Employment Type: Part Time position (Minimum 10 hours per week)

Location: Granville Island/Surrey

About Arts Umbrella

Arts Umbrella is where young artists ages 2–22 cultivate their creativity in Art, Design, Dance, Theatre, Music, and Film. As a non-profit organization for arts education, we believe that art is powerful. Powerful enough to change a child’s life in incredible ways. When young people connect with the arts, they gain self-confidence, develop self-discipline, and discover creative expression—qualities they carry with them for life. Arts Umbrella has two locations in Vancouver and Surrey, as well as donor-funded programs at schools, community centres, neighbourhood houses, and healthcare facilities across Metro Vancouver. We serve nearly 20,000 young people every year, with 77% participating in donor-funded programs.

In April 2021, Arts Umbrella moved into a new home on Granville Island. This transformational opportunity allows us to further our vision for a better world where all young lives are inspired to pursue a lifelong journey towards self-expression, compassion, and humanity. It is our mission to be a leader in arts education for young people; to build community and deliver profound life experiences through our commitment to innovation, excellence, and inclusivity. Arts Umbrella is an organization full of heart, where self-expression and creativity are valued and nurtured.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Artistic Director, Theatre, Music and Film, the Accompanist is responsible for providing live piano accompaniment and voice coaching for musical theatre classes for kids aged 2-22 as scheduled.

In this role you will

• Accompany musical theatre classes, workshops and rehearsals in a variety of musical genres and styles.

• Learn and play class material as selected by the instructor with accuracy and consistency

• Maintain and continue to build your own musical improvisation skills and appropriate repertoire.

• Actively take part in class activities as led by the class instructor.

• Lead a vocal warm-up each class, appropriate to the age and skill level of the class

• Teach melodies, harmonies and vocal (singing) skills appropriate to the age and skill level of the class as required

Here is what you bring

• A Bachelor’s degree in piano performance, music, voice, collaborative piano, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Strong piano skills, including sight reading, accompaniment of groups
• Knowledge and facility with teaching basic voice and singing for young voices
• Prior experience in playing and understanding of music from the Musical Theatre cannon
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• An enthusiasm for children/youth
• Prior experience in music and/or theatre arts education

Diversity & Inclusion

Arts Umbrella is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion. Our commitment is reflected in our programming, the audience we engage with, the students we serve as well as the staff we employ. Diversity and inclusion in our organization means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and respected. We actively seek applications from Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, people of all sexual orientations and genders, and others with knowledge in diversity and inclusion to help us strengthen our commitment.