Chorus Manager

Chorus Manager

Artistic Operations Department

Artistic Planning

THE ORGANIZATION

The San Francisco Symphony is among the most adventurous and innovative arts institutions in the United States, celebrated for its artistic excellence, creative performance concepts, award-winning recordings, and standard-setting education and community engagement programs. Since it was established in 1911, the Symphony has grown in acclaim under a succession of distinguished music directors: Henry Hadley, Alfred Hertz, Basil Cameron, Issay Dobrowen, Pierre Monteux, Enrique Jordá, Josef Krips, Seiji Ozawa, Edo de Waart, Herbert Blomstedt, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Esa-Pekka Salonen.   

The San Francisco Symphony presents more than 200 concerts and presentations annually for an audience of nearly 350,000 in its home of Davies Symphony Hall and around the Bay Area. A cornerstone of its mission, the San Francisco Symphony provides some of the most extensive education and community programs offered by any American orchestra. The Symphony’s free music education experiences engage students in grades 1–12 throughout the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), serving more than 25,000 students annually.

In 2001, the SF Symphony became the first American orchestra to launch its own in-house record label SFS Media. Recorded live in concert and engineered at Davies Symphony Hall, SFS Media recordings showcase music by contemporary composers as well as core classical masterworks. San Francisco Symphony radio broadcasts, the first in the nation to feature symphonic music when they began in 1926, today carry the Orchestra’s concerts across the country. In 2004, the SF Symphony launched the groundbreaking multimedia Keeping Score series on PBS-TV and the web; the series was made available for unlimited free streaming on the Symphony’s YouTube channel in 2020. In 2014, the San Francisco Symphony inaugurated SoundBox, an experimental and eclectic live music series, which takes place in an alternative performance space located backstage at Davies Symphony Hall. In 2023, the San Francisco Symphony partnered with Apple for the launch of a new classical music streaming app, Apple Music Classical, and has since released 15 spatial audio recordings of live concert performances through the app. For its adventurous programming, the Symphony has been honored 19 times by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, and the Symphony’s recordings have garnered France’s Grand Prix du Disque and Britain’s Gramophone Award, as well as 17 Grammy® Awards.

JOB SUMMARY

The Chorus Manager is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus (comprised of 32 unionized paid Choristers and 120+ non- unionized volunteer Choristers), including scheduling, auditions, payroll, and Chorus rehearsal and concert production. This role works closely with the Chorus Director and members of the Artistic Operations department to ensure the smooth and efficient operations of the Chorus’s activities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Chorus Production

•  Ensure adherence to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the SF Symphony and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA).
• Maintain and manage the Chorus schedule, including rehearsals and performances, communicating any changes or updates in a timely manner. Ensure all services are adequately staffed as needed by a Timekeeper, Rehearsal Attendant, and/or accompanist.
•  Oversee all Chorus personnel administration, including creating and maintaining personnel records, concert rosters, program files, and rehearsal materials.
•  Compose and distribute weekly Chorus Notes.
•  Administer Chorus production needs, including but not limited to creating program rosters, rehearsal materials, seating charts, managing parking requests, obtaining music, sharing monthly Chorus set-up information to Production, and collaborating with Production, Venue Management, and Orchestra Personnel staff on any matters relating to Chorus production.
• Attend all Chorus rehearsals and performances to provide support and address any logistical, administrative, personnel, and health and safety needs.
• Administer annual Chorus auditions and AGMA solo auditions.
•  Administer and manage all special Chorus events such as Vocal Workshops, Chorus receptions, and annual Chorus year-end party.
• Manage small choral ensemble schedules and run-outs.
• Collaborate with Production staff on any media projects that involve the Chorus, including ensuring compliance with any applicable agreements.
• Engage AGMA substitutes as required by CBA and in consultation with Chorus Director 
• Engage outside choruses as productions require and in consultation with Chorus Director. Provide logistical support for these groups, helping them interface with SFS staff and guest artists.

• Engage outside contractors and guest artists as needed to support Chorus activities, including but not limited to Guest Chorus Directors, audition co-adjudicators, sectional leaders, diction coaches, and instrumentalists for Chorus Concerts.

Chorus Management and Administration

• Serve as lead payroll manager responsible for issuing bi-weekly payroll and ensuring timely and accurate processing for AGMA members (regular and non-regular), accompanists, Rehearsal Attendant, Timekeeper, Assistant Chorus Director (when active), and Chorus Librarian.
• Submit monthly check requests to compensate Chorus Director, and issue other check requests and reimbursements as needed.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the Chorus Director, the Chorus Librarian, Chorus members, and other internal SFS staff to ensure smooth and efficient execution of all Chorus related activities.
• Maintain positive and productive relationship with AGMA, including collaborating with AGMA representatives to ensure compliance with the CBA and participating in AGMA negotiations as needed.
• Supply Editorial with Chorus-related program information, such as rosters and biographies.
• Proofread materials involving the Chorus, including but not limited to program books, publicity material, and the SF Symphony website.
• Manage AGMA (regular and substitute) contracts.
•  Monitor Choristers’ attendance and address any issues that arise.
• Prepare yearly and quarterly budgets for the Chorus and its activities. Participate in program and media budgeting and projections as needed.
•  Draft season rehearsal schedule, raising potential artistic or production concerns or issues with Chorus Director and relevant internal teams. Obtain necessary approvals for final schedule from Chorus Director, SFS Production and Liaison Committee.
•  Serve on SFSC Liaison Committee, Chorus Advisory Council and Media Oversight Committee. In coordination with Chorus Director, develop and implement policies and procedures for the volunteer singers.
•  Conduct orientations for new members.
•  Administer Individual Counseling Program as outlined in CBA.
• Collaborate with the Development team on any events or requests that involve the Chorus.
•  Represent the SFSC in the wider Bay Area choral community and nationally at the annual Chorus America Convention as requested.
•  Provide occasional support to other members of the department as requested and as permitted by the Chorus schedule.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2-3 years’ experience working in a performing arts organization, preferably with a musical slant.
• Background in choral music preferred.
• Formal education in music preferred.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and G-Suite.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to professionally and diplomatically communicate and interact with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment.
• Strong situational awareness; able to work discreetly, independently and display good judgment in dealing with diverse personalities and potentially difficult situations.
• Satisfactory results of a complete background investigation.
• Must be available to regularly work flexible hours, particularly weekends and evenings.
• Ability to lift 25-30 pounds.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None, but responsible for overseeing 32 professional and 120+ volunteer Choristers.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The internal and external constituents with whom this position most frequently interacts include:

• Artistic Planning team
• Artistic Operations department (Production, Venue Operations, Orchestra Personnel, and Artistic Planning teams)
• Finance and Development departments
• Chorus and Chorus Director
• AGMA representatives
• External media consultant

EEO STATEMENT

In alignment with the values statement above, the San Francisco Symphony is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.