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Job Posting: Alto Section Leader & Soloist for the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir

  • 1 day ago
  • 4 min read

The Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir is seeking an Alto Section Leader & Soloist to support and anchor our community choir’s rehearsals and performances throughout the season. This position starts immediately (applications accepted until filled).

Title: Alto Section Leader & Soloist

Employment type: Part-time contract position

Location: Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture (6184 Ash Street, Vancouver, BC)

Dates: September through June (annual)

Hours of work: Must be available on Tuesday evenings from 7:30-9pm, plus performances and additional rehearsals as needed

Compensation: $30 per hour

Reports to: Choir Conductor (David Millard)

Application Deadline: Open until filled

About the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir

The Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir is an amateur, non-audition choir that learns and performs a repertoire ranging from traditional Jewish folk songs to more sophisticated cantatas and other longer works (mid-level). Founded at the Peretz Institute (now the Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture) in 1980 by Searle Friedman, we are committed to three core missions:

  • Providing an open, welcoming place to sing for all levels of ability;

  • Maintaining Yiddish and other Jewish languages;

  • Contributing to a progressive vision of what Jewish culture can be.

With members from different cultural and faith backgrounds from their 20s to 80s, and a long history of overlapping with the LGBTQ+ community and many queer and trans members, the VJFC creates a welcoming, safe, and supportive multi-cultural space where people of all abilities and backgrounds can be in community, learn about Jewish music and languages, and build bridges with other folk music traditions. We stand with the long revolutionary Yiddish history of advocating for peace.

Job Summary

The Alto Section Leader & Soloist is one of four section leaders (SATB) who, along with the conductor and piano accompanist, supports and anchors the VJFC in rehearsals and performances throughout the choir season. Section leaders play an important role in improving the singing experience for amateur choir members. As pillars of our community choir, section leaders share their talents, knowledge, and love of choral singing with other members and act as mentors by helping others learn the music and develop their skills.

The successful candidate will be a community-oriented person who enjoys singing with other people in a choir setting and is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive space for members and audiences. The position starts immediately and runs until mid-June, with the possibility of extension for the next season.

Responsibilities

The Alto Section Leader & Soloist will:

  • Attend and participate in weekly rehearsals and scheduled performances throughout the season (September through June); 

  • Learn the choir’s repertoire at a sufficiently high level (all lyrics in transliteration); 

  • Support the alto section during rehearsals to help them learn the music, and act as a teaching resource; 

  • Provide an anchor for the alto section during performances; 

  • Perform alto solos as needed; 

  • Create and post voice recordings to the choir’s Google Drive as needed; 

  • Support the promotion of the choir and performances.

The VJFC’s annual spring concert typically takes place in early June. Since Jewish holidays take place according to a lunar calendar, holiday performance dates can vary year to year. The VJFC typically performs at Peretz community holiday events, in particular for the High Holidays (September/October), Hanukkah (November/December), and Passover (March/April).

Skills & Qualifications

The VJFC is seeking candidates who demonstrate the following skills:

  • Ability to lead the altos in both rehearsals and performances, including the ability to hold the alto part when singing with other voices; 

  • Ability to perform in public both as a member of the alto section and occasionally as a soloist; 

  • Competence in reading music (western musical notation) and learning lyrics in non-English languages (transliterated); 

  • Ability to occasionally lead a sectional alto rehearsal; 

  • Previous choir experience or transferable skills;

  • Candidates must be legally entitled to work in British Columbia.

Only applicants who can commit to attending rehearsals on Tuesday evenings (7:30-9pm) at the Peretz Centre, plus some performances on evenings/weekends, will be considered.

Working Conditions

  • Part-time role with scheduled weekly rehearsals and occasional extra sessions; 

  • Fixed dates for most performances, usually on evenings and weekends; 

  • Requires vocal demonstration; 

  • Cushioned, folding chairs provided for rehearsals and performances; 

  • Rehearsals in a large auditorium (3000 sq. ft.) with high ceilings, hardwood floors; 

  • Two-storey building is accessible except for stage area and green room (elevator and underground parking available); 

  • There is one non-gendered, single-stall washroom on site (unfortunately not wheelchair accessible); 

  • The Peretz Centre is located one block west of Cambie Street and 500m from the Langara-49th Canada Line station (how to get here) .

Learn more about building accessibility.

How to Apply

The Peretz Centre is a cultural and secular charitable organization, committed to the values of diversity, equity, and social justice. As an employer, we strive to create an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process for paid positions. People of diverse experiences, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities are encouraged to apply. 

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. If you have any questions or concerns about the application process, please contact admin@peretz-centre.org or phone the office at (604) 325-1812 and leave a message. All information shared will be kept confidential. 

Application Process: 

  1. Applicants are invited to complete our short application form;

  2. We will review these submissions and invite potential candidates to an interview with the choir conductor, either in person or online;

  3. References may be requested from candidates who are shortlisted during or after the interview stage.

Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. Applications are accepted until the position is filled. 

About the Peretz Centre 

The Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture was founded in 1945 to establish and conduct a school that provides students of all ages with a progressive and modern Jewish cultural education.

Located in Vancouver, BC  on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples, we hold classes, lectures, exhibitions, concerts, holiday celebrations and similar gatherings in order to teach and advance the cause of progressive and modern Jewish learning, culture, and education and the Yiddish language.


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