I. OVERVIEW

Emmanuel Music (“EMI”) seeks to hire an Executive Director. The successful candidate will have strong management expertise overseeing day-to-day operations and will play an instrumental role to foster a culture of collaboration throughout the organization. The incumbent will have the opportunity to work with a dynamic staff as well as ensemble of musicians and implement successful execution of artistic offerings including the weekly Sunday Cantata Series and presentation of large works as part of our evening concerts.

II. BACKGROUND

Emmanuel Music, founded in 1970 by Craig Smith, has served as the ensemble-in-residence for Boston’s Emmanuel Church for fifty years. The two organizations maintain a close, symbiotic relationship that is crucial to each entity’s individual success. The primary activity of the ensemble is the weekly presentation of the sacred cantatas of J.S. Bach in the liturgical context for which they were written. In addition, the ensemble presents a series of evening concerts which include oratorio and operatic works, large ensemble works, and chamber music. EMI has released recordings of works by Bach and Schütz and has collaborated with Mark Morris and Peter Sellars on operatic works by Mozart.

For the past fourteen seasons, the ensemble has been under the artistic leadership of Ryan Turner, who has overseen the expansion of the group’s activities to include performances of works by John Harbison (principal guest conductor), Benjamin Britten, Handel, Mozart, Sondheim and Kurt Weill as well as the master works of J.S. Bach in venues such as New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, Rockport’s Shalin Liu Performance Center, and Harvard University’s Sanders Theater as well as at Tanglewood. Emmanuel Music has established its Motet Commissioning Project as a means of providing new, young, rarely heard composers - specifically BIPOC and women - the opportunity to have their works premiered. Since 2020, we have commissioned seven female composers (Ruehr, Agocs, Bynes, Robles, Epstein, Wallen, Cohen) and eight BIPOC composers (Holland, Woody, Geter, Bynes, Robles, Evans, Weston, Roustom). In June 2024, Emmanuel Music made its debut at the prestigious BachFest in Leipzig, Germany for a premiere concert in the Thomaskirche where many of Bach’s significant works were first performed. Another key program for Emmanuel Music has been its annual Bach Institute which provides opportunities for emerging professional musicians to work intensively with members of the ensemble and also provides multiple opportunities for the general public to engage through masterclasses, lectures and open rehearsals.

To learn more about Emmanuel Music's history, staff, Board of Directors, the Strategic Plan and current programming, please visit the website, www.emmanuelmusic.org.

III. ORGANIZATIONAL PRIORITIES

The Strategic Plan (“the Plan”) adopted by the Board of Directors in 2021 reflects the following:

Mission Statement: Emmanuel Music engages with audiences and musicians to explore the enduring questions of our shared human experience, building on our core commitment to the music of J.S. Bach.

In crafting the Plan, the following were identified as priorities that would inform the organization’s programs, resource management and activities:

• Bach as the core of artistic offerings
• Centrality of the ensemble
• Connection to Emmanuel Church
• Focus on artistic excellence and relevance
• Inclusion and diversity in all aspects of the organization

The Plan speaks to Emmanuel Music’s focus on representation, radical inclusivity, and creating intentional opportunities to engage and include members of diverse communities in all aspects of its existence, including board, leadership, staff, musicians, and audience as well as artistic programming offerings.

Since the adoption of the Strategic Plan, we have expanded the community’s access to the arts by removing financial barriers - with our “Pay What You Can Initiative - and strengthened our education, engagement, and administrative initiatives for youth and adults in Boston particularly with engagement initiatives such as “Breathe With Bach” and “Musical Sanctuary.”

IV. POSITION SCOPE/KEY TASKS

The Executive Director reports to the Board. In this capacity, this role has responsibility for oversight in the three areas of activity:

• Planning
• Management/Operations & Administration
• Coordination with Emmanuel Church

Planning

• Assumes primary responsibility for operational planning for the organization. Oversees general planning and coordination between structural activities both artistic and administrative.
• Where applicable, supports planning for the creation and/or update of a strategic plan

Management/Operations & Administration

• Oversees all aspects of the business operations of the organization, including staff payroll and payment to all contracted vendors and musicians
• Oversees and coordinates annual operating budgets process
• Recruits, selects, supervises and evaluates administrative staff
• Ensures that all employer responsibilities are met including regulatory documents and that the organization follows applicable laws
• Maintains accounts and documents according to legal requirements
• Oversees successful implementation and preparation for all Emmanuel Music artistic/programmatic offerings including weekly Sunday Cantata Series and evening concerts
• Negotiate contracts with union[s].

Coordination with Emmanuel Church

• Serves as liaison and ex-officio member of the Church’s Vestry
• Participates in negotiation of the Residency Agreement with the Church
• Serves as liaison (along with Board President and Treasurer) for the Church’s Endowment Fund on behalf of Emmanuel Music

V. QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will have the following expertise and experience:

• Strong financial administration skills (e.g. budget management) and knowledge of requirements for compliance for non-profit organizations
• Strong operations/systems management skills; ability to motivate and direct staff and volunteers to complete projects/ initiatives in a timely manner; and experience with human resources management (e.g. performance evaluations, etc.)
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, including strong proficiency in the use of technology for creating organizational materials and reports
• Strong experience in guiding and supporting the management of fundraising/development and donor cultivation efforts in collaboration with a Development Director
• Experience with stakeholder engagement (internal and external), and proven commitment/experience promoting inclusion/diversity/equity/access for an organization.
• Experience working in a cultural/arts organization - particularly in classical music - is highly desired.
• Experience collaborating within a musical organization with affiliation to the musician’s union is highly desired.
• Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science required

VI. SALARY AND BENEFITS

EMI is offering a salary of $115,000 for this full-time position, and a benefits package that includes 4 weeks of vacation annually, medical insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan, and voluntary participation in a Simple IRA program, matched after one year of service.

How To Apply:

Please submit a resume AND cover letter which outlines your qualifications, proven relevant experience, and aspects of the role that are of particular interest in a single PDF only to EDSearch@emmanuelmusic.org
EMI is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Apply by:
January 20, 2025

Salary:
$115,000 / Per year

About this Organization:

Emmanuel Music is a Boston-based music ensemble comprising a professional chamber orchestra and chorus. Emmanuel Music was founded in 1970 by founding Artistic Director Craig Smith to perform the complete cycle of Bach Cantatas at Emmanuel Church - a cycle which has since been completed several times. Ryan Turner was named Artistic Director in 2010. Emmanuel Music now gives over fifty performances each year including a vocal and instrumental chamber music series, large-scale performances of opera, symphonies, and oratorios, free Lindsey Chapel Series, and informal musician-curated programs.

Emmanuel Music has premiered a number of contemporary compositions including works by composer John Harbison and has recorded six CDs for KOCH International, one CD on the Nonesuch label, and one CD on the Emmanuel Music and AVIE labels. Emmanuel Music annually sponsors educational and outreach activities as part of The Bach Institute.