Music Theory/Composition 2019-20

For Music Theory and Composition jobs that begin in 2020.

Last year's page, for jobs that started in 2019: Music Theory/Composition 2018-19

Music Theory/Composition 2017-18 (2 years ago)

Music Theory/Composition 2016–2017 (3 years ago)

Music Theory/Composition 2016-17 (4 years ago)

See also: Musicology/Ethnomusicology 2019-20

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Theory Only
Arizona State University (deadline 11/16) Assistant Professor of Music Theory

Brandeis University (review begins immediately, posted 9/10) Lecturer in Music (Spring 2020)
 * "The Brandeis University Department of Music seeks to hire a Lecturer to teach Mus10b: What to Listen for in Music: An Ears-on Approach in Spring 2020, meeting Monday/Wednesday 2 :00 pm – 3:30 pm plus office hours TBD. We seek an excellent teacher with experience instructing undergraduate music theory fundamentals and ear-training/musicianship who meets departmental needs for this elective offering. "

Cal Poly Pomona (deadline 12/1) Assistant Professor of Music Theory


 * "The successful candidate will lead in the areas of Music Theory and Musicianship. The faculty member will teach music classes across the music theory curriculum including Diatonic and Chromatic Harmony, Advanced Theory, Form and Analysis, Counterpoint, and other courses appropriate for the successful candidate. The successful candidate will provide visionary leadership for the music theory and musicianship curriculum.  Secondary expertise is also desired in areas including composition, music technology, or instrumental performance."

Durham University (deadline 1/2) Assistant Professor in Music Analysis


 * "We received applications to the post from a wide range of countries and we were impressed with the applicant quality, which was very high.  However,we are strongly committed to increasing the diversity of our Department and in this respect, we regrettably observed that our advertisement had not attracted a sufficiently diverse pool of applicants.  For instance, only 16% of the applicants were female, whereas the benchmark in this sector (UK Music Departments) is 37%.  We also felt that the short timeframe between the opening date and the closing deadline might have been a contributing factor.  We have therefore decided tore-advertise the post (open date 20 November 2019 and closing 02 January 2020)."

Eastman School of Music(deadline 10/1) Assistant Professor of Music Theory


 * Submit materials to theorysearch@esm.rochester.edu
 * 10/18: request for video interview
 * 10/30: request for on-campus interview

Grambling State University (deadline not listed) Assistant Professor of Music Theory

Hope College (deadline 9/3) Music - Faculty (Emphasis in Theory)


 * see school-specific discussion below

Indiana University (deadline 10/7) Assistant Professor of Music Theory
 * 10/21: request for writing sample

McKendree University (open until filled, posted sometime in October) Adjunct Instructor of Music Theory
 * "McKendree University Music Department is seeking a part-time instructor for its Lebanon, Illinois campus to teach Music Theory beginning Spring semester 2020. Music theory is a 4 semester course; Theory II and IV will be taught spring semester."

Montana State University (deadline 1/2/20) Assistant Professor - Music Theory

Peabody Conservatory (deadline 10/15) Assistant Professor of Music Theory/Ear Training

Peabody Conservatory (deadline 10/15) Assistant Professor of Music Theory


 * 11/15 Request for more materials + video interview (x2)

Princeton University (deadline 10/1) Assistant Professor of Music
 * "We seek a scholar of music with a specialization in theory, broadly defined. Strengths in vernacular and/or non-Western music will be an asset"
 * Also posted at Musicology/Ethnomusicology 2019-20
 * 11/4 Request for more materials

University of British Columbia (deadline 11/30) Associate or Assistant Professor, Music Theory

University of Maryland (deadline 11/8) Assistant or Associate Professor of Music Theory


 * 11/25 Request for additional materials

University of Massachusetts - Amherst (deadline 10/15) Assistant Professor of Music Theory


 * 11/5 Request for video interview

University of Missouri Kansas City (deadline 11/1) Assistant Professor of Music Theory

University of North Florida (deadline 11/15) Instructor of Music Theory (full-time, NTT)

University of Tampa (deadline not listed, posted 9/5/19) Assistant Professor of Music (History and/or Theory)
 * Also posted at Musicology/Ethnomusicology 2019-20

University of Texas at San Antonio (deadline 11/25) Lecturer I (Music Theory) (Spring 2020)

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (deadline 11/15) Music Theory Instructor (Spring 2020)
 * "87% FTE Instructional Academic Staff Position in the Department of Music and Theatre Arts for the spring semester, 2020 beginning February 3, 2020. The official title is in the Lecturer title series. This is a one semester appointment with salary commensurate with experience and qualifications."
 * Search for Job ID 16033 if the direct link doesn't work.

Virginia Commonwealth University (none listed, posted 11/20) Adjunct Instructor of Music Theory and Aural Skills

Washington College (review begins immediately, posted 10/29) Part-Time Lecturer in Music (Spring 2020)
 * "The Department of Music at Washington College invites applications for a Part-Time Lecturer in Music Theory for the Spring 2020 semester. The teaching load is two courses, with the possibility of applied composition lessons (if capable and needed). The candidate will teach Music Theory II and an upper-level theory course to Majors that can be adjusted to fit the candidate’s interest (courses meet three days per week). Salary will be the standard per-course rate plus travel assistance."

Theory/Performance, etc.
Harper College (deadline 1/24) Diverse Faculty Fellow - Music
 * "Diverse Faculty Fellow candidates should possess expertise in areas, such as: music theory, aural skills, and music literature. The successful candidate may be responsible for teaching courses such as Music Theory I—IV, Aural Skills I—IV, Music Literature, Keyboard and Vocal Literature, and Symphonic and Chamber Literature. Special consideration will be given to applicants who are members of groups that have been historically underrepresented in faculty positions in higher education."
 * Also posted at Musicology/Ethnomusicology 2019-20

Hong Kong Baptist University (deadline 12/31) Associate Professor / Assistant Professor (Music Theory and Musicology)
 * Also posted at Musicology/Ethnomusicology 2019-20

Reed College (deadline 12/20) Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Music (Choral/Music Theory)

Rocky Mountain College (deadline 1/15/20) Assistant Professor of Music Theory and History
 * Also posted at Musicology/Ethnomusicology 2019-20

Saginaw Valley State University (no deadline listed, posted 11/11/19) Assistant Professor of Music - One-Year, Temporary (Theory and Jazz)

Schulich School of Music, McGill University (deadline 12/15) Assistant/Associate Professor of Music


 * "We seek an outstanding music scholar (open specialization) and pedagogue whose research interests include teaching and learning in higher education. The successful candidate will assist the Schulich School of Music as it pursues strategic pedagogical and curricular innovation."
 * This is a search with open specialization within the Department of Music Research (see job posting for details)
 * Also posted at Musicology/Ethnomusicology 2019–20

St. Mary's College (deadline 9/30) Assistant Professor of Performing Arts, Music
 * "The person hired for this position will be responsible for developing and growing a well-established jazz band and sports band."
 * "Depending on expertise and interest, they could teach Jazz and Blues in America and a selection of music history, theory, and skill-development courses, such as music fundamentals, harmony, ear-training, form and analysis, sight singing, keyboard harmony..."
 * Also posted at Musicology/Ethnomusicology 2019-20

Stony Brook University (deadline 9/23) Assistant Professor of Music
 * "Required Qualifications: Doctorate or ABD in music history, music theory, or ethnomusicology. Preferred Qualifications: Research specialty in one or more of the following: music before 1600; gender, sexuality, and queer theory; critical race studies; or popular music studies."
 * Also posted at Musicology/Ethnomusicology 2019-20

Washington State University (screening begins 11/1) Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Bassoon
 * Required Qualifications include "Earned doctorate in music by time of hire. Demonstrated extensive experience teaching and performing on bassoon as well as demonstrated extensive experience teaching in music theory."
 * Request for video interview (11/21)

Westminster College of the Arts at Rider University (deadline 12/2) Assistant Professor of Popular Music Studies
 * "The successful candidate will hold a doctoral degree (PhD or DMA) in music or in a related field with a focus on popular music studies. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience with both the conceptual and historical nature of popular music alongside practical skills in popular music theory, composition and arranging. Direct experience with some of the many styles found in popular music (e.g., pop, hip-hop, jazz, EDM, blues, reggae) is expected."
 * Also posted at Musicology/Ethnomusicology 2019-20

Theory/Composition, etc.
Brigham Young University (deadline 10/25) Full-time Faculty in Composition/Theory/Commercial Music


 * (11/6) Rejection email

California State University, San Bernardino (deadline 10/16) Music Theory/Composition - Assistant Professor Tenure Track

Columbia University (deadline 12/1) Mellon Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow/Lecturer
 * Also posted at Musicology/Ethnomusicology 2019-20

Loyola Marymount University (deadline 10/22) Assistant or Associate Professor - Music Theory/Composition

Metropolitan State University of Denver (deadline 12/1) Assistant Professor of Music Composition and Theory Tenure Track Faculty

Montclair State University (deadline: 11/1 first review, open until filled) Assistant/Associate Professor of Music Theory/Composition


 * (11/24) Request for additional materials

San Diego State University (deadline: 11/15) Assistant Professor of Composition/Theory
 * Chair of search committee here: the deadline is 11/15, despite 10/30 in the description

University of Memphis (2/3/20) Assistant Professor of Music - Composition and Music Theory
 * "Minimum Position Qualifications: MM degree in Composition. "

Composition Only
Amherst College (deadline 12/6) Valentine Visiting Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Music (2 years)

Arizona State University (deadline 11/15) Assistant Professor of Composition

Berklee College of Music (deadline 10/1) Assistant Chair in Composition


 * (10/26) Skype interview requested

Emory University Music Department (deadline 12/01/2019) Assistant Professor, Composition

Hong Kong Baptist University (deadline 7/27) Assistant Professor in Music Composition
 * Direct link to the job here: https://pers.hkbu.edu.hk/job_details.php?page_id=6&job_id=4941 (note the deadline is 7/27/2019, not 7/29 as previously listed)

The Juilliard School (no deadline listed, posted sometime in October) Composition Faculty

University of California, Riverside (deadline 12/8) Assistant Professor of Music Composition

University of California, San Diego (deadline 10/1) Associate or Full Professor of Composition

University of California, Santa Barbara (deadline 9/27) Temporary Lecturer in Music Composition University of Chicago (deadline 11/15) 2020-2021 Chicago Center for Contemporary Composition Postdoctoral Researcher
 * For Winter and/or Spring 2020

University of Colorado - Boulder (deadline 11/1) Assistant Professor of Composition

University of Denver (deadline 11/15) Assistant/Associate Professor of Composition

University of Maine-Farmington (deadline 1/13/20) Assistant Professor of Music Composition

University of Pennsylvania (deadline 9/15) Assistant Professor in Music Composition


 * (10/18) Additional materials requested

University of Redlands (deadline 10/15) Assistant Professor in Music Composition


 * (10/24) Additional materials requested (x3)
 * (11/13) Skype interview requested (x2)

University of Texas at Austin (deadline 11/1) Artist-Teacher of Composition

Composition/Music Technology
Auburn University (deadline 10/1) Assistant/Associate/Full Professor - Music (Music Composition and Technology)

Carnegie Mellon University (deadline January 1, 2020) - Assistant Professor of Electronic Music Composition

Columbia College Chicago (deadline 12/8) Assistant Professor- Music Technology

Dartmouth College (deadline 11/1) Assistant Professor of Sonic Arts, Tenure-Track


 * "We seek a vibrant artist with a singular approach to creative and pedagogical practice. Makers who demonstrate convergent practices across the arts and/or sciences will be prioritized."


 * Qualifications: completed PhD, DMA, or MFA in Music Composition, Sonic Arts, Creative Media Arts, or a related-field, or equivalent professional achievement required by the start date.

Eastman School of Music (deadline 10/7) Composer/Director of the Eastman Audio Research Studio

Georgetown University (deadline 12/1) Assistant Teaching Professor in Recording Arts Technology

Hamilton College (deadline 11/1) Assistant Professor in the Arts


 * "We seek a practicing artist with expertise in interactive media, and/or integrated media, and/or performance and technology"


 * "An MFA or PhD or DMA in an appropriate field is required and candidates should demonstrate an active creative practice and research agenda."
 * (11/13) Request for skype interview

Mills College (review begins immediately, posted 10/30) Part-Time Assistant Adjunct Professor(s), Spring 2020
 * Music 164/264, Advanced Audio Recording
 * Music 251, Seminar in Computer Music
 * Music 124/224, Contemporary Instrumentation and Orchestration
 * Music 047/147 Intro to Electronic Music

Occidental College (deadline 1/27/20) Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow
 * "The Music Department at Occidental College (OXY) invites applications for a full-time postdoctoral scholar-practitioner in audio/music/sound engineering with an ability to teach applied signal processing at the undergraduate level"

Peabody Institute (until filled) Full-time Faculty in Music for New Media


 * "teach music and sound design for Film, TV, Games and VR and provide technical support for the New Media studio"

Penn State University (deadline 1/3/20) Assistant Professor of Music Technology

Simon Fraser University (deadline 9/20) Tenure Track Position in Experimental Composition
 * "We are seeking an experimental composer with a hybrid practice in two or more of the following: instrumental music, live electronics, improvisation, interactivity, maker culture, sound art, popular music, within an established interdisciplinary and collaborative practice."
 * "Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority."
 * "preference will be given to an Indigenous person from the Americas"
 * Has anyone received a message that they have been placed on the long list? The initial response to my application stated that this would be put together in late September.
 * (10/10) Yes, received reference letter requests a while back.
 * (11/15) Request for in-person interview
 * (11/15) Rejection received

SUNY Oneonta (no deadline listed) Assistant Professor of Audio Arts


 * NB: posting has expired as of mid October

Syracuse University (deadline 11/1) Assistant Professor of Sound Recording Technology

University of Georgia (deadline 12/22) Assistant Professor of Commercial Music (TT)


 * The Hugh Hodgson School of Music seeks a dynamic faculty member to develop and teach new courses in commercial music. Newly proposed courses will be in accordance with the experience and expertise of the candidate, and may include music production, film scoring, music for media, non-linear and game scoring, or other creative areas at the intersections of music creativity, industry, and technology.

University of Maryland Baltimore County (deadline 12/5) Lecturer or Professor of the Practice (Full-time) in Music Technology

University of Sydney (deadline 8/21) Associate Lecturer/Lecturer in Audio and Acoustics

University of Texas at Austin (deadline 11/1) Artist-Teacher of Composition and Electronic Music/Director of Electronic Music Studios

University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley (deadline 1/15/20) Assistant Professor – Music Technology/Composition

University of Virginia (deadline 1/6/20) Assistant Professor, Composition and Computer Technologies

School-Specific Discussion
UT-Austin
 * In a composition seminar on Monday 9/30 that was held as an open forum for students, faculty, and alumni to discuss recent allegations against Dan Welcher, a member of the composition faculty mentioned that he is "committed to hiring a woman" in an effort to diversify the department.
 * (10/6) I'm sure that potential applicants for the job really appreciate hearing this. Why can't they just say that they're committed to hiring a candidate who isn't a predator and demonstrates a commitment to these values??
 * (10/6b) because you can't prove an absence. If a candidate's potential for sexual misconduct is an overarching determinant for hiring, naturaly the committee would gravitate towards candidates who come from a constituancy historically shown to be far less likely to engage in such activity.
 * (10/6c) I see. Should potential candidates address their "potential for sexual misconduct" in their cover letters, then? Or as a separate two-page statement? Surely there must be a way to make this a fair hiring process!
 * (10/7 formerly known as 10/6b) I don't know. I don't really see how, when a music faculty job becomes political fodder to undo a #Metoo embarrasment it can be expected to produce a non-controvertial choice. But there we have it - hardly the first tainted search in history...
 * (10/8) The OP writes that a single faculty member is "committed to hiring a woman," and already we have a barage assumptions. 1) No search is performed by a single member of the faculty; and 2) there are likely other reasons, such as those mentioned in the above thread (e.g. making sure there's equitable hiring), for why a faculty would be committed to hiring a woman and this situation provided the opportunity to make a new hire. I would do everything in my power not to hire someone who distills repeated sexual harassment and abuse from a person in a position of utmost influence and power as a "#metoo embarassment" regardless of gender.
 * OP: Yes, exactly. It was a single composition faculty member who made this statement, it was in front of the Director of the BSoM, the Dean of the College of Fine Arts, and many current students and some alumni. I'm sure what he meant is that he will be a primary advocate for a woman in the position, and this came up during a specific sidebar about the decades of the school's male-dominated department and the situation worsening on that front after the first investigation in the early 2000s, but I wanted to make sure to share the info I had in case it was useful to all who were interested.
 * (10/22) If that comment was made out loud in public, it is a breach of fair hiring law. It compromises the search, and it should be reported to the administration.
 * OP: Why report when the comment was made in front of the two highest members of the adminstration, the Dean of CoFA and the Director of the BSoM?
 * (10/24) I suppose that by "useful" you mean that candidates who don't identify as female shouldn't bother applying, because the committee is less likely to consider them. This is all in advance of the application deadline, and if it's designed to deter candidates from applying in the first place, it is inappropriate, no matter who was present for the remark.
 * OP: I get all that... that's not why I felt it was useful to post here. I thought it was useful to post because I found the comment completely out of line. While it remained in the room it was privilaged information and I think more people needed to know that it was said.

Berklee College of Music:
 * This position was open just two years ago, and Berklee has posted at least two additional positions in Composition over the past two years. Does anyone know what's up with the department?
 * I live on the East Coast (not Boston though) but - this is my wild guess/speculation - Berklee is known for 1) being a bit on the heavy side when it comes to workload for faculty, because they have no TA and grading and teaching is all on faculty members, and 2) having a quite enormous faculty (I know this because I applied for a job a few years ago and got the chance to notice that). So, 2 is really a consequence of 1 - if there's no TA given the size of the school, I imagine  it would make sense to have a lot of faculty members, and that statistically means more frequent changes. So, it could just be very normal? As far as this position, I don't know much but I assume it's more admin?
 * There is also no tenure, from what I understand, which will inherently increase turnover.
 * Yep, I also heard everybody is by untenured contract there, not sure about the details though.
 * Hi, comp fac member here. Our pay and teaching load public here: https://www.berkleefacultyunion.org/documents turnover-- last few years we had a few deaths and retirements. One PT fac got a FT gig elsewhere, but FT members tend to stay put. Yes, it's a high teaching load, though Berklee community offers lots of networking/ collaboration opps, plus lots of new music happening in Boston. This is mostly an admin position, but if you're a smart, kind, organized composer person, go for it! I've found that comp opps come my way just having this fac title, so maybe it will hold true for new hire as well. Peace, all.
 * Hello, another faculty here - just +1 what my colleague said. If you like numbers, it's not a bad job, and Berklee is quite a nice environment. Just figured I would share my understanding of the job (but I'll ask my colleague to correct me if I am wrong) - basically you teach 1-2 classes per semester, and the rest is basically admin: scheduling for faculty, organizing visiting artists, meeting with students (a lot) and pretty much work with the chair. I believe this is also a M-F 9-5 job, including summer, with some flexibility (you can probably take some days off). Hope this helps!
 * This has got to be the most frustrating application systems that I have ever dealt with. It didn't parse my CV in any sensible way so I had to go back and change a bunch of information. Workaday randomly reorders my entries and each time I look at the final page before hitting submit, everythng is out of order (and out of order in a different way each time!). Are others having these problems? Hopefully HR will forward the attachements to the search committee.

Hope College:
 * Holland Sentinel: An Open Letter to Hope College Administration
 * Inside Higher Ed: 17 Professors Gone or Reassigned
 * Holland Sentinel: An Open Letter to Hope College
 * Holland Sentinel: Hope College on a Disastrous Path of its own Making
 * Holland Sentinel: Hope's Troubles Include Lack of Diversity and Inclusion
 * Wow.  What a hot mess.

Juilliard
 * Now that someone has attempted to gripe about a job going to a particular person even before it's happened, I must remind everyone, as I do every year: Institutions can hire anyone they want for any reason or for no reason, and they are not obliged to tell anyone why.  In fact, they are not require to even have the search.  Many of the elite or at least private schools simply hire a person they want to hire.  Do you expect Juilliard--the most famous music school in the US--to conduct a "search" and try to find who they think is best?  They can do what they want.  Period.  The sooner you understand this, the better off you will be.

Peabody
 * NB: There is also a keyboard skills job at the rank of "assistant professor of music theory." Unsure whether that belongs here or not.
 * If one were interested in/qualified for both the theory and the theory/skills position, would it look bad to apply to both, tailoring a separate cover letter for each? (Would it look even worse to send the same cover letter for both?)
 * It looks like they might be almost the same job, but advertised in different venues, which is confusing.  A short email query to search chair(s) is justified.
 * The jobs were posted on Facebook (by Peabody faculty) as three separate positions
 * Hi All, I’m the Chair of Theory, Ear Training, and Keyboard Skills here at Peabody. We have three separate positions open: One teaching the UG theory core and graduate seminars, one teaching ear training and related courses, and one teaching Keyboard Skills within the larger context of our theory curriculum. We welcome applications for all three from any and all interested and qualified parties.
 * Sorry--I meant the theory/ear training position. I imagine most of us are qualified for that as well as the theory-only position.
 * Does anyone know if the jobs advertised as "Assistant Professor" are actually tenure-track? Peabody only recently instituted traditional academic rank, from what I understand.
 * There is no tenure at Peabody. The recently instituted ranks correspond to 3- (assistant), 4- (associate), or 5- (full professor) year contracts.

SUNY Oneonta:
 * (8/22) This is the fourth time in the past five years that this Composition/Audio job has been posted. Does anyone know what's up?
 * (8/25) From what I understand, the department is a complete mess and the administration is dyfunctional.

Durham University:
 * (10/1) Non-UK applicants may have a tough time getting this job. Especially if a family move is required. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/oct/01/oxford-professors-children-refused-visas-to-join-her-in-uk

Wiki Counter

 * Check all that apply

I am a theorist: 11

I am a composer: 20

I am a little of both (theorist/composer): 10

I am a musicologist with strong theoretical leanings:

I am a computer music scientist: 2

I am currently in a TT position: 12

I am currently in a renewable-track non-tenure-track position: 2

I am currently in a VAP/Lecturer position: 6

I am currently a Postdoctoral Fellow and on the market:

I am currently adjuncting and on the market: 11

I am a recent (3 years or less) PhD and on the market: 2

I am a recent (3 years or less) DMA and on the market: 4

I am a no-longer-so-recent PhD and on the market: 7

I am a no-longer-so-recent DMA and on the market: 5

I was denied tenure and am back on the market:

I am a senior tenured scholar looking for a better position: 1

I am a tenured or tenure-track professor whose position has been cut:

I am an adjunct professor whose position has been cut: 1

I am working outside of the academy: 2

I am ABD and on the market: 7

I am ABD and no longer on the market: 1

I am not on the market but am an interested observer: 8

I am a member of a search committee: 4