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Position Announcement: Co-Principal Conductor

Payne-Phalen Community Band – Saint Paul, MN

The Payne-Phalen Community Band, based in East Saint Paul, is seeking a Co-Principal Conductor to join our artistic leadership team. This is a unique opportunity to help guide a growing non-auditioned community ensemble that performs free concerts in East St. Paul.

About the Payne-Phalen Community Band

The Payne-Phalen Community Band brings together volunteer musicians of all ages and backgrounds to share the joy of music with our community. We rehearse weekly at Johnson Senior High School (Saint Paul, MN) and perform 3-4 concerts each season, with a repertoire ranging from classical and contemporary concert band works to marches, jazz, and show tunes.

Our mission centers on three key goals:

1. Promoting the continued musical education and growth of our members
2. Supporting music education in Saint Paul Public Schools
3. Fostering a greater appreciation for band music by offering concerts to the public

Role: Co-Principal Conductor

The Co-Principal Conductor works in collaboration with the other Principal Conductor (Todd Hanlon-Alle) and the Board of Directors to provide artistic leadership for the band. This shared role allows for flexibility, collaboration, and the opportunity to bring fresh ideas to the ensemble’s programming and direction. This is not an associate conductor position – this would be an equal partnership/equal podium time with our conductor Todd Hanlon-Alle. Non-podium time would be playing in the band (preferably on a needed instrument).

Key Responsibilities

• Bring a perspective to our band that reflects the diverse experiences in our community
• Co-lead rehearsals and concerts with the other Principal Conductor
• Collaborate in selecting and programming repertoire that balances musical growth, audience appeal, and diversity of composers and styles
• Work closely with other principal conductor, board members, and section leaders to ensure balanced instrumentation, fair part assignments, and artistic development
• Support an inclusive, positive environment for volunteer musicians of varying skill levels and backgrounds
• Serve as a visible leader at rehearsals, concerts, and community events
• Play in the band for non-podium time (preferably on a needed instrument in the band)
• Partner with the Board of Directors on artistic and organizational planning
  
  

Qualifications

• Experience conducting community, school, or collegiate ensembles
• Confident teacher in front of peers and adults
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment
• Knowledge of concert band repertoire and rehearsal techniques
• A collaborative spirit and enthusiasm for community music-making
• Someone looking for a partnership and to grow as a team with another conductor

Preferred Qualifications

·      Someone with a jazz background or feels confident in their jazz pedagogical skills

Time Commitment

• Weekly rehearsals: Mondays, 7:00–9:00 p.m. (September–June) at Johnson Senior High School
• 4 concerts annually, plus occasional outreach or special events

Compensation

As this is our first season, and we are building our group and music library, Todd Hanlon-Alle (the other principal conductor) is not taking a stipend for the 2025-26 season. This position will not have a stipend for the season, however one of the objectives for the second year board will be looking into stipends for the conductors. (As Todd is the current board president/treasurer in the startup year of the band, he felt it was a conflict of interest to give himself or any other conductor a stipend while in this role).

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Payne-Phalen Community Band values diversity and inclusivity. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and are committed to building a leadership team that reflects our community.

How to Apply

Please submit:

• A cover letter outlining your conducting experience and interest in community music
• A résumé
• Links to conducting video that best shows off your personal style – this does not have to be a concert performance – feel free to send a recording from a rehearsal, a concert, or even a video of yourself conducting along to a recording.

Send materials to paynephalencommunityband@gmail.com by [10/18]. The board will look over materials and will communicate with finalists and those not being considered within the month after the position closes.


Payne-Phalen Community Band
Attn: Todd Hanlon-Alle
PO Box 9086 
Saint Paul, MN 55109