Visual and Performing Arts

Calvin University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position in Music Education. Our ideal candidate is a music educator with broad expertise who can lead and energize the university’s newly revived music education program as well as contribute to one or more of the department’s other teaching areas, such as orchestra (preferred), strings (preferred), music history, music theory, aural skills, world music, and/or popular music. The position is at the rank of assistant professor and begins July 1, 2025.

REQUIREMENTS

The university seeks applicants with vibrant Christian faith who are dedicated to integration of that faith with their field of study.

Ideal candidates will hold a doctoral degree in music education or a related music field and have university experience teaching elementary and secondary general music and/or curriculum and instruction. Candidates with a master’s degree in music education or related music field and candidates who are ABD in their doctoral program will also be considered. Candidates must have a minimum of five years of public/private school music teaching experience. Current certification to teach PK-12 music is desired.

We are seeking a dynamic leader who will teach courses in music education and one or more of the areas listed above, supervise student teachers, engage in curriculum development, foster positive relationships within the local, regional, and national music education community, and develop and implement a recruitment strategy for the music education program in partnership with fellow music colleagues.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate excellence in teaching as well as an active stream of relevant research, publication, or creative work. Preference will be given to candidates with experience teaching using a variety of methods and instructional technology.

The university will prioritize candidates with broad interdisciplinary interests, demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ability to integrate questions of meaning, significance, and ethics into all course content, and deep commitment to engaging students beyond the classroom.

FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES

Faculty members typically teach 24 semester hours per academic year. Faculty are expected to grow in Reformed Christian commitment, to pursue an active scholarly agenda, to teach effectively, and to serve the university, department, students, and the wider community. Candidates will be asked to affirm their commitment to the educational mission of Calvin University as a Christian liberal arts university in the Reformed tradition, affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church.  (See Educating for Shalom and Faculty Expectations.) Calvin University provides numerous faculty development opportunities to foster growth in these commitments.

FACULTY RESOURCES

Calvin University stands at the forefront of Christian scholarship across disciplines. The University hosts a number of Centers and Institutes and provides other funding opportunities to support faculty teaching and research, including sabbaticals, grants, course releases, summer research stipends, travel funds, and student research opportunities.

ABOUT MUSIC AT CALVIN 

The music faculty at Calvin are a part of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, located in the beautiful Covenant Fine Arts Center, renovated and expanded in 2010 to include more teaching studios and practice rooms, both an Auditorium and Recital Hall, and a dedicated music technology lab with capacity to support teaching, composition, and digital music production. Music faculty equip undergraduate students to be versatile musicians who can bring their gifts to a wide variety of contexts and vocations. The department supports a liberal arts music major and minor, as well as a bachelor of music education degree. Additionally, our department serves 400+ students and community members who participate in ensembles and private lessons, and sponsors over 60 music events each year, including summer music camps and ensemble tours. 

With this faculty search, our vision is to shape a nimble and resourceful liberal arts music faculty that is motivated to directly engage at least 20% of all Calvin University students with a signature musical learning opportunity, to provide personalized attention to each student pursuing a major or minor in music, and to develop strategic opportunities for musical service, both locally and globally, in harmony with Calvin University’s strategic vision.  

ABOUT CALVIN UNIVERSITY

Calvin University is a top-ranked national university that equips students to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Approximately 3,600 Calvin students study the liberal arts and select from a broad range of majors and professional programs, including a growing portfolio of graduate level offerings. The university is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in a thriving metropolitan region of approximately one million people situated equidistant from Chicago and Detroit. Furthermore, the West Michigan region is ranked by Forbes as the #1 place to raise a family. For more information, please visit Careers at Calvin | Calvin University .

Calvin is building a tradition of diversity and accessibility and welcomes applications from persons whose personal characteristics will further that commitment.  Calvin does not discriminate in the employment of individuals on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, sex, or age.  Calvin University is an educational agency of the Christian Reformed Church and, in compliance with Title VII and other applicable law, reserves the right to give preference in employment based upon religion.

TO APPLY

Complete the online application process and attach the following: 

• Letter of application that addresses each of the requirements and responsibilities of the position, including interest in teaching and scholarship at a Reformed Christian University 
• Full curriculum vitae
• A statement that articulates your teaching philosophy 
• A 250-500 word reflection, that includes a description and affirmation of your Christian faith, a description of how you envision that faith will influence your work as a music faculty member at Calvin University, and a confirmation of your support of the stated mission of Calvin University as a Reformed institution
• Three letters of recommendation from those with competence to assess your ability to meet the stated criteria for the position

Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. Select candidates may be asked to provide supplemental materials as examples of teaching and/or performance.

Contact department chair, Tiffany Engle, at tiffany.engle@calvin.edu, with questions.

FAITH and EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT

1. Commitment to the educational mission of Calvin as a Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church.  

2. A commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith, learning, and student development.

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT

Demonstrated awareness and commitment to effectively establishing relationships and positive communication across multiple dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to, race, gender, physical limitations, class, or religious perspectives.