Arcadia Players, New England’s Period Instrument Ensemble
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SEARCH
Arcadia Players (arcadiaplayers.org) based in the Pioneer Valley in western Massachusetts and now celebrating its 34th season, announces a search for a new Artistic Director. The position will begin in the spring of 2024.
For information and to apply, please contact the Search Committee, in care of Jon Solins, President, at [email protected]
Arcadia Players embraces historically informed performance practice to illuminate and invigorate the great Western heritage of vocal and instrumental music.
We are a professional ensemble founded in 1989 and dedicated to offering music from the Renaissance through the eighteenth century in presentations to communities throughout Western Massachusetts and beyond. We engage local performers whenever possible and collaborate with the colleges and independent performing ensembles of the region.
THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
The Artistic Director serves in a consulting capacity as a contractor with Arcadia Players, and compensation is in the form of honoraria, typically divided into 12 monthly installments, and not in the form of salary and benefits. The Artistic Director of Arcadia Players works closely with the Board of Directors to plan and execute the organization’s yearly program of concerts. The AD presents to the Board by May of every year a proposal for the concert season comprising the fall (September-December) of that year and the spring (January-May) of the following year. The proposal includes a projected budget for musician costs and other production elements. The season plan and budget are adopted by the Board after discussion between the AD and the Board. Current practice includes two fall concerts, the second usually being a performance of Handel’s Messiah in December (although other repertoire is possible), and two spring concerts, plus a benefit concert at the end of the spring semester with the participation of the AD as a soloist, leader or director with supporting musicians. From time to time we act as presenter for one of the concerts, usually by our affiliated ensemble, Arcadia Viols.
The AD is contractor for all produced concerts, determining rehearsal schedule and hiring musicians, determining the amount of compensation for musicians in accordance with the budget, and the covering of expenses, if applicable. The AD provides each musician with a basic contract describing the service and compensation.
The AD is expected to be aware of musician resources in western New England, and to recognize the importance of diversity and of including local musicians in building audiences in the Pioneer Valley. The AD is expected to foster our relationship as Ensemble in Residence with the Arthur Kinney Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies, and to consider including Renaissance repertoire in concert and/or season plans.
While the Board is primarily responsible for fundraising, development, publicity, social media, concert and venue management, grant applications, program publication, and other administrative matters, the AD will assist the Board in these matters (providing advice, information, and on occasion representing the organization in public) where appropriate, and will participate in decisions regarding these matters as a part of her/his job. The AD will recognize that audience building and publicity for concerts are crucial to the continuing existence of AP as an organization.
The AD will normally communicate with the Board via the President of the Board, who will serve administratively as the day-to-day supervisor for and liaison with the AD. The AD is expected to attend board meetings whenever possible, and to be an integral participant in the overall activities of the organization.
Qualifications:
- extensive experience performing, programming, preparing and directing instrumental and vocal works of the Renaissance, Baroque and early Classical periods.
• Strong knowledge of historically-informed performance practice and of techniques to achieve appropriate period ornamentation, continuo playing, and vocal declamation, etc., from both ensembles and soloists.
- Ability to communicate effectively with audiences, performers and the Board; strong speaking and writing skills a plus.
- Familiarity with the early music community of western New England highly desirable.
