Music Curator

Role and Responsibilities

Bronx Arts Ensemble Music Curator

Curate concert programming, focused on chamber music, for a performance season of 30-35 concerts, united by a theme.

Past themes include “BAE @ 50, Focus on the Americas, & Climate is Culture.”

*The ideal candidate will be an actively performing musician with extensive knowledge of chamber music composed by living & neglected composers.

Curate repertoire, in keeping with the season theme, for various configurations of our AFM, Local 802 Union chamber music ensemble: woodwind quintet, string quartet, and mixed ensemble, as well as guest artists. This is a creative & administrative position. The BAE Music Curator is required to engage with other members of the BAE administrative team, attend weekly team meetings(online & in-person), submit necessary written materials regarding concerts, respond to administrative deadlines,& be present at BAE performances, to act as host for concerts & to relay to the audience the season's theme and the significance of the chosen concert content.

Duties:

• Repertoire Research and Development
  • Curator 30-35 individual concert programs for 1-hour-long performances throughout different Bronx Communities
• Utilizing knowledge of Bronx communities, Bronx venues, and the history of BAE's collaboration with venue partners, design concert programming that supports various Bronx communities.
• Develop relationships with living composers & publishers to acquire music for season performances
• Explore compositions, establish relationships, and determine if their music is appropriate for the BAE.
• Create program notes and other informational materials
• Supply the BAE Marketing Team with program notes that will appear in print / online.
• Supply concert materials that may need to be incorporated into fundraising campaigns.

• Attend industry chamber music concerts, other genre performances, conferences, & gatherings of music presenters/administrators
• To keep pace with current trends in concert programming in the NYC area, regular attendance at area concerts & conferences is required to spur ideas for future season programming(noting repertoire, artists, etc.)
• Adhere to deadlines re: the designation of concert season theme & fully realized concert programming
• Supply crucial concert programming information to 3 BAE Administrative Departments: Concert, Marketing, and Development

Role in the BAE Concert Department:

Music Curator works collaboratively, year-round, with the Music Program Manager and Production Team to determine venues for programming, select Bronx-related guest artists/performing groups to present throughout the concert season, and aid in developing a performance calendar.

Relations with Bronx Arts Ensemble Local 802 Musicians

• Develop programming that presents the ensemble’s unique strengths
• Relay & explain concert program concepts to ensemble members

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Collaborative work with the Marketing Department:

• Provide concert programs & descriptions to the Marketing Department to create marketing materials for the BAE website, social media, & printed programs.
• Participate in Marketing Dept. meetings to discuss strategies to best promote concert performances.

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Collaborative work with the Development Department:

• Submit a high-level outline of concert programming to the Development Manager to submit to government & foundation grant applications/ final reports throughout various points in a year.
• Deadlines for applications & final reports are on a rolling basis year-round, so the Music Curator must be prepared to submit any needed concert programming information based on deadlines determined by the Development Manager & Executive Director.

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Qualifications and Education Requirements:

• Music performance experience, instrumental and/or vocal
• Knowledge of classical music (chamber music focused), jazz, pop, & various music repertoire
• Network of NYC music performance & composer professionals
• Undergraduate level degree (+ ) in Music Performance or a related field of study

Preferred Skills

• Strong communication and office-tech administrative skills.
• Nonprofit Arts Administration experience is a plus.
• Organized, project-driven, efficient worker. Able to work independently.
• Familiarity with labor relations, specifically the Local 802 Musicians’ Union.
• Google Suite

This is a part-time hybrid position with an expected 25 work hours a week. Salary: $36,400

MUSIC CURATOR IS EXPECTED TO ATTEND IN-PERSON BAE TEAM MEETINGS & CONCERTS.

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Hiring Process:

The position will be filled through a comprehensive application process encompassing multiple rounds of review.

• Applicants who are invited to the final round will be charged with the task of programming one concert, from conception to execution;

these finalists will be compensated for their programming work with a stipend.

• Finalists will work alongside members of the BAE Concert & Marketing departments to execute one concert performance and will be publicly credited as a “Guest Music Curator” during the BAE 2025-26 concert season. As a “Guest Music Curator,” you will also be required to submit your concert program notes to the BAE Development Manager regarding submission of final reports to funders.

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About BAE

The mission of the Bronx Arts Ensemble is to bring music and related arts to Bronx schools and neighborhoods. We contribute to the cultures of our Bronx communities through live performances and innovative arts education that stimulate creativity, imagination, and aspirations.