Carmina and Illuminare are searching for a new Artistic Director. Carmina was founded in 1998 by Dr. Vera Kochanowsky as a chamber choir dedicated to the performance of repertoire from the medieval, renaissance, and early baroque eras. In 2006, Illuminare was established as a separate women’s ensemble devoted to exploring early music composed or arranged for women’s voices. For the past two years, Dr. Richard Robbins has been the Artistic Director for both groups.
Both groups draw on a pool of seasoned adult choral singers in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region. Currently they are performing and rehearsing together, with rehearsals held on Monday evenings in Annandale, Virginia. Membership is by audition, and singers are paid a nominal honorarium (about $150) per concert.
The average roster of Carmina is about 24 singers, and for Illuminare 12 to 16, with mostly overlapping membership. Carmina is nimble enough to focus on traditional 4- and 5-part music from the era, but also large enough to tackle larger multi-choir works. While primarily performing a cappella, Carmina and Illuminare have partnered with several local period-instrument ensembles in the past, as well as with other vocal groups. They typically perform three concert programs per year between October and May, some of them more than once and many as part of existing concert series in the D.C. metro area.
Carmina’s performances have been praised by both The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun, and in 2016 the Choralis Foundation honored both Carmina and Illuminare with their Ovation Award for Best Chamber Choir in the Greater Washington region.
We seek someone with a strong interest in and knowledge of early vocal ensemble music, including relevant scholarship on historical performance practices as well as skill and experience in conducting. The candidate should also possess an openness to creative collaborations with a variety of artists and ensembles. The Artistic Director’s responsibilities will include
• Selecting music for each concert and preparing or obtaining performance copies for the singers
• Organizing and holding auditions for new and/or continuing members
• Rehearsing the choir(s) during the season, typically once a week for 8-10 weeks prior to a concert
• Identifying performance opportunities and venues for concerts
• Preparing program notes for performances
The Artistic Director is also expected to undertake some administrative responsibilities in conjunction with volunteers, including:
• Program Production – visual layout, production oversight and duplication of programs
• Marketing – managing printed mailers and email promotional materials
• Logistics – managing the ensemble calendar and singer communications
• Assisting the Board in its development activities
• Engaging in audience outreach and education
• Assisting with publicizing concerts
Employment will be on an independent contractor basis, with earnings reported on IRS Form 1099. The anticipated compensation for this part-time position is $9,000 to $11,000 per year, depending onqualifications and experience, based on a typical year with three concerts and 30 rehearsals. If new or enhanced revenue sources can be secured, the director’s compensation could be increased. Carmina, Inc. is a qualified 501(c)(3) organization, incorporated in Virginia, and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To apply, please submit a letter of application and CV or resume (in PDF format) detailing your relevant qualifications by e-mail to Carmina.2026search@gmail.com; do not send recordings, letters of reference, or other supporting materials at this time. The search committee will begin reviewing applications on 6 April 2026. Selected applicants will then be contacted separately for additional materials as appropriate. Once those materials have been received, the committee will schedule a Zoom interview with selected applicants. Interviews for a smaller group of finalists will also include a 90-minute audition rehearsal, to be scheduled at the candidates’ convenience in early June. We ideally seek the director to begin work in the Summer of 2026 to prepare for the 2026-2027 season.
Additional information about both groups, including a selection of recordings, is available at http://www.carmina.org. Applicants are invited to contact Liz Peters, chair of the search committee, at Carmina.2026search@gmail.com with any questions.