Resident Conductor

New York City Ballet is one of the foremost dance companies in the world, with a roster of spectacular dancers and an unparalleled repertory. Founded in 1948 by George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein, New York City Ballet quickly became world-renowned for its athletic and contemporary style. Widely acknowledged for its enduring contributions to dance, New York City Ballet is committed to promoting creative excellence and nurturing a new generation of dancers and choreographers. The School of American Ballet is the official training academy of the New York City Ballet.

NYCB’s musical repertory is a broad collection of works both written for the ballet and not, ranging from canonical works of the orchestral, chamber, and solo music repertory to new music commissioned by the company. Frequently performed ballets are set to music by Bach, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Strauss, Hindemith, Shostakovich, Philip Glass, and John Adams.

The Resident Conductor reports to the Music Director. NYCB currently presents twenty-two weeks of performances at Lincoln Center in New York City and several weeks on tour annually, including regular weeks in Saratoga Springs, NY and Washington, D.C. The Resident Conductor is expected to be present during all NYCB regular performance weeks, pre-season rehearsal weeks, and additional domestic and foreign tours as assigned by the Music Director.

This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position. The hours of work will vary according to performance schedule and will include fluctuating flexibility depending on the company’s seasonal needs. The salary is paid over fifty-two weeks. 

Resumes accepted through Friday, March 15, 2025

Though not required, you may include a cover letter and/or a link to video of a recent performance.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct or cover performances of NYCB repertoire as assigned by the Music Director. A typical six-week season contains approximately twenty-five ballets, and the Resident Conductor may be responsible for performing or covering performances of up to half of that repertoire.
• Attend stage, studio and music rehearsals of all assigned ballets, including covers, during pre-season rehearsal and performance weeks. The Resident Conductor might not conduct orchestra rehearsals of assigned repertoire and must have extensive experience performing challenging works without an orchestra rehearsal.
• Assist the music and dance staff, choreographers, and composers in preparing materials for new and revived works including editing and marking scores, parts, and piano reductions.
• Additional duties may be assigned by the Music Director.

Minimum Requirements 

• A formal education in classical music and knowledge of the orchestral repertory.
• Professional experience conducting orchestral music for dance.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, the ability to work collectively in high-pressure environments, and high-level self‐motivation are essential qualities of the successful candidate.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications is required, and familiarity with music notation software is desirable.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently exposed to office, rehearsal studio, and theatrical settings including stages, orchestra pits and backstage environments.
• The following physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the minimum requirements of this position. They include standing and conducting for long periods of time, climbing stairs, and maneuvering safely in confined and darkened spaces that may have uneven floor surfaces and contain an array of theatrical, electrical and musical equipment and high levels of physical activity.

New York City Ballet is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruiting and employment. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, citizenship status, disability, pregnancy, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, military status or veteran status, status as a victim of domestic violence, unemployment status, familial status, sexual violence or stalking victim status, caregiver status, arrest or conviction record to extent required by applicable law, credit history or any other characteristic protected by law. 

Statement of Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

New York City Ballet, one of the foremost ballet companies in the world, pursues the highest levels of artistic excellence and innovation. Therefore, we seek to attract, retain, and cultivate the most talented dancers, musicians, designers, stage technicians, and arts administrators. To this end, we are deeply committed to creating and sustaining an organizational culture that values diversity, inclusion, and equity. We are inspired by our founders, George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein, who envisioned an authentically American expression of ballet with a company that reflects the rich cultural diversity of this nation. In pursuit of their vision, we are committed to educating, developing, and supporting an organization that embodies diversity in its many forms.      

Salary : $185,000 - $215,000