Assistant Director of Opera and Musical Theater and Associate Professor of Music

The Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University (OCU) invites applications for the nine-month, tenure track position of Assistant Director of Opera and Musical Theater and Associate Professor of Music. The successful candidate will be expected to stage direct operas and musicals, teach acting and related Opera/Musical Theater courses, and assist with administrative aspects of an Opera/Musical Theater program with a national reputation for excellence. Other duties include creative activity and service on university committees. Faculty members are expected to participate in the school's assessment program and in student recruiting and retention efforts for the school and the university. Effective teaching, scholarship, and service are required for promotion and tenure.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2027, OCU’s Opera and Musical Theater program enjoys a rarefied reputation of excellence and is frequently ranked among the top ten programs in the nation. Each season includes four fully produced shows plus two additional productions with reduced production support. The program is highly regarded for its uniquely holistic training for the 21st century artist. Graduates find success on national tours; cruise ships; and on stages of Broadway houses, the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, La Scala, and Dorr Opera Berlin; as well as in casting offices, legal firms, and in classrooms around the world. The vast OCU alumni network is supportive and engaged, allowing for fluid and frequent touch points between current students and working professionals. Even more, this is a dynamic period for the School of Music. Through key partnerships with Oklahoma Youth Orchestra, Canterbury Voices, OKC Ballet, and the OKC Philharmonic, among others, the Bass School of Music is positioned at the crossroads of music-making in the state and throughout the heartland. The School is also preparing to launch a 3-year strategic plan that, among other things, recommits to being a national leader in developing degree programs and creative pathways for the 21st century artist. The ideal candidate will arrive prepared to join these robust conversations and to help guide the School into this next chapter.

OCU is committed to building a diverse and inclusive faculty, staff, and student body. We welcome applications from members of groups traditionally underrepresented in the faculties of higher education institutions. The Bass School of Music is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and is aligned with our university’s overarching vision and mission. Further, we aspire to engage in our work in equitable and inclusive ways, and desire to work with a team member who is committed to our university’s and Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s strategic goals.

Qualifications

• Doctorate or MFA in directing, vocal/opera performance, or a related field required
• A national reputation as a director of both opera and musicals with significant professional experience
• Experience designing and teaching acting courses for singers
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, retain, and inspire students at the collegiate level

About Us

The Wanda L. Bass School of Music is an all-Steinway school and a fully accredited institutional member of NASM with 300 undergraduate and 60 graduate students. Boasting world-class rehearsal facilities and an established reputation for excellence in classical as well as popular music styles, the Bass School of Music enjoys a pride of place in a dynamic city, a fast-developing region, and among art and entertainment industries around the world. Alumni are known for their preparedness for multi-hyphenate careers, by the difference they make in their communities, and by their notable successes in orchestras, opera houses, Broadway stages, classrooms, and as leaders in arts organizations.

Oklahoma City University is a coeducational, urban private university located in the historic and vibrant Uptown 23rd District in the heart of Oklahoma City: a unique, friendly, and energized city with a low cost of living and lots of sunshine. The university is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and offers a variety of degrees in the liberal arts, fine arts, health sciences, law, and business. It is a uniquely creative place—over half the undergraduate population is majoring in music, dance, or theatre. OCU is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the country by U.S. News & World Report, and Oklahoma City University is also listed in Forbes' "Best Christian Colleges" & "100 Best College Buys." https://youtu.be/N4Boc4Zplfk

Employee Benefits

The faculty of OCU are given a package designed to fit the needs of individuals and families. Benefits offered include health (medical, dental and vision) insurance, flexible spending accounts, university paid life insurance, university paid long-term disability insurance, retirement plans, and tuition remission for employees and qualifying dependents who wish to take classes or pursue a degree at OCU.

Required Application Materials

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter – applicants should reflect on their relationship to both musical theater and opera and how their artistic practice might incorporate or balance between among these styles in OCU’s production and training environment
• Links to representative performances (within the past five years) including at least one live, unedited video recording
• Contact information for three professional references

Deadline

Screening will begin January 15, 2027, and will continue until the position is filled.

Contact

Dr. Kelly Holst, Chair

Assistant Director of Opera and Music Theatre Search Committee

kmholst@okcu.edu

Diversity Advocate

Oklahoma City University is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the values and goals of diversity.