Band Director

The Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band is seeking an enthusiastic and talented Band Director to lead and inspire its adult community band. The ideal candidate will be a skilled musician, engaging leader, and passionate advocate for community arts. The director should have a high level of knowledge and ability to work with members of the woodwind, brass and percussion sections. Jazz band and small ensemble experience is desirable as well. This director is to foster a welcoming and engaging environment for band members, while maintaining high musical standards and building strong community connections.

The Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band (BGSB) is one of the foremost adult community bands in the Metropolitan Chicago area. BGSB was founded in October 2001 by the Village of Buffalo Grove thanks to the incredible efforts of Buffalo Grove resident and Founding Music Director Howard Green. Mr. Green and Associate Conductor Allison Rakickas have served BGSB continuously from the beginning. Now, with Mr. Green’s upcoming retirement to close BGSB’s 25th season, the Band is embarking on a search for its second Musical Director.

BGSB members are musicians from the greater Chicago area, with the majority of the 60-70 members coming from Buffalo Grove and the surrounding northwest suburbs. The band hosts weekly rehearsals on Thursdays, typically preparing each year for two formal concerts, a Fourth of July concert, and holiday concerts, along with ensemble recitals. The Band’s large and growing library includes music from various composers, genres, periods, and difficulty levels with works written expressly for Wind Ensemble, classical transcriptions, pop, movie, Broadway, and jazz selections.

In 2010, the Buffalo Grove Jazz Band (BGJB) was formed, a 20–25-member ensemble with members drawn primarily from BGSB. The popularity of this Band has grown and now schedules separate performances from the BGSB, recently one indoor and one outdoor summer performances.

Both Bands proudly represent the Village of Buffalo Grove as artists and goodwill ambassadors who inspire, entertain, and educate people of all ages.

Role

The Musical Director of the premier community band in Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs will lead its members through two formal concerts and additional holiday performances each year. An honorarium is anticipated for this role, with expectations as follows:

• Set concert themes and program concerts
• Plan rehearsal schedules
• Prepare scores and rehearse weekly on Thursday nights leading up to concerts.
• Administer sectionals as needed
• Place personnel in appropriate roles
• Select Section Leaders
• Select Principal Players

Key Responsibilities

Musical Leadership

• Plan, program, and conduct high-quality concerts that are engaging for both performers and audiences. Includes setting concert theme.
• Plan and communicate rehearsal schedules (including as-needed sectionals).
• Prepare scores based on the planned rehearsal schedule.
• Identify and place personnel for balance and scoring optimization (e.g. section leaders, principal players, instrumentation).
• Direct weekly rehearsals (Thursday evenings) that are well-organized, efficient, and enjoyable, promoting musical growth and camaraderie among members.

Community Engagement:

• Serve as a public face and enthusiastic advocate for the band and for music education in the community.
• Public speaking skills to engage audiences and represent the band at public events.
• Work in partnership and communicate effectively with the band board regarding the needs of the band.
• Identify creative ways to engage and grow audiences.

Collaboration & Operations

• Identify and utilize band members’ individual strengths and skills to enrich the ensemble and its operations.
• Recruit and retain a membership of quality musicians.
• Willingness and ability to staff vacancies in sections as needed for upcoming performances (e.g. specialty instrumentation, sick leave of member, etc.).
• Build relationships with local schools that expand the band’s outreach and impact.
• Exhibit strong communication, adaptability, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
• Create a rehearsal atmosphere that balances musical excellence with engagement and camaraderie.
• Proven experience as a concert band director desirable. Jazz band/ensemble experience desirable. Expertise in programing repertoire from a variety of genres.
• Demonstrated high level of musicianship and conducting proficiency.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to collaborate with the band board, Village officials and community partners.
• Commitment to music education, community engagement, and building high quality musical experiences for musicians and audience.
• Demonstrated proficiency on one or more instruments.

This is a volunteer position and is not a position of employment with the Village of Buffalo Grove. The Band Director serves in a voluntary capacity with the Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band, with an anticipated honorarium. Any questions regarding the Band Director position should be directed to BGSB President C.J. Schmidt: [email protected]; 224-325-8301.

An initial review of applications will begin the week of February 1, 2026.