Director of Choral Activities

Morningside University invites applications for the position Director of Choral Activities within the School of Visual and Performing Arts at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor beginning August 10, 2026. This is a two-year visiting position with the possibility of extension.

Duties and responsibilities include:

(1) Conduct the award-winning Morningside Choir, and Morningside Singers and undergraduate courses supporting the music education and conducting areas. (2) Recruit undergraduate voice students to the Morningside School of Visual and Performing Arts-Voice area; (3) serve on institutional committees and perform other appropriate institutional and professional service. The Morningside Choir has been widely recognized regionally, nationally and internationally as one of the premier college choral ensembles, making recent appearances at national and regional ACDA conferences, winning the American Prize for Choral Performance in 2023, and maintaining a three-year rotation for international tours. In the last 7 years, The Morningside Choir has made appearances in Japan, Germany, Czech Republic, and South Africa and will embark on a tour to the Philippines in May of 2027. Morningside hosts an All-State Chorus camp (August), a Vocal Arts Festival (January) and welcomes local and regional choirs to campus for side-by-side concerts every year.

QUALIFICATIONS

Master's degree or Doctorate (preferred); strong K-12 experience and college teaching experience preferred. We are seeking an accomplished and creative musician with an excellent reputation in conducting, recruiting, performance, and teaching to add to our robust offerings in choral, opera and instrumental music. This position is heavily involved in recruiting students and there is a high expectation for excellence within the campus community and the greater choral community. Morningside is a private university located in Sioux City, Iowa, that serves over 2,000 students from almost all 50 states and more than 30 countries. It was established in 1894 by The United Methodist Church, an affiliation it continues to maintain, and Chad Benson serves as its President. The main campus comprises 69 acres nestled in a serene, park-like setting in the heart of Iowa's fourth largest city. Lags Farm and Sioux Gateway Airport are both nearby extensions of the campus that serve the School of Agriculture and Aviation. Morningside's largest undergraduate programs are education, nursing, and business, and the Sharon Walker School of Education, Nylen School of Nursing and School of Business all offer well-established online post-baccalaureate and graduate program options for nontraditional and graduate students. A strong commitment to experiential learning has enabled Morningside University to maintain a remarkable 99% job and graduate school placement rate for its undergraduate graduates over the past decade. Morningside University is home to the Mustangs Athletic Department, which fields 28 varsity sports and is a proud member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). Residential undergraduate students may also enjoy more than 50 student-led clubs and organizations or choose to get involved with the School of Visual and Performing Arts regardless of their major. Learn more about Morningside University at morningside.edu Morningside University visiting faculty typically teach six 4-credit courses per academic year to fulfill a 24-hour load. Faculty teach one May Term course every three years. Excellence in teaching, effective advising, scholarship, and service are expected for all faculty members. Screening for the position will begin immediately and continue until filled. Apply on-line only by submitting an email to facultysearch@morningside.edu entering "Choral Search" in the subject line, and attaching PDF or Microsoft Word files for the following documents:

• A letter of interest
• Current curriculum vitae
• Names and contact information for three professional references
• Statement of teaching philosophy
• Evidence of creative activity:
• Audio or video links to at least two live performances.

This may include, but is not limited to recordings of recitals, concerts, masterclasses, or other choral related presentations. Online links must be embedded in a word document and should be accessible by direct link through domains such as YouTube or Vimeo. Questions about the position may be addressed to Heath Weber, Dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts, (712-274-5514 or weberh@morningside.edu).