Choir Accompanist

Choir Accompanist

Community Music Center seeks an accompanist to accompany a Community Choir as part of a Community Music Center Neighborhood Choir Program for Older Adults & Adults with Disabilities. This choir for older adults is a collaboration between Community Music Center and a neighborhood senior center. Choir members practice, sing, help organize performances, and perform in the community. Learn more about the Neighborhood Choir Program for Older Adults & Adults with Disabilities here: https://sfcmc.org/play/neighborhood-choir-program/

Purpose:
To accompany a Community Choir of older adults at the Tel Hi Neighborhood Center who will sing songs in Cantonese, and potentially other languages. The accompanist along with the Choir Director will inspire the participants and set a tone for fun and friendly engagement through music.

Training will be provided on issues related to choir singing and older voices and the methods of this project.

Principal Job Responsibilities:

• Accompany Choir at weekly rehearsals and performances.
• Assist and support the Choir Director as needed in rehearsal.
• Assist and support Choir Director to arrange and/or transcribe accompaniment parts as needed.
• Accompany Choir Director for recordings of rehearsal CDs as needed.
• Support opportunities for socializing among choir participants including at rehearsal breaks and potlucks after performances.
• Develop positive relationships with the choir and the project team through effective and timely oral and written interpersonal communications.
• Arrange for a substitute accompanist in his or her absence.
• Participant in evaluation process of Choir(s)

Qualifications:

• Experience accompanying choirs.
• Ability to read charts and transpose songs as needed.
• Ability to assist choir director as needed to sing second vocal part with choir members.
• Excellent people skills, with a willingness to learn from the senior community.
• Cultural sensitivity and awareness of cultural background(s) of chorus members.
• Knowledge and ability to play diverse music styles.
• Experience working with older adults
• Bi-lingual Cantonese/English preferred

Status: Hourly beginning April 2025

Location and Hours: Tel Hi Neighborhood Center in North Beach.

Days/Times to be confirmed, one two hour session/week on a weekday early afternoon: Pilot Project for 2025 with a possible renewal of residency after the pilot.

Compensation: $72/hour (this includes contact time and prep time). Additional opportunities are available for compensated performances and meetings, free practice room and studio rental as available.

About Community Music Center (CMC): Community Music Center’s mission is to make high quality music accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, regardless of financial means. We’re committed to centering equity and inclusion in our programs and across all aspects of our organization. We are a nonprofit institution founded in 1921 with branches in the Mission District, Richmond Districts, and at partnership sites throughout San Francisco serving 3,400 students annually. https://sfcmc.org/

Application Process: Email a resume and cover letter to: cmcfacultyopenings@sfcmc.org. Please include “CMC Neighborhood Choir Accompanist” in the subject of your email. In the cover letter, please share what styles of music you are most rooted in/familiar with and what language(s) you speak. Only those being considered will be contacted. No phone calls, please. CMC is an equal opportunity employer.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

The faculty of Community Music Center share the belief that the joy and satisfaction of learning to make music should be available to everyone, regardless of age, talent or means. Community Music Center seeks instructors with experience teaching a variety of styles, including western classical, jazz, rock, blues, Latin, flamenco, middle eastern and Chinese music.

Community Music Center expects faculty to provide well-rounded, quality music instruction:

• encourage creativity, originality and personal expression
• establish consistency in attendance and progress
• demonstrate the value of proper practice habits
• exercise flexibility and sensitivity in response to the student
• tailor teaching to the individual needs, abilities, and goals of each student
• teach a full palette of fundamental musical skills
• turn momentary failures into positive lessons
• review previously learned material to establish continuity
• answer the students’ questions and encourage follow-up inquiry and research
• inspire students through passion, talents and love for teaching which in turn will foster their musical and personal growth

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $72.00 per hour

Expected hours: 2 – 3 per week

Schedule:

• Day shift

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Commute:

• San Francisco, CA 94133 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $72