Executive Director

Cantabile Youth Singers of Silicon Valley (www.cantabile.org) invites interest from leaders passionate about the arts and youth programming to serve as its next Executive Director.

WHO ARE WE?

Cantabile Youth Singers provides world-class vocal music instruction and performance opportunities for youth ages 6 to 18 in a supportive, enriching choral community that fosters the innate beauty, talent, and individual freedom of expression within each singer. Founded in 1994, Cantabile has been led artistically by Russian-American conductor and music educator Elena Sharkova since 2004. Artists. Scholars. Leaders. Friends. These four concepts are at the center of Cantabile’s program, which serves students of all genders and gender identities.

Explore Cantabile’s Work

LISTEN: Sound Cloud

PRESS: SF Classical Voice - Cantabile 30th Anniversary Cantabile a Winner at European Choir Games

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WATCH: Get to Know Cantabile Youth Singers What is your favorite thing about Cantabile?

Cantabile’s distinctiveness in the region is delivered through its challenging, global repertoire; high caliber performance and engagement opportunities; and its unique curriculum. Its holistic approach to choral education forges vocal artistry, music theory and history; movement and mindfulness; and leadership development. Students engage with works across multiple languages and cultures, studying the historical, cultural, and musical significance of every work performed; incorporate movement work that engages the full mind and body in the art of singing and promotes community; engage in weekly high-level music theory classes (age appropriate); and have extensive opportunities for student leadership. (An average Cantabile season includes works in 8-10 different languages; a performing student who participates for four years experiences music from 20-25 distinct cultures and multiple genres.) Cantabile top choirs tour internationally every year and have given stand-alone concerts in fifteen countries and musical landmarks such as the Berliner Philharmonie, Notre Dame de Paris, Carnegie Hall, St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, Glinka Kapella in St. Petersburg, Montserrat Abbey, Wells Cathedral and St. Martin-in-the-fields, among others. It performs with professional and collegiate partners regularly including Symphony San Jose & Chorale, Opera San Jose, New Ballet, Stanford Symphony, and Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, among others. The result is artistic training among the highest levels delivered in a supportive community.

Since 2023, Cantabile has increased enrollment by approximately 20 percent (primarily in the Training Division) and welcomed new faculty and staff. Most recent collaborations include performances with the Symphony San Jose’ & Chorale’s Holiday Spectacular and San Jose Opera’s The Magic Flute and La Bohème. Cantabile hosted the St. Catherine’s Girls’ Choir from Cambridge and have been invited to visit Cambridge next summer. The Avanti choir will be touring to Denver’s Mile High Choir Festival. Cantabile was featured at the Stanford Live Concert Series at Bing Concert Hall on June 8 with a premiere of its latest commission, a multi-movement composition by Jocelyn Hagen, We Are the Garden. Maestra Sharkova frequently leads professional ensembles, and recently conducted the BBC Singers, Seraphic Fire, and Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble.

Read the full job description here

• Salary: The compensation package will be competitive and informed by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, experience, qualifications, and training needs at the time of hiring. The hiring range will start at $125,000. The Board is committed to developing a meaningful bonus structure that acknowledges individual and organizational performance beginning in year two.
• Start Date: Negotiable, Targeting Late Fall 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.
• Cantabile operates in a flexible hybrid working environment. All administrative work is performed remotely. Full-time employees work 40 hours per week on a mutually agreed upon schedule that balances staff, chorister, donor, and community engagement. Staff and Board meetings are conducted virtually. In-person activities encompass weekly attendance at select rehearsals, donor & prospective parent meetings, and marketing/visibility/relationship building opportunities, as well as seasonal attendance at performances and events (fundraising events, parent sing-a-longs, staff/board retreats, and similar). There are some weekend and evening hours for the aforementioned activities. The Executive Director will design their schedule to best achieve the organization's strategic goals and support and engage the staff and Board in these efforts. Cantabile’s core programming aligns with the academic year and summer months are slower.
• Compensation package includes a health insurance stipend, competitive paid time off, and professional development funding. A technology stipend is provided to cover the use of one’s personal cell phone and home office. The Board is supportive of partnering with the incoming Executive Director to continue to research and expand employee benefits as the organization’s revenue grows. A relocation stipend will be considered for non-local candidates. A company laptop will be provided.