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Gorge Sinfonietta Conductor
Application

Sinfonietta Conductor Job Description and Application Procedure

 

The Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association (CGOA) is seeking a conductor for the Gorge Sinfonietta, beginning in July 2026. The Gorge Sinfonietta (formerly Mid-Columbia Sinfonietta) is a community orchestra founded in 1979. The orchestra consists of local amateur musicians and several paid contract players.

 

Currently, the ensemble consists of approximately 54 musicians (strings 6/10/6/5/3) plus complete woodwind, brass and percussion. 

 

Very recent repertoire has included Amy Beach’s Symphony, Copland’s Tender Land Suite, Rhapsody in Blue, Dvorak Symphony #8, Rachmaninoff 2nd Piano Concerto, the Puccini Mass (with Voci Community Choir), Prokofiev Lt. Kije Suite, and world premieres by Nicole Buetti, Cody Johnson, Austin Wintory, etc. 

 

The Sinfonietta has featured collaborations with Storm Large, singer songwriters David Wilcox and Sam Baker, oboist Blair Tindall, mountain dulcimer virtuoso Stephen Seifert and the Vienna Boys Choir. 

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Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Lead weekly rehearsals in Hood River, OR. (currently, Tuesday evenings from 7-9 PM), September-June (with breaks)

  • Select orchestral repertoire, plan and organize three concert series (2-3 performances per series) usually November, March and June.

  • Work cooperatively with other CGOA ensemble directors from the Voci Community Choir, Jazz Collective Big Band and Stages Musical Theatre to plan and coordinate season themes and repertoire.

  • Work with the CGOA Donor Relations, Marketing and Audience Development committees to promote performances.

 

Basic Qualifications:

  • Extensive knowledge of standard orchestral repertoire, including 20th/21st century music, world music and music from media.

  • Experience directing both amateur and professional musicians, and understanding the basic technique of all instruments.

  • Ability to select and program music that is educational, varied, of outstanding quality and has appeal to diverse audiences.

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills. 

 

Preferred But Not Required

  • Skill playing an orchestral instrument, especially strings

  • Experience in music directing for musical theatre productions

  • Ability to compose, adapt and/or arrange music.

 

Salary (as of 2025-26) $5500. Additional stipend available for music directing the annual Stages musical. 
 

Application Procedure:

 

Submit the following materials to info@gorgeorchestra.org no later than Monday, December 1, 2025. 

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  • Cover letter

  • Resume

  • Any or all of the following: audio or video recordings of performances conducted by the applicant, concert programs and/or list of orchestral repertoire conducted in the past three years, or any other recordings, publications or evidence of professional experience as an ensemble conductor.

  • 3 professional references and 2 personal references

 

Approximate selection timeline–

 

October - January Soliciting applications

February - March Initial interviews with orchestra search committee

April - May Finalists invited to prepare and conduct orchestra rehearsal (s)

June 18/20/21 Possible participation in season finale concerts

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