POSITION OPPORTUNITY: ProMusica Chamber Orchestra seeks a full-time Education Manager to join our dynamic team in inspiring the next generation of music lovers. Charged with implementing and managing ProMusica’s education and outreach programs, this position collaborates with musicians, educators, teachers, staff, and partners to provide impactful educational experiences to meet the needs of the community and that are aligned with ProMusica’s mission and strategic goals. Reporting to the CEO, the Education Manager fosters strong relationships throughout the greater Columbus region. This role requires creativity, strong organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple programs in a fast-paced environment. This position is a full-time salaried exempt position with full benefits package available. All are encouraged to apply.
CORE RESPONSIBILTIES:
Education Programs:
Plan, implement, and evaluate all ongoing education programs and outreach initiatives including but not limited to Musicians in Schools, Columbus Metropolitan Library Storytimes & Family Concert Series, and other projects as designed.
Manage and coordinate with the Lead Instructor and Ohio State University School of Music partners of the Play Us Forward (PUF) charter school instrumental program
Write lesson plans, develop curriculum, and lead the Infant & Toddler program studying the impact of music on early childhood literacy and learning.
Coordinate activities in conjunction with concerts (i.e., CODA Conversations, Open Rehearsals for Seniors, student group rehearsal attendance).
Identify gaps and create new opportunities that support education strategic goals as needed.
Identify masterclass opportunities with guest artists and musicians at area universities and schools.
Establish benchmarks to effectively evaluate data ensuring short- and long-term goals are met.
Develop themes, write scripts, lead and host family concerts and other outreach programs.
Outreach and Community Relationships:
Cultivate strong working relationships with local area educators, school administrators, classroom teachers, and colleagues in area arts organizations.
Develop new relationships with partners to support long-term goals and community needs.
Coordinate and maintain good relationships with ProMusica musicians to ensure collaborative planning and successful implementation of outreach programs.
Represent the orchestra at community education events and meetings as needed.
Administrative:
Oversee any education-related training needs for musicians, staff, interns or partners.
Work with Development to collect and analyze statistics for grant proposals and reporting purposes.
Work with Marketing to develop education related collateral and identify opportunities to promote programs including student ticket initiatives.
Develop budgets, schedules, and reports for all education programs. Monitor all expenses.
Recruit and manage internship program.
Keep a current understanding of trends in arts education, including best practices.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in music, music education, or arts/education related degree and/or 2+ years of classroom experience, education department of a performing arts organization. Hands-on experience may substitute for any education requirement.
Knowledge of orchestras and classical music.
Ability to interact professionally and personably with diverse personalities including musicians, staff, and the general public, especially when under pressure.
Ability to present programs to an audience, and comfortable with public speaking.
Highly motivated and able to inspire confidence.
Passionate about learning, music, and arts education.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, high attention to detail is essential.
Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize duties and complete tasks on deadline for multiple projects.
Ability to work independently but possess a collaborative and team player mentality.
Proficient with Microsoft Office.
Position involves work outside normal office hours at concerts/events/activities, with access to a vehicle for transportation needs.
BENEFITS:
Full-time salaried exempt position
Health, Dental, and Vision benefits
401k Retirement Plan
Paid holidays, vacation, sick time
TO APPLY: Please email a cover letter and resume to Janet Chen, CEO, at jchen@promusicacolumbus.org. Applications received byJune 25, 2025, are ensured full consideration. No phone calls, please. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
ProMusica does not discriminate in its employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for every staff member.
ProMusica is 37 musicians from all over the country who are redefining what it means to be a chamber orchestra. Led by Music Director David Danzmayr and Creative Partner, renowned violinist Vadim Gluzman, our vision is to engage, inspire, and connect people to the world around them through the joy of ProMusica. The orchestra both honors the classical traditions and champions the contemporary, with a deep commitment to new works, commissions, and premieres.
Founded in 1979, ProMusica reaches a broad audience, performing at the intimate Southern Theatre in downtown Columbus, in which it is the resident orchestra, and goes beyond the city limits, presenting concerts in surrounding neighborhoods. The orchestra presents an annual Summer Series of outdoor performances at the Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens and Westerville Alum Creek Amphitheater, and offers unique and intimate chamber ensemble concerts at non-traditional spaces including Natalie’s Coal-Fired Pizza, Nocterra Brewery, Rockmill Brewery, Brothers Drake Meadery, and Wolf’s Ridge Brewing. In 2017, ProMusica made its Chicago debut performing for a sold-out crowd at the prestigious North Shore Chamber Music Fe...stival. Chicago Classical Review noted the ensemble’s “robust unified string timbre [was] most impressive, having an abundant Mozartean grace.” Most recently, in May 2024, the orchestra collaborated with the award-winning artist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and visionary Jon Batiste for a two-day musical residency, which included the world premiere of his first piano concerto.
ProMusica’s performances are time-tested and modern, presented in ways that few orchestras can. Widely recognized as a national leader in promoting contemporary repertoire, we have commissioned 70 pieces and programmed over 120 world and regional premieres by composers including Pulitzer prize winners Kevin Puts and Aaron Jay Kernis, Joan Tower, Gabriela Montero, Conrad Tao, Lera Auerbach, Gabriela Lena Frank, Mark O’Connor, Michael Daugherty, and Joshua Roman. ProMusica has an active recording program with thirteen CDs released to date, including world premiere performances of our commissioned works. Our innovative NAKED CLASSICS series with renowned host and presenter Paul Rissmann, explores classical music in a fresh and completely approachable format. We are one of the few American chamber orchestras to have performed an entire Schubert Symphony Cycle (including Schubert scholar Brian Newbould’s finished versions of Unfinished and Symphony No. 10) and recently completed a two-year Beethoven Symphony Cycle.
Similar to many of our international guest artists, we embrace an array of eras and influences. The orchestra has forged unique collaborations with crossover artists including Rhiannon Giddens, Steep Canyon Rangers, Time for Three, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. This is all a testament to the world-class musicians on stage who thrive on artistic exploration and risk-taking — performing with the highest skill, emotion and humanity for our audiences.
Deeply rooted in our city’s cultural fabric, our outreach programs impact approximately 17,000 lives each season. ProMusica musicians travel to local schools serving as teaching artists, senior citizens attend working rehearsals, and underserved youth are given life-changing opportunities through the power of music. Programs such as “Play Us Forward” offer integrated, in-school based music curriculum, while Storytime and family concerts at Columbus Metropolitan Library branches provide arts access in nurturing neighborhood environments. “CODA: Post-concert Conversations” offer the opportunity for a direct dialogue between audiences and guest artists –– deepening engagement with the music and performers. A partnership with early childhood learning centers in Columbus focuses on the impact of music on early childhood development, a topic for which there is little existing documented research. This project is helping to remedy that void while also providing rich musical experiences for infants and toddlers from low-to-middle-income South Side families. Our free Summer Music Series demonstrates our unwavering commitment to offer accessible and transformative musical experiences to all residents in our community.
ProMusica has won eight ASCAP awards for Adventurous Programming and has received additional honors, including from the Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Columbus Jewish Foundation. In 2015, 2016, and 2018, the orchestra was selected as a recipient of The Columbus Performing Arts Prize, an esteemed award designated to celebrate and support the exceptional artistic directors of Columbus’ performing arts organizations and their aspirations for creative growth. In April 2019, ProMusica was named one of the “5 Nonprofits to Watch” by The Columbus Foundation.