QUO Seeks New Artistic Director

The Queer Urban Orchestra announces a search for an Artistic Director. The position starts on January 1st, 2023 on a probationary basis and is renewed annually.

The Queer Urban Orchestra (QUO) is an LGBTQIA+ all-volunteer community-based musical organization dedicated to the promotion of fine arts in the New York City metropolitan area. QUO is made up of a mix of talented amateur, semi-professional, and professional musicians. Membership is open to all adult musicians regardless of age, race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. QUO’s enthusiastic and dedicated members share in the joys of making music at a high artistic level and in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. QUO performs dynamic programs that draw from classical, romantic, and 20th-century repertoire. We also seek bold new works, some of which are found through our annual Composition Contest which receives applications from all over the world. Recent concerts have included works by trans or nonbinary composers Calenna Garba and Zaq Latino, as well as Jimmy Lopez, Mason Bates, Jennifer Higdon, Gilbert Galindo, and other contemporary composers. The orchestra is especially committed to featuring the works of composers from marginalized communities, including LGBTQIA+ composers, women composers, BIPOC composers, and immigrant composers.

QUO produces 5-7 concerts a year, including at least one “QUOtets” (a chamber concert featuring members of the orchestra in solos and small ensembles) and our end-of-the-year Pride “Gay-La”. Over our 13-year history, QUO has collaborated with the groups such as the Ballez Company, Puppetry Arts Ensemble, Operamission, Empire City Men's Chorus, Stonewall Chorale, and Melodia Women’s Choir NYC. We have worked with such soloists as narrator WQXR’s Jeff Spurgeon; pianists Aryo Wicaksono, Michael Sheppard, James Adler, Spencer Myer, Matthieu Cognet; trumpeters Paul Murphy and Joe Burgstaller; violinist Lindsay Deutsch; vocalists including Molly Pope and Anthony Roth Costanzo. Through exceptional music making and community involvement, QUO strives to promote equality, understanding, acceptance, and respect.

Job Description

The Artistic Director will:

1. Serve as chair of the programming committee and program three or more concerts per season in collaboration with members of the programming committee and the QUO leadership team.
2. Be responsible for overseeing the musical functions of the organization.
3. Conduct concerts and prepare the orchestra at weekly rehearsals.
4. Prepare a weekly rehearsal schedule and notes.
5. Coordinate member-driven QUOtets chamber concerts.
6. Select section leaders and principals.
7. Speak publicly on behalf of the orchestra for marketing and fundraising purposes.
8. Attend monthly QUO board meetings and collaborate with the board on setting the artistic vision of the organization, and on outreach efforts to reach a wider audience.

The Artistic Director is considered an independent contractor and receives a yearly stipend of $4,000.

Application/Interview/Audition Process

• To apply, please fill in and submit the application below. In addition to basic information, the application process requires a resume and cover letter, repertoire list, bio, conducting sample video, and a program proposal for the remainder of QUO’s 2022-2023 season (January-June). See below for season details. Deadline for submission is Monday, August 1, 2022.
• If you are selected to advance to the interview stage, you will be invited to meet the Artistic Director Search Committee in August.
• Finalists will conduct a piece no longer than 20-25 minutes in length at three Wednesday rehearsals in September and October, a dress rehearsal, and the orchestra’s October 22nd concert. Each finalist will receive a stipend of $150 for all of their work with the rehearsals and concert.
• The final candidate chosen as QUO’s artistic director will be notified shortly after the October 22 concert. The orchestra will prepare your proposed program of three concerts (subject to approval and amendment by the board) to be performed in early 2023 (January-June).

QUO’s 2021-2022 Season

For your reference in creating your season proposal, here is our previous season’s repertoire as an example as well as a link to our youtube to view past performances.

October 16, 2021 (The Music That Drives Us)

Jennifer Higdon- Fanfare Ritmico
Ludwig von Beethoven- Piano Concerto No. 4, with pianist Spencer Myer
Ludwig von Beethoven- Symphony No. 5.

March 12, 2022 (Fantastic Dreams)

Gilbert Galindo- Prelude to Hymns of the Sky
Sergei Rachmaninoff- Piano Concerto No. 2, with pianist James Adler
Hector Berlioz- Symphonie fantastique.

May 7, 2022 (Grandiose Spirit)

Zaq Latino- Living Enby (winning piece from our Transgender/Nonbinary Composer Call for Scores competition)
Sergei Rachmaninoff- Piano Concerto No. 3, with pianist Matthieu Cognet
Jean Sibelius- Symphony No. 2

June 18, 2022 (Our annual GayLa: A Celebration of Beauty)

Lucas Syed- Scenes from a Melodrama (world premiere)
Florence Price- The Oak
Samuel Barber- Adagio for Strings
John Williams- Star Wars Suite

Selection from Past Year's Rep

Bernstein - Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Jimmy Lopez - Man and Man
Mason Bates - Mothership
“Love Who You Love” music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
“The Best of Times” by Jerry Herman
Gershwin - An American in Paris

Videos of Some of Our Past Performances

https://www.youtube.com/user/queerurbanorchestra

Application

Name

Pronouns (optional)

Mailing address

Phone number

Email address

How did you hear about this application?

Cover letter

Resume or CV

Repertoire list

Biography

Sample program for QUO (see details above)

URL to Video of Conducting sample

Should you advance to the interview stage, you will attend a 40 minute interview on one of the following days from 7-10PM. Please rank them according to your preference (enter “1” for your first choice, “2” for your second choice, etc):

NOTE: If you submit the form but are not directed to a confirmation page, the form did not submit. Contact [email protected] for assistance. Thank you!