Work with the Denver Chorale

Artistic Director in Training

Date Posted: June 16, 2025
Applications Due: July 28, 2025

About the Denver Chorale

Established in 2009, the Denver Chorale (DC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit choir.

Today, the Chorale is a cultural fixture in the Denver metro area, delighting audiences at a wide range of events – from community celebrations and vigils to Christmas parades, Rockies games, gracing the stage at Carnegie Hall, and more.

The Denver Chorale is led by a Board of Directors, made up of volunteer members who meet at least monthly to assist in the management of the organization, including fundraising, marketing, grantwriting, and more.

Our Mission

The Denver Chorale’s mission is to engage, encourage, and serve the community by sharing the love of music and excellent musical performance. We advocate the virtues of music, especially its healing power and guiding contribution to social movements. We gladly welcome the participation of all people interested in supporting our endeavors.

The Opportunity

For the first 4-6 months of this role, you will serve in an Assistant Director capacity as you shadow our current Artistic Director, Valerie Montaño, during her last season with us. This will allow us to have a mutual evaluation period where you can get to know the Denver Chorale and we can evaluate your performance. After that time, you will move into her position as the sole Artistic Director of the Denver Chorale!

There is a one-year commitment required at the end of your training period (to end after May 2026); from there, you’ll proceed on a season-by-season basis. (Note: This is a 1099 role, not a W-2 position, and will not receive any benefits.)

Because of this arrangement, we have separated your responsibilities by title.

Artistic Director in Training (7-10 hours/week through May 2026)

  • Serve as the Temporary Assistant Director to Valerie Montaño, current Artistic Director, shadowing her in all chorale functions, including music selection, running rehearsals, preparing DC members for a variety of events, and conducting DC singers as needed.

  • Attend all full-chorus DC rehearsals and retreats and assist the Artistic Director with all DC musical events. 

  • Substitute for the Artistic Director in their absence due to scheduled or unscheduled absences.

  • Maintain communication with the Artistic Director.

  • Attend DC’s monthly Board of Directors’ meetings on an as-needed basis.

  • Act as (or assign) liaison to communicate with related DC stakeholder groups (singers, audience members, other musicians, vendors, etc.) about DC events in tandem with the Board of Directors as needed.

  • Assist DC board members with concert-related logistics as needed.

  • Embrace and live the values of the Denver Chorale.

  • Be open to and capable of actively engaging with the LGBTQ+ community and demonstrating inclusive leadership towards queer individuals and other marginalized groups and identities.

  • Assist the Artistic Director with solo and ensemble auditions and final selections.

  • Study and prepare music for concerts as assigned by the Artistic Director.

  • Estimated time commitment is an average; time spent on Chorale tasks to span our concert seasons (January to May and August to November), then decrease significantly during the Summer and between the holidays.

Artistic Director (10-15 hours/week starting June 2026)

  • Serve as Director of the Denver Chorale a 70+ person, mixed voice choir, including selecting music, running rehearsals to prepare DC members for concerts and other events, working with the community to create opportunities for outreach gigs (i.e., SSB performances at Rockies games, caroling outings, etc.), and conducting the choir at all concerts and outreach events.

  • Attend and conduct all full-chorus DC rehearsals, retreats, and events.

  • Attend all monthly Board of Directors’ meetings as a non-voting member.

  • Act as (or assign) liaison to communicate with related DC stakeholder groups (singers, audience members, other musicians, vendors, etc.) about DC events in tandem with the Board of Directors as needed.

  • Assist DC board members with concert-related logistics as needed.

  • Embrace and live the values of the Denver Chorale.

  • Be open to and capable of actively engaging with the LGBTQ+ community and demonstrating inclusive leadership towards queer individuals and other marginalized groups and identities.

  • Hold and select solo and ensemble auditions throughout each season.

  • Study and prepare music for all concerts, performances, and events.

  • Assist/manage ongoing new member auditions.

  • Estimated time commitment is an average; time spent on Chorale tasks to span our concert seasons (January to May and August to November), then decrease significantly during the Summer and between the holidays.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Masters in Music, Choral Conducting preferred

  • Professional performance experience as a conductor in concerts

  • Outstanding musical expertise, musical ear, and commitment to excellence in choral pedagogy and repertoire selection

  • Passionate about fostering collaboration, creativity, teamwork, discipline, and high musical standards in a choral setting

  • Strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal/communication skills

  • Dedication to upholding the diversity, inclusivity, equity, and accessibility commitments of the Denver Chorale

Start Date

January 13th, 2026 for our Spring 2026 season

Stipend/Pay

Artistic Director in Training/Assistant Director (Spring concert season, January to May): $5,000 - $7,000

Artistic Director (following the end of the Spring 2026 concert season): $16,000 - $20,000 annually

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume, along with a video of rehearsal footage, to board@denverchorale.org. If you do not have a video, we request that you submit two reference letters from musicians who can speak about your leadership ability. Please email materials to board@denverchorale.org by July 28.

The interview process will span 2-3 rounds, consisting of a one-on-one interview with our current Artistic Director, a panel interview with members of our Executive Committee, and an optional in-person observation.

Questions

Please contact Lindsay Dvorak, board president, at board@denverchorale.org or 720-507-7075.