Assistant Director of Bands / Assistant Director Athletic Bands

Job Title:

Assistant Director of Bands / Assistant Director Athletic Bands

Requisition Number:

FE04735

Department Name:

8X222:Athletic Bands

Work Location:

Lexington, KY

Type of Position:

Faculty

Position Time Status :

Full-Time

Tenure Track Status:

Non-Tenure Track

Required Education:

MM in Conducting or Music Education required. D.M.A. or PhD in Conducting or Music Education preferred (ABD also considered)

Required Related Experience:

• Demonstrated success in conducting, rehearsing, and performing with concert bands.
• Successful experience with marching bands (collegiate preferred), including experience with drill writing and/or arranging.
• Evidence of success in program administration, recruiting and retention, event planning, fiscal/inventory management.
• Minimum of 3 years of successful teaching at the high school or collegiate level.
• Evidence of professional integrity and effective leadership experience.
• Positive trajectory of scholarly and creative research activity.

Required License/Registration/Certification:

N/A

Job Summary:

The University of Kentucky seeks an Assistant Director of Bands / Assistant Director of Athletic Bands who will help expand the prominence of a nationally recognized university band program. The Assistant Director of Bands/ Assistant Director of Athletic Bands will conduct the UK Concert Band, assist with directing the University of Kentucky “Wildcat Marching Band” and UK Pep Bands, assist with recruiting, serve as coordinator of special events for the UK Bands program, and teach in related areas as assigned. Other duties include drill writing/arranging selections for athletic bands.

Candidates should demonstrate a successful record of recruitment, teaching, administration, professional integrity, and leadership. The Assistant Director of Bands will assist the Director of Bands and Associate Director of Bands with program administration including event planning, fiscal planning, inventory management, and other areas within the UK Bands program and School of Music. This includes collaboration with members of the UK Bands staff (including Graduate Teaching Assistants), UK School of Music faculty and administration, and UK Athletics. The successful candidate will be expected to establish and maintain positive relationships with secondary school band directors throughout the region that lead to excellent recruitment and retention of students within the UK School of Music and UK Bands.

When prompted in the employment system, applicants will submit the following materials:

• Cover letter addressing qualifications specific to this position
• Curriculum vitae
• Specific Request 1 – Links to unedited representative conducting materials – rehearsal conductor view 5 – 10 minutes and performance conductor view video maximum 10 minutes
• Specific Request 2 – Links to representative drill writing or music arrangements – performance video of drill or music and drill/music documents (this could include scores or drill charts).

Include the names and contact information for three references when prompted in the application. This information may be used to solicit reference letters immediately within the employment system. Review of applications will begin immediately, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Applications received by December 15, 2025, will be assured full consideration.

The School of Music offers baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees in music performance, music education, musicology/ethnomusicology, and theory/composition, as well as a master’s degree in music therapy. UK is a member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with comprehensive rewards, focusing on your total well-being and career development, with leadership striving to provide a strong work-life integration. The university generously contributes to employees’ retirement plans, medical coverage, and life insurance. In addition, UK offers optional benefits such as dental and vision insurance, additional retirement plans and much more. To learn more about these benefits, please visit: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits.

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? :

No

Open Until Filled:

Yes

Our University Community:

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status or whether the person is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with University regulation concerning smoking.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.