PORTLAND, Ore. — July 29, 2026 — Cappella Romana, the internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble devoted to the sacred music of the Christian East and West, today announced a search for its next Music Director. The successful candidate will serve as the ensemble’s chief artistic visionary, principal conductor, and researcher, guiding performances of medieval Byzantine chant alongside related Orthodox liturgical music and rarely heard sacred works from Western Christian traditions.
“All of us at Cappella Romana are excited about this new chapter,” said Mark Powell, Executive Director. “We’re also grateful for our long-time partnership with Early Music America, where I served on staff in the early 2000s. We also encourage EMA members to recommend possible candidates to us.”
The Music Director will curate and conduct concerts, recordings, and tours; design multi-year artistic plans in partnership with the executive director and board; and recruit guest conductors and artists for specialized projects. The role also carries responsibilities in donor engagement, fundraising, and public communication.
The position is structured as an independent contractor role and does not require relocation to the Pacific Northwest. The contract is envisioned to include a minimum of four Pacific Northwest concert residencies, one tour, and one recording project annually, with compensation ranging from $40,000 to $50,000 per year.
Candidates should hold a master’s degree or Ph.D. in music history, musicology, theology, or divinity, or a Diploma in Byzantine Music, or equivalent experience, along with at least three years of advanced experience in Byzantine chant and choral leadership. Preferred qualifications include experience as a Byzantine chant soloist, vocal coaching expertise, familiarity with additional liturgical traditions such as Slavic/Russian Orthodox or Latin repertoire, and five or more years of prior Music Director experience.
Applicants should submit a cover letter and comprehensive CV to musicdirectorapplication@cappellaromana.org by August 31, 2026.
Recommendations of candidates can be sent to the same email address above.
More details can be found at https://cappellaromana.org/musicdirectorsearch
Cappella Romana is an Equal Opportunity Contractor and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds; selection is based solely on merit, talent, skill, and potential.
About Cappella Romana
Founded in 1991 and based in the Pacific Northwest, Cappella Romana is a professional vocal ensemble dedicated to experiencing and sharing the transcendent beauty of sacred music from the Christian East and West, especially Byzantium. The ensemble presents annual concert series in Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco, tours nationally and internationally, and releases recordings on its label, Cappella Records, distributed by NAXOS. Its publishing arm, Cappella Romana Publications, produces scholarly editions of Byzantine chant, choral works, and related repertoire for ensembles worldwide.
Media Contact: Mark Powell, Executive Director, 503-236-8202, mark@cappellaromana.org
