Duquesne University: Mary Pappert School of Music
Location: Duquesne University
Description:
Position Number: 330077
The Mary Pappert School of Music invites applications for a 9-month, full-time, tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Composition for Media, beginning August 2025. The successful candidate will join an accomplished and talented music and technology faculty of artists, scholars, and educators dedicated to serving students with a wide range of musical and technological interests, degree program needs, and career goals. We seek an energetic, creative, and collaborative colleague who will capitalize on the richness of Pittsburgh's cultural institutions and musical scenes while maintaining a high profile of professional excellence and achievement in the active pursuit of their own career and at the national and/or international level. Sensitive to current trends in the field, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to inform and transform the Composition for Media department's approach to attracting majors and provide a relevant and inclusive training experience that propels students toward professional success in a dynamic and ever-changing media landscape.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
Deliver instruction for both Composition for Media majors and non-majors, demonstrating a passion for teaching that extends across students' ability levels, degree programs, and professional aspirations.
Serve as the Director of Composition for Media overseeing departmental and curriculum details.
Advise and mentor majors while creating, directing and supervising opportunities for students such as internships and job placements.
Have an ongoing and prominent record of excellence in professional composition for media commissions and credits at the national level or beyond in one or (preferably) multiple styles, including but not limited to classical music, contemporary commercial music, and gaming.
Pursue research, composition, or other creative activities commensurate with a tenure-track position.
Develop productive partnerships with individuals, ensembles, organizations, media companies and institutions within the school, university, city, region, and beyond to elevate the identity of the Music Technology Composition for Media department and create beneficial opportunities for students and faculty.
Possess strong recruitment and retention skills, including willingness to build key relationships with high school teachers, and professional organizations at the local, regional, and national levels.
Be active in AES (or other equivalent composition associations or organizations) as a general member and have a willingness to develop this presence on our campus. Participate in other regional and national professional associations as appropriate.
Demonstrate a commitment to creative collaboration, collegial problem-solving, and effective working relationships for the collective welfare of our music school and university communities.
Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the profession, including teaching and programming.
Serve on school and university committees.
Demonstrate an ability and willingness to contribute actively to the mission of the University and to respect the Spiritan Catholic identity of Duquesne University. The mission is implemented through a commitment to academic excellence, a spirit of service, moral and spiritual values, sensitivity to world concerns, and an ecumenical campus community.
Teaching Expectations
Have a flexible, adaptable pedagogy that can address a variety of technical and stylistic requirements to help students discern their career trajectory and develop a wide-ranging skill set for a successful career in the media industry.
Fluency in teaching software such as Logic, ProTools, EastWest, Dorico, MuseScore, Photoshop, Premiere Pro and other media-centric software.
Fluency in teaching modern recording techniques both in professional and home studio environments.
Teach courses related to composition, advanced notation, synthestration, MIDI, and related topics in reference to composition for various media applications including, film, video, gaming and TV.
Provide evidence of advanced training and/or experience in Composition for Media pedagogy at the collegiate level, potentially including presentations, clinics, and master classes.
Alternately, the successful candidate may possess any equivalent combination of experience and training, which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. This includes commitment to the University's values of diversity, equity and inclusion, and recognition of the importance of treating each individual with dignity and respect consistent with the University's Mission. Additionally, applicants must have demonstrated experience with, and understanding of, the broad diversity of the University community (students, faculty, staff and others).
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the University Community.
Ability and willingness to contribute actively to the mission of the University and to respect the Spiritan Catholic identity of Duquesne University. The mission is implemented through a commitment to academic excellence, a spirit of service, moral and spiritual values, sensitivity to world concerns, and an ecumenical campus community.
Qualifications:
Master's degree or equivalent required; DMA or Ph.D. preferred from an accreditted institution.