Description
Position Summary
The Teaching Artist Coordinator will be responsible for performing administrative duties and coordinating select programs that support the Education Department’s year-round K-12 activities. The position will work closely with arts and non-arts teachers in school settings while working collaboratively with staff, volunteers, artists, and students of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds. They will be tasked with helping to increase and diversify Opera Theatre’s network of education contacts.
Duties and Responsibilities
Essential Responsibilities:
In-School Programming
- Coordinate all school Arts Intensive programs (Approximately a dozen 10-week residencies for students grades 3 and up at partner schools and organizations during the academic year);
- Serve as the main liaison between OTSL, schools, teachers, and other teaching artists
- Teach and/or co-teach assigned arts intensives;
- Support sustainable growth of Arts Intensives with new schools and partner organizations
- Create curriculum for education programs such as Opera on the Go!, young people’s operas, and Trailblazers in Opera, keyed to national and Missouri standards;
- Assist in the designing, staffing, and implementation of elementary and middle school camps during the Festival Season;
- Assist in the designing and implementation of teacher training programs, including professional development workshops, Art Sings, and Music!Words!Opera!;
- Support the Director of Education & Engagement to identify and recruit qualified teaching artists to assist with Arts Intensives and camps as needed.
Administrative & Other Program Support
- Assist with student auditions, recitals, extra-curricular events, retreats, regional college tours, and camps for students;
- Maintain and help create pages on the OTSL website, and appropriate social media platforms for the education department;
- Assist with maintenance of education data in the Tessitura database, ArtsVision, and mailing lists;
- Engage in a practice of “continuous improvement” for all programming and communications, both internal and external.
- Respond to inquiries from directors and managers regarding reports and data information as appropriate for education programs.
- Support the Education Department as requested to successfully implement programs, such as Opera for Young People, Opera on the Go!,Music!Words!Opera!, Student Dress Rehearsals, Spotlight on Opera, Opera Art Tours, online virtual programming, and seasonal events;
- Assist the Director of Education & Engagement and the Senior Manager of Education & Engagement in all department programming as assigned.
- Support Education Department in occasional research for grant prospect/opportunities.
Secondary Responsibilities:
- Participate in organizational events as requested;
- Attend all staff meetings and education department meetings as required.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Subcontracted teaching artist personnel
Required Skills, Experience, Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in theater education or music education or related field;
- Prior classroom teaching experience, ideally a minimum of three years;
- Curriculum writing experience;
- Strong computer skills including experience with Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, database (such as Tessitura), and basic graphics programs such as Canva and Photoshop;
- Have a working knowledge of classical music, singing, and opera repertoire;
- Must be able to read music with fluency and possess intermediate piano skills;
- Extraordinary attention to detail, ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, anticipate programmatic needs/details in a timely and accurate manner.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will:
- Have strong verbal and written communication skills, and proficiency in public speaking;
- Have a demonstrated successful track record of teaching students in classroom and/or afterschool program settings,
- Experience leading professional development workshops for teachers is preferred;
- Recent experience in the St. Louis educational environment preferred;
- Possess the ability to work as a team player;
- Be proficient in social media communications including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Snapchat;
- Have familiarity with audio and video recording/duplication.
Compensation
- This is a full time, non-exempt position
- Compensation: $46,000-$48,000 annual salary
- Robust benefits package including health insurance, open PTO policy, 401k match, and more.
- Opera Theatre has a flexible work policy which allows for some hybrid remote work and asynchronous schedule arrangements, depending on position and other factors.
Apply:
Applicants for the position are asked to submit a resume along with a cover letter that describes their interest in the position and outlines their relevant experience and qualifications.
About Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization known for innovative productions featuring outstanding young artists. The company offers a festival opera season each spring which attracts ticket buyers from zip codes throughout the metropolitan area, as well as visitors from nearly 50 states and multiple countries. As of 2025, OTSL has presented 45 world premieres, which may be the highest percentage of new work in the repertory of any American company. In addition to the spring Festival Season, OTSL operates year-round education and community programs serving nearly 17,000 local children and adults.
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has a year-round artistic and administrative staff of approximately 45, which grows to nearly 500 during the Festival Season. Several hundred volunteer members of the Opera Theatre Guild provide support for all aspects of Opera Theatre’s work and advocate for the company throughout the greater St. Louis community. The company’s annual budget size is approximately $12 million; contributed revenue represents more than 50% of budget. At Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, we value equity, diversity, and mutual respect. We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, people with disabilities, and others who have been historically excluded to apply. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our community. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
At Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, we value equity, diversity, and mutual respect. We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, people with disabilities, and others who have been historically excluded to apply. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our community. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
OTSL will not discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of race, color, religion or belief; national, social, or ethnic origin; age; sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression; physical, mental, or sensory disability; family or parental status; genetic information or characteristics; protected veteran status; or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law. OTSL will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.
If you need assistance or accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact (314) 963-4233 or [email protected]
