately every second week) on different days, applicants for the position with the Wind Ensemble may also apply for the Concert Band position.

 

 

Announcing the 2020 Summer Institute!

PVYO is proud to offer on-line summer classes this year to supplement the ensemble instruction students are receiving at PVYO, school, or other youth orchestras and bands. Our Music Director, Mr. William Hollin, is a veteran music teacher with 42 years in the classroom and on the podium. Twenty-three of those years, he has been at the helm of our organization.

Students may enroll in multiple sessions.  Each Session is $100.00.  For example, you can take history alone or concurrently with theory.  You may choose to take only one theory level, or two levels beginning in either level 1 or level 2.  For Music Theory, students will need Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory Books 1, 2 and 3, correlating with their class level.  Students will need to acquire their own copy of the book through their preferred music dealer or Amazon.  There is no text for Music History.  Details and class schedule here. 

Talya Schenk :: Concert Orchestra Assistant

Talya Schenk, violist, is an active performer in the Washington, DC region.  She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from The Catholic University of America, a Master of Music from The Hartt School, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Her teachers include Kimberly Sparr, Maria Lambros, Rita Porfiris, and Karin Brown.  She maintains a busy private studio of viola and violin students in Rockville, Maryland.  Dr. Schenk often takes her teaching into the community through coaching local youth orchestras, as well as teaching in Strathmore’s outreach string orchestra programs. She especially enjoys working with the PVYO Concert Orchestra.  She is a Lecturer at Frostburg State University, teaching violin and viola.  When she is not making or teaching music, she is spending time with her dog Luna.