Employment Opportunities​

 

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SEEKING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 
 

The Minnesota Chorale, a semi-professional chorus in its 54th season, serves as the official choral partner of the Minnesota Orchestra and presents its own award-winning programming. With the upcoming retirement of its longtime director, Kathy Saltzman Romey, the Minnesota Chorale seeks an Artistic Director who will bring new ideas that build upon its traditions of success in artistic partnerships, community collaborations, educational experiences, and intergenerational singing. The Artistic Director sets the creative direction for and ensures the musical excellence of the Minnesota Chorale while fostering a collaborative environment for innovation and growth.  

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Key Responsibilities  

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 1.           Creative Direction  

• Establishes artistic direction for Chorale  

• Partners with Executive Director to create overall schedule of concerts and commissioned works 

• Selects repertoire for Chorale-produced concerts guided by Chorale’s Mission, Vision, Values, Guiding Principles and United Belonging Statement

• Produces program notes, reviews publicity, and provides remarks for Chorale-produced concerts  

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2.            Musical Leadership  and Management  

• Auditions  all members of the Chorale and creates rosters for each concert from the pool of volunteer singers and section leaders (currently 180 and 70 respectively).

• Prepares and rehearses Chorale for Minnesota Orchestra concerts while discerning and implementing the vision of the orchestra conductor  

• Prepares and directs rehearsals and performances for Chorale-produced concerts  

• Selects Chorale assistant directors, accompanists, soloists, and instrumentalists and leads searches for conductors of other groups in Chorale’s Family of Choirs as needed 

• Oversees artistic staff of Chorale – Organization Structure linked below

  

​3.            Collaborative Relationships   

• Maintains clear and open communications with the Board, Chorale staff, and musicians 

• Partners with the Board and Executive Director to assure fiscal health and organizational stability

• As choral advisor to the Minnesota Orchestra, consults on programming and advises on choral resources for joint projects

• Supports stewardship through engagement with sponsors and donors 

• Develops and fosters collaborations with community partners 

• Represents the Chorale as its artistic leader in local, regional, national and international settings  

 

​ Qualifications  

• Education: Master of Music degree in choral conducting or related field   

• Experience: five years or more choral conducting experience, prefer experience conducting a semi-professional chorus or adult chorus 

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Attributes 

• Accomplished: has broad knowledge of choral repertoire ranging from a cappella pieces to masterworks; leads performances that include choral and orchestral musicians and soloists; runs motivating and efficient rehearsals that promote vocal health; has expertise in vocal technique, choral diction, and pedagogical skills; leads with empathy, integrity, and respect 

• Connected: creates and thrives on strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, has a network of established relationships within the Twin Cities or the ability to create one with targeted introductions, active in Chorus America and/or American Choral Directors Association  

• Dynamic: demonstrates confidence and resiliency, anticipates and adapts to changing circumstances while preserving enthusiasm and artistic excellence, implements detailed plans well   

• Engaging: inspires and connects with singers and audiences, communicates with authenticity, demonstrates humility and humor, has emotional intelligence and strong interpersonal skills

• Innovative: shows passion for developing new ideas and embracing new technologies to lead the Chorale and its Family of Choirs into a vibrant future  

 

Commitment and Compensation 

• Time Commitment: this Minnesota-based position averages 20 hours per week, more in concert weeks and less in the summer  

• Reporting Structure: reports to the Board of Directors per linked organization chart below

• Salary: $45,000 - $55,000 annually depending on qualifications and experience 

• Benefits: stipend for health insurance; 401(k) plan; vacation; earned sick and safe time; budget for professional memberships and development; Minnesota Chorale offices are closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day as well as the week of the Fourth of July

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Note about 2026-27 performance schedule: The 2026-27 performance schedule does not resemble what the Chorale’s schedule would be with a new artistic director. In her last season, Kathy Saltzman Romey is literally going “all out” and preparing 10 and conducting 5 concerts in the 13-concert season. In contrast, we anticipate that the new artistic director will prepare roughly 5-6 concerts and conduct roughly 2-3 of them in the 2027-28 season. 

 

​Application Requirements and Process 

 

By July 31, 2026, please submit these materials using the form, below.

• Letter of interest 

• Resume or curriculum vitae 

• Link to a live video recording of about ten minutes of a recent choral rehearsal and about ten minutes of a recent performance 

• Two programs from recent concerts and a description of your conducting and programming role 

• List of three to five professional references 

• Completed chart of major choral works linked below

• Completed selections for mock concert as described in file linked below

 

A search committee composed of Chorale Board members, singers, and community representatives will consider applications according to this timeline: 

• Review of Applications will begin August 1, 2026  

• Anticipated Virtual Interviews October 20-23, 2026 

• Anticipated In Person Interview/Audition January 9-10, 2027 

• Anticipated Extended Offer February 2027 

• Employment will begin July 1, 2027 for the 2027-2028 concert season 

 

Questions? Email search@mnchorale.org 

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Application Materials:

• Job Description PDF

• About the Minnesota Chorale PDF

• Organization Structure PDF

• About Minnesota PDF

• Choral Works Chart Assignment - Word document. Please complete, save and attach to your application.

• Mock Family Concert Assignment​- Word document. Please complete, save and attach to your application.

• SUBMIT YOUR MATERIALS BELOW

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MINNESOTA CHORALE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE

search@mnchorale.org

 

Alyssa Breece

Alyssa Breece brings more than 20 years of senior leadership experience in administration, operations, and project management to the Chorale. With a background in market research, Alyssa is uniquely qualified to use her community relations skills, strategic planning and survey research expertise to navigate the seas of fiscal management and development. She is passionate about supporting our organization’s vision to provide opportunities for personal and collective growth, and for exploring our shared humanity in partnership with our community. Alyssa proudly sings with the Chorale in the core ensemble as well as with the treble ensemble, Woven Voices, led by the Chorale's Artistic Advisor and Collaborative Pianist, Barb Brooks. As the mom of middle and high schoolers, she is always on the go. When not enjoying the arts, you may find her binging true crime podcasts, gardening, traveling, reading, puzzling or chasing her two dachshunds, Moose & Ollie. For the fellow nerds in the know, Ollie's full name is Oliphaunt, named after Tolkien's war elephants in Lord of the Rings.

 

Elizabeth Buckingham

Liz Buckingham serves as the Chair of the Artistic Director Search Committee and brings her decades of recruiting experience as a retired partner and management committee member of the Dorsey & Whitney law firm, where her practice focused on trademark and copyright law. As a volunteer, she has recruited non-profit officers and board members and led search teams including one for the Minister of Worship and Fine Arts at Hennepin Avenue UMC. Liz sang in the Chorale from 1994-2010 and joyfully rejoined in 2024. She lives with her husband in Minneapolis and has a grown daughter.

 

David Cherwien

David Cherwien, now retired, was Artistic Director of the National Lutheran Choir from 2002 to 2023, and also served the Lutheran Church as a full-time musician for over 40 years. Most recently he was Cantor at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis/St. Paul from 2001 to 2024. Prior to that he also served churches in Chicago, Seattle, and Berlin, and has also served on the faculty at Gustavus Adolphus and Elmhurst Colleges, Concordia University Mequon, and Luther Seminary. He holds degrees in Organ Performance, Theory and Composition, and Choral Music Education, and has studied in Berlin, Germany and Aix-en-Provence, France.  Cherwien's specialty and passion is in congregational song, with an improvisational/creative approach in order to encourage meaningful and vibrant participation. His ministry is wide spread through the country through his frequent hymn festivals, workshops, guest appearances, and as a composer of sacred music has over 200 publications. 

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Elwyn Alexander Fraser, Jr.

I'm thankful to be a Christian, husband, father, mentor for several different individuals, multimedia business owner, multidisciplinary artist with several organizations, community volunteer, and cross-functional engineer. In various performance, consultant, and leadership capacities, I’ve spent over a dozen years growing and serving across several organizations ranging from newly minted to fortune 500. Both professionally and personally, Integrity, Empathy, Creativity, Well-being, and Identity are my values as I walk a Christian faith that focuses on love, not judgment. I desire to tear down divides and uplift souls on their journey to greater purpose in life and healthy fellowship with humankind and our planet. I believe that even a single voice can make a difference in another’s life. So, quiet not the song & vision in your own heart.

 

Beth Kellar-Long

Beth Kellar-Long retired in 2024 as Vice President of Orchestra Administration after 33 years at the Minnesota Orchestra where she led the artistic department during high-profile tours and commissions, programming innovations during the pandemic, and the arrival of Music Director Thomas Sondergard – in fact she served on that search committee. She was the staff lead for the Orchestra’s DEI and anti-racism work for several years and is passionate about bringing people together and working towards a more just world. Beth joined the Minnesota Chorale in 1990 and is thrilled to be singing again this season after a nine-year break. Beth and her husband live in St. Paul and have two adult children, an elderly cat and two naughty dogs. 

 

Andy McCullough

Innovative marketing leader with nearly a decades experience leading marketing, product, and GTM strategy across three positions at two international Series A e-commerce SaaS, bringing 5 international markets to profitability. Bringing creative, analytical leadership to product marketing and growth ops for SaaS, e-commerce, and CPG brands. Skilled at working cross-functionally and engaging stakeholders at every stage of the customer journey to generate revenue. Fell in love with storytelling while building my personal brand as a Juilliard-trained opera singer, and spent 10 years performing professionally at venues from Carnegie Hall to the Royal Opera House Oman. Expertise: Category Creation, Product-Market Fit, ICPs, Channel Strategy, B2B SaaS Go-to-Market Strategy, Sales Enablement, Retention, Demand Generation, Strategic Partnerships, RevOps.

 

Laurie Meyers

Laurie Meyers is a native of South Korea and grew up in Colorado before attending Drake University for her Bachelor of Music Education degree. She later earned her Master of Education degree from Nova Southeastern University. 

 

Laurie believes that all individuals have a voice and music to share, and it is her joy to cultivate opportunities to share and connect through singing and creating music together. At Minneapolis South High School, Laurie teaches Choir, Piano Class, Songwriting, Vocal Music Studio, and Electronic Music Lab.

 

Laurie actively seeks opportunities to collaborate with other music artists, including singing with The Singing Resistance, The Oratorio Society Summer Chorus, Vox Nova, Singers in Accord, City Singers, and World Voices, as well as cantoring at Lumen Christi Catholic Community. She has served as Artistic Director and Conductor of ENCORE!, an auditioned soprano/alto ensemble, and as Assistant Artistic Director of the Twin Cities Women's Choir (TCWC), a non-auditioned soprano/alto ensemble with a roster of 130 members. Outside of performing, Laurie serves on the Board of Directors for the Twin Cities tenor/bass ensemble Cantus.

 

Laurie enjoys walking, yoga, reading, and meeting friends and colleagues for coffee at local coffee shops. Her favorite place to be is in her Minneapolis home and is proud parent of 3 past and present Minneapolis Public Schools students! She is constantly on the look-out for ways to cultivate and deepen connections with other humans, and is very grateful for her husband, Mathew, who makes her laugh every single day.

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Eric Roling

Eric Roling has worked as a Senior Director of Corporate Benefits at UnitedHealth Group for the past 7 years. He leads the Mergers & Acquisitions team for corporate benefits and is also responsible for benefits strategy and design for the Optum Health business segment, covering over 100,000 employees. Eric graduated from Drake University with majors in Actuarial Science and Finance and was an actuarial consultant with Deloitte Consulting for 24 years. He is a credentialed actuary and an expert in financial modeling, risk analysis, and benefits design. He works with senior leaders to identify and resolve employee benefits challenges and is known for his deep subject expertise and ability to communicate complex issues in a clear manner for a variety of audiences.

 

Eric was a member of the choral program at Drake University, serving as Drake Choir president during his senior year. After college, he moved to the Twin Cities and sang with the Minneapolis Vocal Consort from 1993 to 1997. He performed with the Minnesota Chorale for their performances of Mahler's Eighth Symphony in 1996. He is an acoustic guitarist and has played, sang, and arranged music for church and secular groups throughout his life. He and his wife Lisa live in Brooklyn Park with their two adult children.

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Maya Tester

Maya Tester has been a singer with the Minnesota Chorale for over 25 years and join the MN Chorale Board of Directors in 2025. She has a JD from Harvard University and an MA degree in Psychology from the University of Virginia, and has been a trial attorney at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for 33 years. She has served on the boards of Proof Alliance, the largest national organization addressing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, and Breck School, a college preparatory PreK-12 school in Golden Valley, MN, where she led the search committee for the new Head of School.