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Choral Conducting & Leadership Fellowship
Position Overview
Young New Yorkers’ Chorus (YNYC) is launching a Choral Conducting & Leadership Fellowship — a structured professional development opportunity for an emerging conductor who seeks real podium time, meaningful mentorship, and an inside look at how a growing arts organization runs.
This is a brand new, one-year, non-renewable appointment (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027). The Fellow will primarily work and sing with the Mixed Ensemble, though they will have opportunities to work with our Treble Ensemble. The fellow will report to and receive weekly conducting lessons from the General & Artistic Director, and take on meaningful on-the-ground responsibilities that directly support the ensemble. The Fellow will also have opportunities to learn from and connect with the full artistic leadership team, including the Assistant Directors of both ensembles.
The Fellow must have a passion for choral music, value creating community, and an excitement for fostering the creation of new works by young composers. The Fellow will be a part of an artistic team that views excellence as a daily practice, not a destination or achievement.
This role is a one year, mostly in-person, part-time fellowship paid as an independent contractor. The application deadline is Friday, May 22nd, 2026. We anticipate the starting date for this position to be Wednesday, July 1st, 2026.
Artistic & Mentorship Opportunities
Conducting Mentorship
Weekly conducting lessons with the General & Artistic Director.
Meetings and coachings with other members of the Artistic Team.
Run warmups and sectional rehearsals.
Conduct one piece at YNYC’s fall and spring concerts at the discretion of the General & Artistic Director.
Ensemble Participation
Sing in the Mixed Ensemble at all rehearsals and concerts as a full ensemble member.
Media & Production
Assist with the capture, editing, and production of rehearsal videos.
Assist with producing and uploading concert videos to YouTube.
Operations & Ensemble Support
Work collaboratively with Ensemble Managers and other volunteer leaders.
Update calendar, files, and rehearsal details in the chorus management system.
Draft riser charts, rehearsal plan documents, and other rehearsal materials in collaboration with the General & Artistic Director.
Capture rehearsal footage for promotional use and share with Social Media Manager for their use and distribution.
Assist with bi-annual auditions, managing candidate flow, room setup, and on-site coordination.
Assist with coordinating external contract performances.
Schedule
Mixed Ensemble Rehearsals
Tuesday evenings from early September through mid-December / early January through early May
All YNYC Concerts (including Treble Ensemble)
December 11-12, 2026 | April 24, 2027 | May 1, 2027
Weekly conducting lessons
1:1 with the General & Artistic Director, scheduled weekly
By applying, applicants guarantee that they are regularly available, with few, if any, exceptions, on Tuesday evenings, and are available for all YNYC concerts. Applicants who share regular scheduling conflicts later in the application process will be disqualified.
What we’re looking for
At least one year of experience leading and directing vocal ensembles
Bachelor’s degree required, in music preferred
Additional experience, such as graduate education in choral music, is a plus
An emerging conductor with genuine passion for choral music and a desire to grow
Functional piano skills
Strong score study habits and musicianship
Comfort with and interest in both artistic and operational responsibilities
Proficiency in Google Workspace
Comfort using AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) to support operational workflows
Strong judgment and discretion when handling confidential information
Compensation & Details
Stipend:$1,000 per concert cycle ($2,000/year), paid as an independent contractor
Structure:Paid per cycle; two cycles per year (Fall and Spring)
Term: One year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027)
How to Apply
Application Materials
Cover letter
Résumé or CV
Video submission (YouTube or other link preferred): a 1–2 minute self-introduction, plus 5–10 minutes of footage leading a vocal ensemble. We’re more interested in seeing rehearsal footage, but a minimal amount of concert footage is acceptable. Camera angle should face you from the ensemble’s perspective. Cell phone quality is acceptable — we’d prefer it to not be overly edited!
Contact information for one professional reference (name, email, and phone number) — ideally from a primary teacher or comparable mentor.
Submit all materials by Friday, May 22, 2026.
Please direct any questions to Alex Canovas, General & Artistic Director, at alex@ynyc.org.
Application Process
Stage 1 - Application Review
All three members of the artistic leadership team review applications. Finalists are invited to Stage 2.
Stage 2 — In-Person Audition
The in-person audition combines three components:
Interview with the artistic leadership team
Conducting audition with a live accompanist
Musicianship assessment
About YNYC
Young New Yorkers’ Chorus (YNYC) is a nationally recognized nonprofit choral organization based in New York City, dedicated to championing new music by living composers. Through innovative programming, community engagement, and a focus on artistic excellence, YNYC creates meaningful musical experiences that reflect the diversity and creativity of today’s choral landscape.
Operating two professional-caliber ensembles and a nationally recognized composition competition, YNYC is entering a period of significant structural growth, including the creation of this role. Learn more at ynyc.org.
Young New Yorkers' Chorus is an equal opportunity organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, New York State, or New York City law. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.