Music Theory/Composition 2015–16

For Music Theory and Composition jobs that begin in Fall 2015.

Last year's page: Music Theory/Composition

See Also: Musicology/Ethnomusicology 2014-15

RECENT ACTIVITY on Music Theory/Composition Wiki
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Composition Only
Berklee College of Music - (Review begins 10/31)
 * Skype interviews scheduled
 * Offer made
 * Offer accepted (Gabriele Vanoni, Harvard 2013, Lecturer at Dartmouth College)

Eastman School of Music - (senior position, review begins Nov. 21)
 * (1/7) Finalists Chosen

Northeastern University Professor and Chair of the Department of Music

Northwestern University - (senior position)

Oberlin College Conservatory - Professor of Composition (senoir position)
 * (3/9/2015) Stephen Hartke

Shenandoah Conservatory - Director of Composition and New Music Coordinator (Open Rank)
 * Posted February 13th, open until filled.

University of Alabama - Assistant Professor of Composition
 * Posts on Facebook indicate that an offer has been made to an inside candidate.
 * (2/7) How trustworthy is a statement like the one above? In my opinion, this section of this page should be reserved for communication that comes directly from search committees. Has anyone heard directly from the committee?
 * (2/14) Additional materials requested.
 * (3/2) Skype interview scheduled.

University of Kansas - (review begins Nov. 10) Assistant Professor


 * Additional materials requested
 * Skype interviews scheduled for week of 12/15
 * Campus interviews scheduled for weeks of 1/26 & 2/2
 * Job accepted (Ingrid Stölzel)

University of Montana - Assistant Professor of Composition
 * E-mail from SC informing me I am "still in consideration" and that they are hoping deliberations will move quickly. (x2)
 * Phone interviews scheduled

Williams College - (inside candidate? There was a VAP position last year...) **see below
 * (12/3) Additional material requested

Theory Only
Appalachian State University (deadline 12/15) Instructor, Assistant Prof., or Associate Prof. of Music Theory
 * (1/16) Additional materials requested
 * (1/28) Campus interviews
 * (3/3) Job accepted (Greg McCandless, FSU 2010, Dept Chair at Full Sail University)

Arizona State University (deadline 12/20) Assistant Professor of Music Theory
 * (12/28) Skype interview scheduled
 * (2/28) Campus interviews scheduled

University of Arizona (open until filled) Assistant Professor of Music Theory
 * (12/16) Additional materials requested
 * (3/5) Campus interviews completed

Baldwin Wallace University (review begins 10/1) Assistant Professor of Music Theory Bates College(deadline Jan 15)
 * (1/27) Contact to let me know not all my letters were in
 * (2/10) Additional materials requested
 * (3/19) Campus interviews being scheduled. (x 2)  (They are skipping phone interviews since it already so late.)
 * (2/6) Skype interviews
 * Campus interviews begun (2/27)

Brigham Young University (deadline 12/1) Assistant Professor of Music Theory Catholic University of America (deadline 2/16) Assistant Professor of Music Theory (sub-specialty in winds/brass)
 * (12/18) Skype interviews
 * Hiring to replace someone who is recently retired


 * No internal candidate
 * (3/5) Additional materials requested
 * (3/19) References contacted

College of Wooster (deadline 1/7) Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Theory (one-year position)
 * (1/26) Skype interviews
 * (2/7) Campus interview scheduled
 * (As of 3/4) Job offered ( Abby Shupe)
 * Abby Shupe renewed her previous 1-year contract for 2015-2016.
 * Jonathan Guez (Yale University) accepted this job.

DePauw University (deadline 3/27) Assistant Professor of Music Theory (1-year)

Duke University (deadline 11/15) Assistant Professor of Music Theory
 * (1/15) Campus interviews
 * (2/26) Email received stating an offer had been made and accepted.
 * (2/26) Job accepted (Nicholas Stoia, CUNY 2008)

Eastman School of Music (deadline 11/1) Assistant Professor of Music Theory
 * (11/5) 10-minute interview at SMT scheduled (x3)
 * (11/23) Campus interview scheduled
 * (12/27) Job accepted (Zachary Bernstein, CUNY ABD; Instructor at University of Alabama)

Florida State University (deadline 10/15) Assistant Professor of Music Theory


 * (10/23) Campus interview scheduled


 * (12/10) Email received stating that the position has been filled.
 * (12/16) Job accepted (Mark Richards, TORONTO 2011, Instructor at U. of Lethbridge)

Georgia State University (open until filled) Assitant Professor of Music Theory
 * (3/13) email received confirming the receipt of the application

Howard Payne University (TX) (open until filled) Assistant/Associate Professor of Music in Music Theory

Humboldt State University (review begins 4/20) Music Theory & Ear Training Visiting Faculty Position

Indiana University (review begins 11/15) Post-doctoral resident scholar (two-year, non-TT appointment)


 * (12/1) Additional materials requested (x3)
 * (1/13) Skype interview scheduled for the week of 1/19 (x2)
 * (2/12) Campus interviews scheduled

James Madison University (deadline 11/15) Assistant Professor of Music Theory (inside candidate? see below)
 * (12/8) Phone interviews
 * (12/19) Campus interview scheduled
 * (2/11) Job accepted (John Peterson, FSU 2014, VAP JMU)

Ohio University Asst./Assoc. Prof. and Chair of Music Theory
 * (2/11) Skype interviews

Peabody Conservatory (deadline 10/31) Full-time Continuing Faculty of Ear Training
 * (12/2) Skype interview scheduled for the week of 12/15
 * Campus interviews in Jan/Feb
 * (3/20) Job accepted

Sibelius Academy (University of the Arts Helsinki) (deadline 1/5) Lecturer in Music Theory
 * (2/24) Campus/video interviews held

Southern Oregon University (deadline 4/6) Temporary Assistant Professor of Applied Music (Music Theory)

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (review begins immediately) Full-time position in Music Theory (non-TT)

Stetson University (review begins 9/15) Assistant Professor of Music Theory
 * (10/18) Skype interviews scheduled for the week of 10/20
 * (10/29) Campus interview scheduled
 * (1/16) Campus interview scheduled

Temple University (review begins 11/3) Assistant Professor of Music Theory

• I emailed Michael Klein to inform him that I have a defense date for my dissertation in hopes that it would help my case. He wrote back (quite nicely) to let me know that they have already settled on 3 finalists. Those of us who have not heard from Temple are probably "out."

University of California, Berkeley (deadline 12/1/14) Lecturer of Musicianship

• (2/12) Email inquiry regarding availability for March campus visit

• (2/23) Campus interview scheduled
 * Where was this job posted? [(2/23) A: It was posted on HigherEdJobs.]

University of Central Florida (review begins 1/23/15) Assistant Professor of Music Theory

Why was the "review begins" date changed? The ad at this link still lists Jan. 9 as the "review begins" date.

Not sure why, but the posting appeared on Chronicle.com with the new date, and the chair confirmed that it is now the correct date.

• (2/15) Additional material (teaching video) requested

• (3/19) Three finalists chosen

University of Chicago (deadline 3/31/15) Lecturer in Music Theory

University of Lethbridge (deadline 1/31/15) Assistant Professor of Music Theory
 * (2/24) Skype interview scheduled
 * (2/27) Campus interview scheduled
 * (3/23) Job accepted (Bryn Hughes, Florida State 2011; University of Miami)

University of Massachusetts Amherst (deadline 11/14) Assistant Professor of Music Theory
 * (12/15) ShortList Made
 * (12/19) Skype interviews
 * (1/29) Campus interviews
 * (2/13) Interviews concluded
 * (3/18) Offer made

University of Massachusetts Lowell (review begins immediately) Assistant Professor, Musicianship

University of Michigan (deadline 10/15) Assistant Professor of Music Theory
 * (11/26) Additional Materials
 * (1/15) Campus interview scheduled

University of North Carolina at Greensboro (review begins 2/15) Lecturer in Music Theory and Ethnomusicology

University of Nebraska-Kearney (deadline 3/30) Assistant Professor of Low Brass/Music Theory

University of Oregon (deadline 10/15) Assistant Professor of Music Theory
 * (10/31) Interview at SMT scheduled (outside of the posted Friday afternoon time slots, for which I was on a waitlist)
 * (11/12) Additional materials requested
 * (12/3) Skype interviews scheduled
 * (12/12) Campus interviews
 * (3/4) Job accepted (Drew Nobile, CUNY 2014; Lecturer at University of Chicago)
 * Some might be interested to know... According to an official email, there were 141 applicants for this job.

West Virginia University (review begins 12/1) Assistant Professor of Music Theory
 * (1/22) Phone Interviews Scheduled with School of Music Director
 * (1/23) Phone Interviews with the search committee scheduled for 27 January
 * (2/13) Campus Interviews Scheduled
 * Any updates on this position?  I heard that it has stalled.

William Paterson University (open until filled) Assistant Professor of Music Theory
 * Application acknowledged via email. Said review would begin with start of semester.
 * (3/6) Phone interviews scheduled for 3/9 & 3/10
 * Any updates on this?
 * (3/19) Campus Interviews Scheduled

Williams College (deadline 2/9) Visiting Assistant Professor in Music Theory (one-year appointment) (teaching includes music history courses for the general student)
 * (3/4) Campus Interview Scheduled

Composition, Theory, Etc.
Brown University (review begins 10/03) Assistant Professor of Composition-Theory
 * Additional material (x2)
 * (2/5) Campus interviews scheduled
 * (3/22) Job accepted (Eric Nathan, Cornell Univ. 2012, VAP Williams College)

Centralia College (WA) (review begins 2/1/15) Assistant Professor
 * (2/17) Additional materials requested
 * (3/7) Campus interviews scheduled

College of Idaho (review begins late November) Assistant Professor in Music Theory (includes teaching composition and technology)
 * Phone interviews
 * Campus interviews
 * (2/20) Email received that position has been filled. Does anyone know who it is?
 * (2/21) Job accepted (Andrew Gades, FSU 2013, VAP at College of Idaho)

Columbus State University (GA) (review begins 2/16/15) Assistant Professor of Music in Music Theory & Composition
 * (3/16) Contacted references.
 * (3/18) Phone interviews scheduled for 3/24.  Things are moving quickly.

Gordon College Assistant/Associate Professor in Theory/Composition OR Piano
 * (1/5) Request for Additional Materials/Letters of Recommendation (x2)
 * (2/7) Video interviews scheduled
 * (2/16) Campus interview scheduled for March

Hamilton College (deadline 29 March 2015) 2-year Visiting Assistant Professor of Music (Theory/Composition/Digital Media)

Houghton College (review begins immediately) TT Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition; Coordinator of Music Theory and Composition Illinois State University (review begins Nov. 1) TT Assistant or Associate Professor of Music Theory and Composition
 * (3/3) Any updats on this search?
 * (3/3) (2) I inquired at beginning of February. Administrative assistant said SC is reviewing apps, said she did not know when decisions would be made but guessed it would be "fairly soon." Been a month since.
 * (3/19) Rejection letter received.
 * (11/20) Phone interviews
 * Campus visits scheduled
 * Offered made and accepted - Roy Magnuson

Ithaca College Lecturers in Music History/Theory/Composition

Laramie County Community College (Cheyenne, WY) (review begins 01/19/2015) Instructor, Music (full time)

Muhlenberg College Assoc. Prof. and Chair (teaching duties are in theory area)
 * (1/27) Rejection Letter received

Murray State University (due 11/10) Assistant Prof. of Music Theory (but duties include teaching electronic composition)
 * (1/12) Phone Interviews being scheduled
 * (1/21) Campus interviews
 * Job offered and accepted

Occidental College (review begins Nov. 10) TT Asst. Professor in Composition and Instrumental Music


 * Phone Interviews being scheduled
 * Campus visits being scheduled
 * Offer made and accepted (Adam Schoenberg)

Queens University of Charlotte (deadline 11/3) TT Assistant Prof. of Music (specialty open but teaching expertise in theory, aural skills, and analysis required)
 * (2/3) Request for phone interviews
 * (2/25) Campus Interviews

Southern Illinois University Carbondale  (deadline 11/17)  TT Assistant Prof of Music Theory and Composition
 * (12/6) Additional material requested
 * (2/9) Campus interviews scheduled for late February
 * (3/?) Offer made and accepted (Chris Walczak, Rice University D.M.A.)

Truman State University (deadline 3/16) TT Assistant Professor of Music - Theory and Composition
 * (3/23) Phone interviews being scheduled (2x)

University of California, Irvine (review begins 11/1) Assistant Professor (Composition and Improvisation)
 * (12/1) Additional material requested (x2)
 * (1/15) Campus visit scheduled
 * (3/19) Rejection letter.

University of Georgia (review begins 12/15) TT Assistant Professor (Composition plus Theory and/or Electro-Acoustic Composition) **See added details below


 * (1/20) Additional material (x4)
 * (2/5) Skype interviews scheduled
 * (2/14) Campus visit scheduled

University of Iowa Lecturer in Composition/Theory
 * (3/2) Additional materials

University of Notre Dame (review begins 11/15) Assistant Professor of Music Theory University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (review begins 11/10) Assistant Professor, Music
 * (9/14) Application acknowledged via snail mail
 * (1/2/15) Any word on the progress of this search?
 * (1/15/15) I just got an email about additional material
 * (2/9/15) Skype Interviews.
 * (2/24/15) Campus Interviews.
 * (12/15) Phone interviews being scheduled for early January
 * (2/4) Campus visits scheduled for late February.

University of South Florida (review begins 12/1), TT Assistant Prof. of Contemporary Critical Theory/Musicology
 * (1/20) Phone interview scheduled
 * (1/28) Additional Materials Requested
 * (2/24/15) Campus Interviews.

University of Tulsa Assistant Professor of Composition and Theory
 * (2/11) skype interview scheduled
 * (3/19) Any updates?

Webster University (review begins 10/15) Assistant Professor of Music (Music Theory & Composition)
 * (10/30) Phone interviews
 * (11/29) Rejection letter received including announcement that the job was accepted by Dr. David Werfelmann (USC Thornton School)

Composition/Technology
Art Institute of CA-San Diego Part-time audio faculty

Colorado College (review begins 10/10) Assistant Professor of Music Technology (tenure-track)
 * (11/26) Extra materials requested
 * (12/16) Email received from Banagale, stating what we knew: they have contacted those that they are interested in.
 * (1/19) Email requesting to schedule a Skype interview
 * (1/23) Campus visit scheduled
 * (3/15) Any news?

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)  (deadline: January 15th, 2015) Assistant Professor in Music Technology
 * (1/28) Extra materials requested
 * (2/19) Skype interview scheduled
 * (3/16) Campus visit scheduled

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT ) (deadline: November 1, 2014), Music and Theater Arts Section, Assistant Professor of Music (tenure track), Music Technology specialization

McGill University (deadline: 30 March 2015) Postdoctoral Fellow in Music Information Retrieval
 * (12/15) Short list made
 * (2/3) Campus visit scheduled

Marlboro College (Deadline: april 6, 2015) Mellon Teaching Fellow in Digital Media (1 semester only)

Prairie State College Assistant Professor of Music Production

Salem State University Assistant Professor of Music Production and Technology
 * (12/17) Received email from human resources stating that the position has been filled.
 * (2/24) Skype Interviews have occured

San Francisco State University Tenure-track faculty in composition/technology
 * (3/4)Skype Interview
 * (3/20) Campus visit scheduled

Stevens Institute of Technology Assistant Professor of Music and Technology


 * (2/24) Phone interviews have occurred
 * (3/3) Any updates since the phone interviews?
 * (3/6) Contacted listed references to ask for written recommendations
 * Campus interviews in late March/early April

Texas Christian University (review begins 10/15) Assistant Professor of Music Technology (in the division of Theory/Composition)
 * (10/27) First short-list made; e-mailed for permission to contact references.
 * (1/3/15) Anybody have any updated info on this?
 * (1/17) Campus interviews have occured.
 * (2/25) Rejection e-mail received; offer made and accepted

University of California, San Diego (deadline: November 15, 2014) Assistant Professor of Composition/Computer Muisc
 * (1/7/15) Additional materials requested
 * (1/15/15) Skype interviews scheduled
 * (2/14/15) On campus interviews scheduled

University of the Incarnate Word Part-time instructor in music theory and/or Electroacoustic music

University of Michigan Assistant Professor in Performing Arts Technology
 * (2/12/15) Phone interview scheduled

Yale University   Assistant Professor (Adjunct) of Composition, Technology, and Media (3-year contract - expires Jan 18 - another search opened for less than a month... apply guys/gals!)
 * (2/10/15) Additional materials requested

Years on the Market After Ph.D. or DMA:
0-1: 1

2-3: 1

4-5:

6-7: 1

8-9:

10 or more:

DISCUSSION
NB: Many schools are in need of updates. Please do not hesitate to post if you have been asked for more materials, been asked to campus, or even if you know second-hand the goings-on in some of these searches. (For instance, several of the November-deadline schools remain uncommented upon; at least some of them must have updates.) If you know something, say something! Scratch the wiki's back– it will scratch yours.

12/23: that sounds freighteningly like the NYPD's "if you see something, say something" (sorry, couldn't resist)

1/6: Yes this still needs some serious updating. Also, I've seen some jobs have been posted on or before the deadline for submission of materials... We all have access to the same sources (Chronicle, CMS, etc.) but it's a shame to see this Wikia become less reliable than it has been before.

1/8: Could it be that there is simply no movement on most of these searches? Twice I have been notified that I have advanced to the second round, and both times the position status was immediately updated on this site by someone else.

1/11: Yes, it could be that. We should all remember that search committees are made up of full-time faculty members, and it's entirely possible that those faculty members may have had their plates full in December. If they didn't have time to meet before the end of the fall semester, it's unlikely that they would meet over winter break (and many schools have not started back yet).

1/15: Yes, it's a busy time. In addition to getting ready for classes and working on conference proposals (many of which are due today), faculty at schools with graduate programs are also reading MA and PhD applications.

Community College Jobs

1/22: I hear rumors that PhD's have a really hard time competing for community college level appointments... Can someone comment on that? I understand there are different, often generalized, teaching responsibilities, and perhaps there is a tendency to avoid "specialists," but when I think back to when I reached the Master's level of my education.. I know I'm better poised now for a generalist position... Is there something to this rumor that I am missing? 1/22(2): I've been a finalist for many 4-yr jobs and CC jobs, and from my experience, I don't believe that's true. It depends on the candidate's background: where and what you taught, not necessarily which degree you have. Just because you have a doctorate, doesn't mean they'll view you as a specialist. Many small departments (1-5 full time) avoid "specialists"--not just CC, but 4-year schools too--and community colleges typically have small music departments. In fact, many times there are humanities or arts departments with a music "area." Some CC job descriptions will say they prefer the terminal degree. Another thing to consider why there may seem like a small percentage of interview requests is that CC jobs often do not pay for the candiates' travel costs (or if they do, it's $200-$700 max), so some times they won't look on a national market.

1/30: I've gotten to semifinalist (14x) and finalist (4x) at state schools, liberal arts colleges, large universities, and conservatories. But I've never made even the second round with CC jobs (or jobs in rural areas). I'm an interdisciplinary scholar, so I suspect it is because my PhD is from a large research university.

3/12: Like 1/30, I've had interviews at diverse institutions, but NEVER made the first cut at CC. I just received a polite rejection email from a CC job and it has me wondering the same as the 1/22 poster... The department has 13 faculty members. Only 2 have PhD/DMA degrees. Most of the faculty are educated from very-nearby colleges. I'm not trying to say that I should have gotten an interview--I am at peace with what is left on my list. But when I look at the present faculty, I wonder: Did they gain their jobs in a national search? Do they "fit" better than someone like me? I too am baffled by CC search committees.

3/12 (2): As the old axiom goes, the candidate needs to find the right institution and vice versa. CC gigs often have all-consuming teaching loads that leave little to no time for research or other activity in the field. In fact, contributions to the field are often not valued as highly as they would be at large Univerisities; administrators at such institutions are often more impressed by community outreach than a national reputation. Someone who really wants a Univerity gig but is willing to "settle" for a CC gig is really a liabilty that many conducting a CC search want to avoid; they don't want someone who is waiting for the real deal to come along. It often safe to assume that someone who gets a PhD from a major conservatory does not aspire first and foremost to teach at a CC. Instead, a person with ties to the community in which the college is based may be seen as more likely to have a positive impact on the school and its relationship with the community. As a bit of speculation, this may be less the case with CCs that are based in large metropolitan areas -- places where a highly active musical community makes such jobs nationally competitive.

General Music Jobs

1/13: Some jobs listed here are for music generalists -- places that want people with degrees in any field of music who can teach liberal arts courses including theory, history, popular music, choral conducting, etc. Is there a separate wiki for these? Perhaps there should be. Not simply to make this wiki more specific (many people looking for jobs here could probably fill such a position), but moreso so as not to exclude positions like the one described above from people looking for liberal arts jobs.

Murray State University

 * (2/27) Any movement here?
 * (2/28) Skype interviews were held last month. They have most likely moved on to campus interviews by now, but I personally have not heard anything since January.

Stevens Institute of Technology

 * (2/27) Anyone hear back after phone interviews?
 * (3/3) Nothing as of yet.

Brown University

 * (1/31) Does anyone have any updates?

University of Southern Illinois Carbondale

 * (11/11) The link has changed to an Assistant Professor of Chinese position... Anyone have the correct link?
 * http://cola.siu.edu/music/Job.php
 * (11/12) Looks like a music theory job to me.  Maybe they fixed the link in the time since you last checked?

Baldwin Wallace

 * (11/3) Does anyone have any updates on their search process?
 * (11/24) It's been almost two months since applications were due--does anyone have any updates?

Brigham Young University

 * Beware - a selected candidate in a previous search was rejected by administrators due to minor details of their personal life. This institution priviledges religious beliefs  over qualifications.
 * Well, duh...
 * If the situation referenced here is the one I'm familiar with, I can affirm that the candidates were not told the specific reasons for not being selected and any assumption on the part of a candidate as to those reasons would be speculative. That said, BYU does have unique, religiously based, requirements of their faculty that not many people would be willing or able to adhere to. (I am not a member of the faculty.)

DePauw University

 * (3/15) I happen to know that there is no inside candidate here. The program is expanding, so they're adding another theory professor, not replacing someone. Seems like a good sign.

Eastman School of Music
Florida State University
 * (11/10) Does the 10-minute SMT interview constitute a round of "cuts" in this search process?  In other words, if I wasn't invited to one of those short interviews, should I cross this position off my list?
 * (01/19) Yes.
 * 10/23 Wow, that was fast. I'm mostly just curious--was there any intermediate stage (phone interview, etc.) before moving right to campus interviews?
 * 10/29 Just a fast search. *Nothing* pro forma about this one; very, very legitimate.

Gordon College

 * (2/17) The indication above that a campus interview was scheduled on 2/15 is curious since video interviews took place on 2/16. Is the 2/15 date accurate?
 * (3/2) Is the March interview for a pianist or a composer? Original listing was for either/or.

James Madison University

 * 10/13 There might be an inside candidate here.  One of the theory instructors was ABD, graduating this Fall.  (John Peterson) http://www.jmu.edu/music/faculty_areas/theory_composition/index.html  No guarantees on anything, just a heads up.
 * (10/19) I don't understand the intent of this comment. First of all, it is conjecture, whether well-founded or not. Second, should prospective applicants NOT apply because there might be an inside candidate? Of course, we all want as much information as possible, but I'm not sure how helpful this is.
 * (10/21) I appreciate the 10/13 comment. I think the 10/19 comment is much more presumptuous. As for the topic of inside candidates, which is labored every year on this wiki, ...we shall see who the new hire at JMU is in due course.
 * (10/21 [2]) I think it's more than fair for applicants to know of an inside candidate. My first year on the market, I was naive enough not even to suspect that I'd be invited for a pro forma interview while an insider waited in the wings for the gig. Don't get me wrong: the "insiders" were highly qualified and did nothing untoward; they deserved the jobs. Still, I went in with inflated hopes and they were dashed accordingly; I wish I'd known better.
 * (11/10)  I agree, it is nice to know if there is a current part-time (or NTT, or VAP, or whatever) faculty member in the running, but it doesn't affect whether or not anyone else should apply.  There is no guarantee that the "inside candidate" is a shoe-in for the job, or even wants the job, or won't have already accepted a job at another school by the time JMU makes a decision.  Too many variables to throw in the towel before the application deadline.

Parkland College
Stetson University
 * (1/31) Has anyone heard anything about the music tt job there?  It closed on January 19th.
 * (2/10) Skype interviews scheduled
 * (3/4) Campus interviews scheduled

Williams College
 * (10/17) Does anyone have any updates on their search process?
 * (10/18) Skype interviews scheduled
 * (1/16) Campus interviews scheduled


 * (9/13) To the 9/9 poster, yes there was a search and hire for VAP last year, but that doesn't mean there will be an inside candidate. Sometimes VAPs don't get past the first round, they aren't interested in staying, and/or they get an offer elsewhere. Also, a top choice in a VAP search may have accepted a VAP or TT position elsewhere, so they might be the top choice for the TT search the next year. Besides, candidates for a TT search are typically much stronger than the candidates for a VAP position.
 * The current VAP at Williams is pretty impressive, however, having just returned from a year at the American Academy in Rome and being a current Guggenheim fellow.  Still, stranger things have happened...
 * Yes, the issue of inside candidates is a tough one. Everybody says that inside candidates don't always have an advantage, but it's hard to believe that when you see them getting the job again and again. Last year it seemed as if every inside candidate got the job (Tufts, NYU, UNC-Greensboro, UT-San Antonio, UNT, Florida Gulf Coast, ...). But I suppose the best we can do as job seekers is to try not to think about inside candidates and apply the same as we would anyway.
 * (9/16) Word on the street has been that Williams would like to keep their VAP and that the VAP would accept if an offer is made. This isn't to say that there is no point in applying, situations often change, but the deck seems to be stacked against outside candidates in this case. Which brings about the possibility of a perhaps more productive question: Has the VAP become a sort of audition for TT?
 * (9/16) (2) Situations do change.  And unless "word on the street" comes directly from a majority of search committee members at Williams, I'm not sure how much it means.  Search committees can be fickle, candidates can be too if they get offers elsewhere.  I've seen both happen.  I personally know an "inside candidate" a few years back who appeared to be qualified and well-loved by almost everyone in the department (and students too!), was warmly encouraged to apply by faculty members on and off the search the committee, and didn't even get an interview.  Departmental and administrative politics can also interfere with hiring what appears to be an "obvious" inside candidate.
 * (11/10) To 9/16 (1), I wouldn't go so far as to call a VAP position a TT audition, at least not in all cases.  In many situations, a VAP position is opened when funding for a TT search is not available. For example, if a faculty member announces her intent to leave late in the academic year, it is likely that the Provost will approve a one-year position rather than a full TT search.  This could be for any number of reasons, but the two I've heard most frequently are (1) to save money, and (2) to guarantee a "better crop of candidates" next year (the assumption here is that, if you start to advertise a search in March or April, all the "best" candidates will have been hired.  Of course, this isn't necessarily the case, but it is not an uncommon belief.).
 * Anything is possible.  However, many VAPs do get hired for the TT gig.  That said, last year Williams hired two people instead of one, and one was not brought in for an interview.  So yes, anything is possible.

MIT

 * I heard rumors from different sources about this job, according to which the job is not so "technology-based" as it looks on the job description. It is the Theater Arts Department, not Media Lab, so I was also wondering what kind of tech person they are looking for. Is there anyone willing to share some details about this job?
 * It's in the Music and Theater Arts department - I think it is similar to a music technology job at an undergraduate college and less like a Media Lab kind of research gig.
 * Wondering if the person who posted about the short list can clarify: have the finalists for the short list already been contacted?
 * I don't know. The language of the communication was as follows: "The search committee has met and read over 130 impressive applications and selected a small number for further review. At this time, yours is not one of the applications under active consideration. The committee may expand the active list at a later date and in that case may want to contact you for further information."
 * Thanks. I think it is the long-short list, as the further materials were not due until 12/22. Sorry to hear you didn't make it.
 * Campus visit scheduled

University of Massachusetts Amherst

 * Does anyone know who they interviewed?
 * This place really seems to be growing in both music theory and musicology.
 * Lots of things grow.
 * Any updates here?

University of Massachusetts Lowell

 * This suspiciously looks like a job posting for an internal candidate. Anyone has more information about this?

University of Michigan

 * (11/4) Any updates to report on their search?
 * (11/4 [2]) Given that they’re holding interviews at AMS/SMT, I wouldn't expect to hear anything until after the conference.
 * (1/26) Any updates on this one? For that matter, whose position is this one replacing?
 * (1/26) They are holding campus inteviews this week (sorry..). They are replacing Alan Gosman who left for the University of Arkansas.

University of Georgia

 * (11/11) Note from the search committee chair: UGA has two open faculty positions in composition. One position will be in composition, including electro-acoustic composition; the other will be in composition and theory. One position will hire at the rank of assistant professor (tenure-track) and the other on a one-year (renwable) contract as Limited Term Asisstant Professor (not tenure-track). There is no assumed correspondence between the areas of specialization and the ranks. The online application allows applicants to indicate whether they wish to be conisdered for the temporary position in addition to the tenure-track position. Applicants wishing to use a credentialing service (such as Interfolio) for their references should please direct materials to .
 * 12/12: Is it safe to assume that the fields for references on the application form should be left blank if the letters will be arriving via email from Interfolio and a list of additional references has been uploaded as a pdf?
 * 12/12 (2): The form won't let you leave those fields blank AFAIK. I put the Interfolio email links in the reference field and cancelled the delivery request.
 * 12/13: I left them blank and it seemed to go through, that is, I didn't receive an error message and received an email letting me know that my application had been submitted.
 * 12/13 (from the search committee chair): The administrator for the search is monitoring how letters come in. If you send them via Interfolio, then your references won't be contacted to send them via the site. If you have any problems with the system, please contact .
 * 1/17 Anyone heard of any movement here?
 * 1/20 additional materials requested

University of South Florida

 * 12/21: Just saw the discussion on the musicology wiki about some apparent shenanigans at this school. In case the people watching this site know anything more than what's been reported there (at least two recent, strange tenure denials), can anyone else comment?
 * 12/23: Yes, a theorist was denied tenure.
 * 12/23 (b): And exactly what does this have to do with the current search?  Schools may hire anyone for any reason, and tenure is not guaranteed.  The University of South Florida owes you no explanation on the denial of tenure or hiring process of any of its current, former, or future faculty.
 * 12/23 (c): I might argue that a state-funded university owes tax-payers an explanation, but not on this platform.... More directly, we're all academics, when one of us is denied tenure it affects all of us, is bad for the field of music theory speficially. And no, schools may not hire anyone for any reason, hence, you know, like, searches, deans, affirmative action committees, etc. (x2)
 * 12/25: A visit to the musicology wiki suggests the 12/23 (b) comment is from the same USF adminstrator.
 * 12/29: Anyone who has followed the department at USF for the past 5-10 years knows that the place is a train wreck.
 * 12/30: The jobs wiki isn't here to create a "black list" of bad departments. Through the course of this search people will be interviewed and one will eventually be hired, and this kind of gossip really does a disservice to whomever that eventually successful candidate is. I also think this  does a disservice to the folks who were recently denied tenure who, if nothing else, provide evidence that this department has a history of making good hires. This kind of "discussion" won't reverse their tenure decisions and I really don't see where it actually provides anything to the academic music profession either.
 * 12/31: I don't see how anyone is creating even a metaphorical blacklist of departments--who of us has that power? "Gossip" implies we are discussing this issue not just through word-of-mouth but in bad faith; again I don't think we are. I believe that hiring people who do not eventually succeed in tenure bids shows at the least a faulty process, and, more importantly, speaks to larger concerns within academic hiring practices I'd assumed we all shared. Lastly, as with the Musicology Jobs Wiki, I'm very concerned with the censorious impulses of some of these comments. This is an open forum, we are discussing issues of concern, democratically, and no one is saying anything slanderous.
 * 01/19: I agree completely that the purpose of this wiki (as with any such forum) is to provide education through the sharing of information and in discussion among the participants, and this sharing should be broadly and not narrowly embraced. The tenure process can be laden with traps for the unwary, so it is best for one entering the field to keep one's eyes wide open. Perhaps the environment at any one particular institution is less hospitable to new faculty, perhaps not. Much can depend, of course, on the particular personalities involved, which may change from year to year. That being acknowledged, it is equally true that every institution and department self-creates its own "culture" of sorts, and it would be foolish not to enter into that culture with every piece of possible information about it at one's disposal, not to prejudge the institution, but for self-preservation, if necessary.

Georgia State University

 * (2/22) This job just popped up. Looks like they have a VAP (Kyle Jenkins) with a PhD from Arizona U. Does anyone know if he's an "inside" or "very strong" candidate to keep the job at Georgia State? Or perhaps is Dr. Jenkins moving on elsewhere? I will send an app in either way, but it can be good to know these things. Also, if anyone knows how to edit this entry so that it's indented with the little "bullet" point, feel free. I also somehow managed to change the font in Illinois State, below. Again, feel free to fix this...
 * (2/22) (2) Done.

Illinois State University

 * 2/1: I see above that there were campus interviews, but yesterday this job was apparently re-listed on Inside Higher Ed.  However, the deadline of November 2014 still remains.  Does anyone know whether they are re-opening this search, or is that just some mistake on the part of Inside Higer Ed?
 * 2/2: Called them and was told that there is no job opening.
 * Looks like the winner teaches at Illinois State as an adjunct.  (chalk up another one to the VAP list)
 * (Re: "the VAP list") Whenever an adjunct faculty member is hired to a TT position at an instituion where they already work, I tend to see that as an equitable improvement in the academy at large. Whenver adjuncts are passed over and taken for granted when there is an actual opportunity to promote them, I see that as symptomatic of the further decline of the academy. Just saying.
 * As one who knows the school a little bit, I am happy that Roy got the gig. He is a grad from that school and has worked as an instructor for a number of years (passed up on the last TT search). I think it is a win overall. Speaking also as one who has had a series of one year positions before landing a TT job, sometimes it just takes time. So those of you who are still on the hunt, keep at it. Eventually the right fit/situation will come along.
 * 3/10: Re: "Eventually the right fit/situation will come along." That may be true, if one is not counting on landing an academic position. The field, ladies and gentlemen, has been and continues to be steadily shrinking, both in terms of TT opportunities, and any other form of teaching opportunities. Whether one considers this a negative or positive development, it is a fact. Still, I do wish all job seekers good fortune in their efforts.
 * 3/10 (2): I don't doubt that the field is shrinking, but I was just saying to myself that there seemed to be MORE openings this year than in recent past years. There are currently 83 positions listed on this page (if I counted correctly). Last year's page lists 87 total. And surely a few more will open between now and semester's end.