Description

Position Description
Position: Music Director
Organization: Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra (FSO)
Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina
Status: Part-time, Contractual
Start Date: In place for the 2027-2028 season
Application Deadline: November 1st, 2025
Compensation: $53,000 - $57,000, commensurate with experience. Stipend/per diem provided for time spent in Fayetteville.

Organizational Overview
Now in its 69th season, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra (FSO) is a cornerstone of the cultural life of Fayetteville and southeastern North Carolina. Founded in 1956, FSO has grown into a professional ensemble known for presenting high-quality performances, championing music education, and fostering community connections through the power of live music.

Fayetteville, North Carolina, is a vibrant and diverse city of over 200,000 residents and home to Fort Bragg, one of the largest military installations in the world. The presence of Fort Bragg, along with nearby higher education institutions such as Fayetteville State University, Methodist University, and Fayetteville Technical Community College, contributes to the city’s unique blend of cultural influences, youthful energy, and global perspectives. The city’s revitalized downtown, rich history, and growing arts sector provide a welcoming environment for innovation, collaboration, and artistic growth.

Within this dynamic setting, FSO plays a vital role as both a cultural anchor and community partner. Each season, the orchestra performs six subscription concerts, along with its cherished annual performance of Handel’s Messiah. These hallmark events feature the orchestra’s dedicated corps of professional musicians and highlight both beloved masterworks and innovative repertoire. FSO also presents chamber music events and collaborative productions that bring new dimensions to the concert experience.

Beyond the stage, FSO is deeply committed to education, reaching thousands of young people each year through youth ensembles, school visits, and community engagement programs. Partnerships with local universities, schools, arts organizations, and military communities have positioned the orchestra as a bridge-builder, using music to foster dialogue, celebrate diversity, and strengthen civic pride.

With a growing audience, a vibrant educational mission, and a strong network of community relationships, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra is poised to enter a bold new chapter of artistic excellence and meaningful community impact.

Position Summary
The Music Director serves as the orchestra’s principal artistic leader, responsible for shaping and executing the artistic vision of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. Working in close collaboration with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, orchestra musicians, and community partners, the Music Director will:

Conduct a majority of the orchestra’s subscription and educational concerts.
Lead artistic planning and repertoire selection.
Foster musical excellence and growth within the orchestra.
Engage actively with the community and represent the orchestra publicly.
Support fundraising and audience development efforts as an artistic ambassador.
This is a part-time position with an estimated presence in Fayetteville for approximately 8–10 weeks per season. FSO provides a stipend/per diem to support travel and housing during this time.

Residency Expectation
The Music Director should have a significant presence in the community.

Given the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra’s scale and resources, the residency of the Music Director should be both flexible and meaningful. While the position is structured as part-time, a visible and engaged presence in Fayetteville is essential to the orchestra’s artistic and community success.

FSO prefers a commitment of 8–10 weeks per season in Fayetteville, scheduled strategically around rehearsals, concerts, community events, and other key organizational needs. These residency periods will ensure that the Music Director is not only available to prepare and lead performances, but also able to connect with the community, board, staff, and musicians in a substantive way.

During their time in Fayetteville, the Music Director is expected to:

• Collaborate closely with the Executive Director and artistic staff on season planning and repertoire selection.
• Lead rehearsals and concerts with a high standard of artistic excellence.
• Participate actively in donor cultivation and development activities, serving as a visible ambassador for the organization.
• Support educational outreach initiatives, including youth programs and community engagement events.

This flexible residency model allows the Music Director to balance commitments in Fayetteville with other professional opportunities, while still maintaining the consistent artistic leadership and community presence necessary to advance the mission of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.

Key Responsibilities

Artistic Leadership

• Develop season programming in collaboration with the Executive Director.
• Conduct rehearsals and concerts with clarity, passion, and professionalism.
• Encourage high artistic standards through effective rehearsal techniques and leadership.Musician Collaboration

Musician Collaboration

• Cultivate a positive and respectful relationship with orchestra musicians.
  Participate in auditions, musician selection, and personnel decisions when needed.

Community Engagement

• Be a visible and accessible presence in the community, including military and university partners.
• Engage audiences through pre-concert talks, school visits, and other public activities.

Education

• Support the FSO’s education initiatives, including conducting or advising youth concerts and programs.
• Serve as an advocate for music education in the region.

Institutional Support

• Partner with the Executive Director and Board on long-range planning and organizational vision.
• Collaborate on development efforts, including donor cultivation and public advocacy.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a musically exceptional, communicative, and community-minded leader with a deep commitment to orchestral excellence and public engagement.

• Musicianship and Conducting Ability
  Demonstrated experience as a conductor of professional or semi-professional orchestras.
  Broad knowledge of orchestral repertoire, with creative programming instincts.
  Strong rehearsal technique and clear, expressive conducting.
• Leadership and Communication
  Inspiring leadership style that motivates musicians and unites diverse constituencies.
  Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  Collaborative and respectful working relationships with staff, musicians, and board.
  
• Community and Educational Engagement
  Passion for community outreach and music education.
  Comfortable engaging with diverse audiences, including military families, students, and civic leaders.
  Experience with or openness to working in a mid-sized or regional orchestra setting.
  
• Personal Qualities
  Visionary thinker with humility and flexibility.
  Energetic, organized, and dependable.
  Commitment to equity, access, and inclusion.
  
• Preferred Qualifications
  Prior experience as a Music Director, Associate/Assistant Conductor, or comparable leadership role.
  Comfortable navigating the unique dynamics of a part-time conducting role with strong community expectations.
  Experience in fundraising, audience development, or strategic planning is a plus.

Application Materials
Interested candidates should submit the following:

Letter of interest addressing qualifications and vision for FSO.
Curriculum vitae or résumé.
Draft concert program
Names and contact information for three professional references.
1–2 video recordings (hyperlinked within your materials) of recent rehearsals and/or performances (with the option to include additional examples if desired).
All materials must be emailed in ONE PDF document. Please include your name and MD Search in the subject line. Application deadline is November 1, 2025.

Video Submission Criteria
As part of your application, please submit video materials that demonstrate your conducting ability, rehearsal leadership, and artistic communication. These videos will be an essential component of our evaluation process and should meet the following criteria:

What to Include
Please submit 1-2 video excerpts that represent your range and style as a conductor. These could include:

One rehearsal video: Demonstrate your communication with musicians, efficiency, problem-solving, and leadership in a non-performance setting. Ideally filmed from the orchestra’s perspective, showing how you interact with the ensemble.

One concert/performance video: Showcase your podium presence, musical interpretation, and ability to lead a live performance.

Video Requirements

• Each excerpt should be 5–10 minutes in length.
• Videos should be uncut, unedited, and clearly show both your gestures and facial expressions.
• You must be clearly visible (preferably from the front or side).
• High-quality audio and video are preferred, but professional production is not required.
• How to Submit: Please upload videos to a video-sharing platform (YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, etc.).
• Provide direct links (no passwords or downloads required) in your application materials.

Clearly label each video with:

• Title of the piece
• Composer
• Ensemble name
• Performance or rehearsal date
• Whether it is a rehearsal or performance

Deadline
All materials, including video links, must be submitted (hyperlinked within your other application materials) by November 1st, 2025.

Evaluation Criteria
Your videos will be reviewed for the following:

• Clarity of conducting technique
• Musical interpretation and stylistic command
• Effectiveness in rehearsal communication
• Leadership presence and rapport with the ensemble
• Orchestral response and musical outcome