Director, School of Music
The School of Music at the University of Arizona is entering an important moment of opportunity and transformation. If you believe music is not only a discipline but a force that shapes culture, education, and community life, this is an opportunity to lead a school that is ready to expand its impact and reimagine how a school of music in a land-grant, research university prepares students to thrive in the professional landscape of the future.
The School stands on strong foundations—with a faculty of award-winning educators, exceptional musicians, and distinguished scholars, and students who pursue meaningful careers across performance, education, arts leadership, and community engagement. Deeply integrated into Tucson’s cultural life, the School serves as a cornerstone of Arizona’s arts community through long‑standing partnerships with K–12 schools, community organizations, and regional arts institutions.
At the same time, the global music profession is undergoing fundamental change. Today’s musicians build portfolio careers that may span a breadth of activities within academia, education, and industry. The next Director will guide a collective re-envisioning of the School’s culture, curriculum, and partnerships, balancing traditional excellence with forward‑looking approaches to professional versatility and evolving career pathways.
This is a rare opportunity to lead from strength while shaping a dynamic future for a school that is grounded in excellence and engaging in innovation.
Candidate Profile
The University of Arizona seeks a thoughtful, collaborative, and imaginative academic leader who understands the rapidly changing landscape of higher education and is excited to help shape a twenty-first-century music program that is designed to provide success for every student.
The successful candidate will bring pedagogical expertise, research or creative distinction, and intellectual curiosity about how musicians learn, create, and engage with the world. They will recognize that students today move across multiple professional contexts, including performance, education, recording, composition, technology, entrepreneurship, community engagement, and transdisciplinary fields such as music and health.
This leader will be energized to join a school that is examining long‑standing assumptions about curriculum, professional preparation, and the role of a music program within a public research university. They will honor the School’s history and strengths while empowering faculty and students to imagine new possibilities for even greater impact, relevance, and visibility.
The next Director will bring clarity, confidence, and the ability to lead meaningful change while also valuing shared governance and collaboration. Leaders whose backgrounds include music education, research, performance, composition, music production, arts leadership, interdisciplinary practice, or creative industries are encouraged to apply.
About the School of Music
The School of Music offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs in performance, music education, composition, conducting, musicology, music theory, and arts leadership. It is one of the country’s top comprehensive music programs, with approximately 60 faculty members, 300 undergraduate music majors, and 130 master’s and doctoral students. It is an all-Steinway School with multiple performance spaces, a recording studio, and a Yamaha digital keyboard lab. Recent faculty accolades include Leonard Bernstein Scholar-in-Residence at the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Sudler Award for the Pride of Arizona Marching Band, and Symphonic Choir’s performance for the National Collegiate Choral Organization.
Current students and alumni have won national and international competitions, presented and performed at the invitation of professional organizations, and earned awards for their research. The School is home to numerous nationally and internationally recognized programs. Music Education is a signature strength, with a long‑standing 100 percent job placement rate for graduates. The School’s rapidly growing Bachelor of Arts program reflects student demand for a range of academic opportunities in music study.
Students find a welcoming and collaborative community. As regional, national, and international artists, the faculty contribute to a vibrant learning environment that connects musical instruction with professional practice. They bring real-world expertise directly into their roles as mentors.
Alongside its notable strengths, the School has meaningful opportunities to enhance national visibility, modernize degree pathways, expand programming, strengthen interdisciplinary connections, and align resources in support of forward‑looking priorities. The University of Arizona is committed to supporting the School’s continued evolution and positioning it as a leader among music programs at public research universities.
What You Will Lead
As Director, you will lead a school that views music as both an artistic discipline and a catalyst for discovery, creativity, and community engagement.
Working in partnership with faculty, students, and staff, you will strengthen academic programs while exploring new models of teaching, collaboration, and artistic production. You will guide conversations about how musicians are educated, how curriculum evolves, and how a music school prepares students for a complex professional environment.
Students already benefit from strong mentorship, significant ensemble experiences, and professional opportunities. Many teach, perform, and engage in community leadership prior to graduation. You will build on these strengths while expanding opportunities to connect musical preparation with entrepreneurship, technology, interdisciplinary collaboration, and public engagement.
You will be supported by a university that values the arts and by the wider Arizona Arts ecosystem.
Arizona Arts
A nationally recognized model for elevating the arts within a public research university, Arizona Arts serves as a gateway to visual and performing arts experiences, programs, and assets at the University of Arizona. It brings together the academic programs of the College of Fine Arts, which includes the Schools of Music, Art, Dance, and Theatre, Film & Television, with highly regarded research units, including the Center for Creative Photography, the University of Arizona Museum of Art, and Arizona Arts Live.
This structure connects education, research, performance, and public engagement in distinctive ways. Faculty and students benefit from direct access to presenting programs, exhibitions, visiting artists and scholars, community initiatives, and international collaborations. Within this ecosystem, the School of Music plays a vital role in shaping the artistic, educational, and cultural life of Southern Arizona. Learn more about Arizona Arts by visiting www.arts.arizona.edu. Additional information about the College of Fine Arts can be found at www.cfa.arizona.edu.
The University of Arizona and Tucson
With more than one billion dollars in annual research expenditures, the University of Arizona is one of the nation’s leading public research universities. As Arizona’s land‑grant institution, a member of the Association of American Universities, and a Hispanic‑Serving Institution, the University combines research excellence with deep commitments to access, public engagement, and student success.
Tucson is a city shaped by creativity, cultural exchange, and artistic experimentation. An hour from the Mexican border and rooted in Indigenous, Latinx, and Western traditions, Tucson offers a rich and welcoming environment for musicians, educators, and scholars. The Sonoran Desert landscape, vibrant arts scene, and collaborative cultural community make Tucson a place where creativity thrives.
Key Responsibilities
Academic Vision and Excellence
- Lead the continued evolution of a rigorous, forward‑looking curriculum grounded in musical excellence, creative inquiry, and cross‑disciplinary collaboration.
- Leverage the School’s traditions and strengths while advancing innovation in teaching, research, and performance.
Faculty, Staff, and Culture
- Foster a culture of respect, transparency, collaboration, and shared purpose.
- Support the professional growth of faculty and staff and foster an inclusive and creative academic environment.
Student Experience and Success
- Strengthen recruitment and retention through programs that connect learning with performance, professional practice, and community engagement.
- Champion pathways that prepare students for meaningful and sustainable musical careers.
Research and Creative Practice
- Support faculty and student research, performances, publications, and creative work across disciplines.
- Enhance the School’s visibility and impact within the University’s R1 and AAU research context.
Partnerships and Advancement
- Collaborate with the College and Arizona Arts development teams to strengthen relationships with alumni, donors, and community partners.
- Serve as an ambassador for the School locally, nationally, and internationally.
Operational Leadership
- Manage budgets, personnel, facilities, and resources with transparency and care.
- Ensure that facilities and equipment support the evolving needs of 21stcentury higher music education and performance.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- An appropriate terminal degree or equivalent.
- A record of professional achievement sufficient for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.
- Demonstrated ability to inspire, unify, and lead a diverse academic community.
- Commitment to faculty, staff, and student development.
- Interest in building and sustaining strong external partnerships and advancing development initiatives.
Preferred Qualifications
- Academic administrative experience aligned with the demands of the position.
- An established record of research, performance, creative practice, or leadership consistent with the School’s mission.
- Experience with financial and organizational models in complex research institutions.
- Demonstrated success in securing support from a wide range of constituencies.
- Outstanding communication skills.
- Qualifications sufficient for appointment at the rank of Professor.
Learn More and Apply
Please visit https://arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/4/home/requisition/25511?c=arizona to apply. Review of applications begins April 20, 2026, and will remain open until position is filled.
