Assistant Professor of Music, Applied Saxophone

About the University

MSU Denver enrolls over 16,000 students, where nearly 60% are first generation and over 55% are students of color. Located in downtown Denver, we are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution that also offers graduate programs (gHSI) and the only Seal of Excelencia certified institution in Colorado. As the third largest institution of higher education in Colorado and the only institution with an open access mission, MSU Denver is a model university for today's students. The University serves the most diverse undergraduate student population in the state, as well as the most first-generation students. Through affordable, flexible, and holistic education, MSU Denver helps students build essential skills grounded in a multicultural and global perspective that lead to undergraduate and graduate degrees, and career and life success.

About the Department of Music

The Department of Music at MSU Denver strives to cultivate confident, creative, and skilled musicians, and serve as a leader in the education of professional performers, teachers, composers, industry leaders, and scholars. Central to the Department's mission is the advancement of historic values, traditions, and repertoire while simultaneously encouraging the exploration of new and diverse forms of musical expression. Through public performances and educational outreach, our students, faculty, and guest artists create opportunities for public access to excellence in the arts, promoting the cultural life of the university and the surrounding region.

Position Summary

The Department of Music at MSU Denver seeks a dynamic saxophone pedagogue and performer for a faculty role as Assistant Professor of Music. This is a full-time tenure-track faculty position on a nine-month contract beginning Fall 2025. The ideal candidate will have a record of success performing and teaching in both jazz and classical styles, building and maintaining a successful saxophone studio, and experience in classroom teaching at the university level.

MSU Denver has a robust mentoring program for tenure-track faculty. The candidate will be enrolled in the Roadrunner Faculty Academy during their first year. This is a year-long course designed to support new faculty to navigate faculty life and thrive in teaching, scholarly activity and service.

Responsibilities

• Teach a 12-hour load per semester, teaching courses in a variety of areas that may include (depending upon expertise): jazz and popular styles, improvisation (in a range of styles), woodwind methods, coaching ensembles, music technology and production, or others.
• Provide studio saxophone instruction, in both jazz and classical styles, to undergraduate music majors and minors.
• Work to recruit and retain students in saxophone through outreach and mentorship and active involvement in the music community.
• Maintain local, regional, and national visibility as an artist/scholar/pedagogue.
• Advise students, participate in scholarly/creative professional activities, and perform department, university and community service.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in music
• Experience as a saxophone performer and teacher

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in saxophone
• Ability to recruit for and teach in a mixed jazz/classical saxophone studio at the undergraduate level
• Teaching skills in other areas as described above
• We are particularly interested in applicants who demonstrate experience engaging underrepresented communities

We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every preferred qualification. We are most interested in finding the candidate who will best contribute to our Department and the University.

Salary for Announcement

The salary range for this position is $55,000 - $65,000 at Assistant Professor rank. The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, education, experience, specialty and training.

MSU Denver offers excellent benefits that include medical, dental, retirement, tuition benefit, free RTD pass, and more. For a brief overview of these options, please visit our Benefits section.

Instructions to Apply

Interested applicants must apply online at MSU Denver's career site, https://msudenver.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/MSUDenver and search for JR103742.

To help us evaluate your potential as a faculty member at MSU Denver, you must submit the following required materials:

1. Curriculum vitae (CV)

2. Cover letter that includes a statement of your teaching philosophy and approach to classroom teaching

3. All unofficial transcripts (undergraduate and graduate)

4. Links to three representative video recordings of recent saxophone performances, preferably in both jazz and classical styles

5. A list of three professional references and their contact information
all transcripts

Due to volume of applications received, incomplete applications may not be reviewed; please ensure you have uploaded all required documents.

Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire.

Deadline

Applications accepted until position filled; priority given to applications received through May 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM MST.

Open Until Filled

The University's benefits package is comprehensive and offers medical, vision and dental, free RTD pass, tuition reimbursement, as well as a life and supplemental insurance plans, retirement plans and other programs, such as accessto a long-term disability (LTD) plan.Visit MSU Denver'sbenefits websiteto learn more.

For a brief overview, please see: https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MSU-Benefit-Summary.pdf.

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at totalrewards@msudenver.edu.

Background Checks

Metropolitan State University of Denver is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students, and visitors. To Assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background checks on all finalists for positions at the University prior to employment.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 58% first generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver.

We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.