DRAFT KEBLE COLLEGE, OXFORD Director of Music (part-time) Further particulars Keble College wishes to appoint a Director of Music (part-time, 0.4 FTE) from 1 October 2015 or as soon as possible thereafter, following the resignation from the post at the end of September of Simon Whalley on taking up a post in New York. The College is committed to sustaining a strong tradition of organ and choral music in the context of Chapel services and to the promotion of recitals and concerts by students and others both in the Chapel (making use of the recently installed Tickell organ) and elsewhere in the College. The primary responsibility of the Director of Music is to direct and administer these activities. Keble College Keble College is one of Oxford s thirty-eight self-governing and independent colleges. It was founded in 1870 in memory of the Revd John Keble by a group of Tractarian supporters who wished to memorialise his role in the renewal of the Church of England. The College is now one of the larger ones in Oxford, having about 420 undergraduate and 230 graduate students. Its Governing Body has 50 Fellows and their teaching and research is complemented by a large number of College lecturers. The buildings are striking, designed by the famous Victorian architect, William Butterfield. The Chapel is particularly splendid, Gothic in style and notable for its colourful tiles, mosaics and stained glass and for its very fine acoustic. In 2011 a new organ was installed which is an outstanding Romantic instrument, designed and built by the late Kenneth Tickell to enable the performance of a wide range of repertoire, both solo and choral. Music in the Chapel The College Chapel offers worship in the liberal Catholic tradition. There are three main weekly services during full term: a Eucharist at 5.30pm on Sundays, an Evensong at 6.00pm on Wednesdays and a Service of Compline at 9.00pm on Thursdays. There are occasional weddings as well as a small number of funerals and memorial services. There are also
services for reunions and special services, such as the annual St Mark s service at which founders and benefactors are commemorated. The Chapel is also regularly used for recitals, concerts and recordings. Musical events also take place from time to time in the College s O Reilly theatre, a specially designed music room and elsewhere. The Chapel Choir maintains a very high standard of music. There are twelve choral award holders who are joined by other auditioned singers from within the College and the wider Oxford community. The regular services referred to above are supplemented by recordings, (most recently of Duruflé s Requiem in 2013 and, to be released later this year, a CD of Advent music) and tours both abroad (to the USA in 2011 and Poland in 2013) and in the UK (to the Isle of Wight and London in 2014). The Choir is strongly supported by the Chaplain, the Revd Dr Jenn Strawbridge, and is an integral part of College life; for example, its members sing an elaborate version of the College grace in Hall every Sunday evening. The most recent termly music list is available on the College website. The Chapel is in frequent demand as a venue for concerts and recordings. Most of these are organised by the Director of Music; for example, a significant programme of organ recitals throughout the year. The appointee will be expected to continue and develop this programme, both chorally and instrumentally, especially in the context of the lead-up to the celebration of the 150 th anniversary in 2020 of the College s foundation. In addition, groups from within the collegiate University and the wider community pay for the use of the Chapel as a performance and recording space and it is a responsibility of the Director of Music to administer these commitments. Music in the College There is a wide range of other musical activity in the College, much but not all of it under the umbrella of the Keble College Music Society which exists to encourage performance at all levels. The Warden and the Director of Music are both involved with the Society which produces a termly programme. This includes a Warden s recital given by members of the College and a range of other events, among which there was most recently, in Hilary Term, an outstanding Early Music Festival. The Society also embraces the very successful Keble Big Band and, depending on levels of support, an orchestra. It also contributes to and organises piano lessons for members of College. A music scholarship is awarded to an instrumental performer each year and the Director of Music oversees the auditioning process. Music Teaching The post of Director of Music is mainly concerned with the direction of the Chapel choir and the performance and promotion of music more generally within the College. Keble does not admit students to read music with the exception of the three organ scholars. The departing post-holder acts as Director of Studies for them, undertaking some of their teaching and,
where appropriate, arranging for it to be provided by other members of the collegiate University. In seeking a replacement the College wishes to focus on the performance aspects of the role. Depending on the qualifications and experience of the applicants it may choose to give a preference to an individual who could also undertake the tutorial role. Detailed job description Job Title: Director of Music Responsible to: The Warden and working in close collaboration with the Chaplain. Salary: 15, 874 per annum with an additional payment associated with the possible tutorial role. Duties of the post: 1. To direct the music for Chapel services to a high standard. 2. To undertake or, where appropriate, oversee the direction of rehearsals for the Chapel Choir. 3. To prepare all music lists for Chapel services on a termly basis and in a timely fashion in conjunction with the Chaplain and the organ scholars, and to ensure that the Music section of the College website is kept up to date with such lists and other information about musical activities in the College. 4. To participate in the organ and choral trials held every September and organised by the Faculty of Music to select one organ scholar per year and as many choral scholars as may be appropriate given the availability of twelve choral awards. (Keble only admits organ scholars to read music. The selection of choral scholars is separate from the assessment of their academic applications and the Director of Music has no role in the latter process.) 5. To participate fully in the annual University-wide Open Day for choral and organ scholars at the beginning of each Trinity Term. 6. To recruit and audition other members of the Chapel Choir. 7. To maintain the College s pastoral support for the organ scholars and to foster good relations with all members of the Chapel Choir. 8. To oversee the singing lessons for choir members which are offered twice termly and to maintain the College s relationship with the singing tutor.
9. To oversee the music budget of the Chapel. 10. To oversee the Choir library and the work of the Choir librarian. 11. To arrange visits and tours by the Choir to sing elsewhere in the UK and abroad, organising a tour at least once every two years, working, as appropriate, with the Alumni and Development Office, and to be available for other ad hoc external engagements with the choir as may be agreed. 12. To curate the Tickell organ in terms of access to it and all maintenance and tuning issues. 13. To sustain a programme of organ recitals and master classes in Chapel which exploit the capacity of the Tickell instrument and to plan a major concert at least annually which involves Keble musicians who are not members of the Chapel Choir. 14. To oversee the maintenance of the other College keyboard instruments. 15. To develop choral and instrumental activity more generally in College in conjunction with the Keble College Music Society, including the annual selection of a music scholar from within the student community of the College. 16. To develop a programme of alumni and other musical events in the lead up to the College s 150 th anniversary celebrations in 2020, working in conjunction with the Alumni and Development Office, and, where appropriate, with the Outreach Officer. 17. To administer, in conjunction with the Warden s PA and liaising with the Chaplain, the bookings by external organisations to use the Chapel for musical purposes. 18. To promote the traditions and reputation of the College and the Choir and to be actively engaged with the wider College community. Essential Selection Criteria The successful candidate must be: 1. Educated to at least graduate level and have significant experience as a performing musician. 2. An outstanding choral conductor with a successful track record as a choir trainer in the context of the Anglican choral tradition. 3. An excellent motivator, communicator and role model, both in the context of the direction of the Chapel Choir and in relation to the other aspects of the role.
4. Experienced in working well with musically gifted young people both in groups and individuals, inspiring them to high levels of achievement. 4. A proven efficient and effective organiser of music in the context of worship and of musical events more generally in an institutional setting, including as an administrator of budgets. 5. Competent in the use of IT to undertake the efficient and timely production of music lists, programmes and folders of music. 6. A team player and sympathetic to the central academic mission of the College. 7. Able to work flexibly to allow for the varying workload across the full academic year. Desirable Selection Criteria 8. An organist with an interest in and ability to exploit the potential of the Tickell organ. 9. Resident within the Oxford area or within close commuting distance of Oxford during full term to facilitate involvement with the musical and social life of the College. Optional Selection Criteria 10. Qualified to at least first degree level in music and with teaching experience at University level sufficient to undertake the role of Director of Studies/Tutor in relation to the College s three organ scholars who are reading music. Salary and benefits The salary, including holiday pay will be paid pro rata in accordance with Oxford University s academic related grade 8.2 which is currently 39,685 which produces a salary of 15, 874 for this 0.4 FTE post. It will be subject to periodic revision in line with the increases applied to academic salaries generally. The annual leave allowance is 38 days (including eight public holidays), but there is an expectation that leave will be arranged to accommodate the pattern of duties required of the post over the course of a year. In particular it is expected that except in the most exceptional circumstances leave will be taken outside term- time. Where the post-holder is required to work on a public holiday, leave will be granted in lieu. Working hours will need to be flexible to meet the duties of the post and will require evening and weekend working. The hours of working are expected to equate to 40% of a normal 35 hour week averaged across a full academic year. An additional payment would be made at the appropriate rate if the appointee undertook some tutorial responsibility as described above. Other benefits include membership of the Senior Common Room and full dining rights when the College kitchen is open. There is optional membership of the Universities Superannuation Scheme and health insurance is available.
The Director will be provided with a small office on the main College site within easy access of the Chapel and will have access to College IT facilities. A limited amount of secretarial assistance is available in relation to the musical bookings for the Chapel. Terms of appointment This is a part-time appointment and may be held in conjunction with other posts outside the College provided that the obligations of any other appointments do not conflict with the requirements of the Director of Music. This is a permanent appointment subject to a probationary period of one year. There is a notice period of three months on either side. The appointment will be conditional on verification of the successful candidate s right to work in the UK for Keble College and subject to the receipt of satisfactory references. The appointee will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (previously known as a CRB check) at the start of their employment. Applications Candidates should send electronically a letter of application, addressed to the Warden (Sir Jonathan Phillips KCB), a CV and the names and contact details of three referees to the Warden s PA (Trish.Long@keble.ox.ac.uk) by 12.00 noon (UK time) on 27 May. There is no application form. The College reserves the right to invite candidates to submit applications after the closing date. Candidates should ask their referees to write on their behalf and send their references to the Warden s PA by the closing date. Candidates in their letters of application and referees in their letters of reference should address the candidate s ability to meet the full range of the selection criteria mentioned above, including, where appropriate, the candidate s ability to undertake the potential tutorial role. At least one of the candidate s referees should be a recent employer and at least one should be able to comment with significant knowledge of the candidate s professional skills. Both candidates and referees are asked to include the words Director of Music in the subject line of all correspondence about this post. Applicants who wish approaches to a referee or referees to be made only if they are being called for interview or are in receipt of a conditional offer are asked to state this explicitly in their letter of application alongside their full contact details. In all cases three referees must be identified.
Applicants are also asked to fill in the Equal Opportunities Monitoring form attached to this document and return it to the Human Resources Manager, Keble College, Oxford, OX1 3PG or marie.ruffle@keble.ox.ac.uk Interview procedure It is expected that shortlisted candidates will be asked to undertake auditions with the Choir on 18 June followed by interviews. Candidates are asked to keep this date free. The interview panel is likely to be the Warden, the Revd Dr Jenn Strawbridge (Chaplain), Dr Michael Hawcroft (the Deputy Senior Tutor), Dr Stephen Payne (a Tutorial Fellow and Fellow of the Royal College of Organists) and Mr Robert Quinney (Organist and Tutorial Fellow in Music at New College).
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES APPLICANT MONITORING FORM This form is available in an alternative format, if required please contact the HR Manager. Director of Music CONFIDENTIAL Please complete this form if you are applying for a position at Keble College. The Equality Act 2010 brings together and extends existing equality legislation. The Act introduces protected characteristics in relation to which discrimination is unlawful. The protected characteristics under the Act are: age race disability religion or belief (including lack of belief) gender reassignment sex marriage and civil partnership sexual orientation pregnancy and maternity Higher education institutions have a duty to have effective arrangements for the collection and analysis of data for equality monitoring purposes. Any information given will be used only to support the College s diversity and equal opportunities policy and in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998. The information will be entered on a computer in Keble College and will be kept strictly confidential and separate from your name and your application. It is not part of the selection process. The information you give will be retained only for statistical purposes and is anonymous. The policy and practice of Keble College require that entry into employment with the College and progression within employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application of criteria which are related to the duties of each particular post. Subject to statutory provisions, no applicant or member of staff will be treated less favourably than another because of any of the above protected characteristics. In all cases, ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration. Please answer the questions by completing or ticking the appropriate box. Sex Male: Female: Age Under 18 18-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 61-65 66-70 71 + Prefer not to say Marriage and Civil Partnership 1. Are you married? Yes No Prefer not to say 2. Are you in a civil partnership? Yes No Prefer not to say Disability 3. Do you have a disability or long term medical condition? i.e. a physical or mental impairment, and the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Yes, please complete Q4. No known disability Prefer not to say 4. Please tick one or more boxes: The definitions of disability are those of the Higher Education Statistic Agency 4.1: Two or more impairments and/or disabling medical conditions 4.6: A mental health condition, such as depression, schizophrenia or anxiety disorder 4.2: A specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or AD(H)D 4.7: A physical impairment or mobility issues, such as difficulty using arms or using a wheelchair or crutches
4.3: General learning disability (such as Down s syndrome) 4.8: Deaf or serious hearing impairment 4.4: A social/communication impairment such as Asperger s syndrome/other autistic spectrum disorder 4.5: A long standing illness or health condition such as cancer, HIV, diabetes, chronic heart disease, or epilepsy 4.9: Blind or a serious visual impairment uncorrected by glasses 4.10: A disability, impairment or medical condition not listed above. Please state: 4.11: Prefer not to say Ethnic Origin 5. Please describe your ethnic origin: (please tick one box only) The ethnic origin definitions are those of the Higher Education Statistic Agency. White Black or Black British Asian or Asian British 5.1: White 5.5: Black or Black British -Caribbean 5.8: Asian or Asian British - Indian 5.6: Black or Black British - African 5.9: Asian or Asian British - Pakistani Gypsy or Traveller 5.7: Other Black Background 5.10: Asian or Asian British-Bangladeshi 5.2: Gypsy or Irish Traveller please specify:.. 5.11: Chinese 5.12: Other Asian Background please specify: Arab Mixed Other Ethnic Group 5.13: Arab 5.14: White and Black Caribbean 5.18: Any other 5.15: White and Black African please specify 5.16: White and Asian 5.17: Other Mixed Background 5.19: Prefer not to say please specify: Gender Reassignment 8. Is your gender identity the same as the gender you were assigned at birth? 8.1: Yes 8.2: No 8.3: Prefer not to say Sexual Orientation 9. What is your sexual orientation? 9.1: Bisexual 9.2: Gay man 9.3: Gay woman / lesbian 9.4: Heterosexual 9.5: Other 9.6: Prefer not to say Religion or belief (including lack of belief) 10. What is your religion? Please specify: 10.1: Atheism 10.6: Jainism 10.11: No religion 10.2: Buddhism 10.7: Judaism 10.12: Prefer not to say 10.3: Christianity 10.8: Sikhism
10.4: Hinduism 10.9: Spiritualism 10.5: Islam 10.10: Any other religion or belief please specify Please return this form to the HR Manager at Keble College. Thank you.