Teaching Artist

REPORTS TO: Learning Programs Manager

STATUS: Part-Time, Seasonal Contract

Through artistic excellence coupled with innovative, relevant programming; initiatives to connect with and grow new audiences; engagement with communities to ignite creativity across Chicago; and a modernized Opera House that is the setting for truly great experiences, Lyric is leading the advancement of opera. This collaborative vision will deliver ever more exciting, thought-provoking, and inclusive audience and community experiences – while increasing the gravitational pull of our art form, company, and city.

Lyric Unlimited (LU) is seeking Teaching Artists with professional vocal and teaching experience for school-based residencies in the 2026-27 school year. Employment will begin as early as August 2026.

Lyric Unlimited collaborates with teachers to create custom residencies that fit each school's unique circumstances and characteristics. Teachers and teaching artists work together to plan and deliver activities and projects in which students study music, drama, and other arts disciplines while thinking creatively and expressing themselves through performance. Most programs culminate in a live presentation of student work; some may include student trips to the Lyric Opera House. For each residency, the partnership between the teacher and Lyric teaching artist is fortified through a professional development workshop. Teaching Artists will engage in one or more of the residency programs outlined below, based on interest and level of teaching experience. All residency activities occur during regular school-day hours of operation. This position functions primarily on school campuses, with occasional events and meetings at the Lyric Opera administrative offices at the Civic Opera Building. Teaching Artists are contracted as part-time seasonal employees of Lyric Opera of Chicago. Pay rates are hourly and vary based on the program's delivery type.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Create and deliver a customized curriculum that achieves Lyric’s Residency learning goals. 
• Develop learning activities in one or more arts disciplines: music, drama, movement, and creative writing. 
• Create and deliver customized classroom lesson plans for each session.
• Collaborate with classroom teachers to tailor the instructional unit and develop strong partnerships. 
• Communicate regularly with teachers throughout the program to plan and assess program effectiveness.  
• Produce a fully-staged final presentation to display student work.   
• Collaborate with piano accompanists to rehearse musical selections before the final presentation. 
• Participate in professional development workshops for teaching artists and classroom teachers. 
• Continually assess the progress of program participants through formal and informal assessment strategies. 
• Attend final dress rehearsals at the Lyric Opera House with participating schools (if applicable). 
• Communicate regularly with the LU Learning Programs staff.
• Additional one-off opportunities may include: external professional development, content creation and presentation of the opera season’s educational materials, school appearances, and additional support at Lyric Unlimited events.

Elementary Opera Residency
This multi-disciplinary program empowers students in grades 1-5 to create and perform an original opera that integrates curricular content objectives with arts learning in music, theater, and movement.

• Program Duration: 13 or 18 sessions (typically once a week).
• Session Length: one full class period (50-60 minutes) for each participating class.

Opera Discovery Project
Engages students in grades 6–12 in an in-depth study of selected work. Students gain a rich understanding of the piece, its history and context, and important themes. Working in collaboration with the classroom teacher, the Teaching Artist guides students through a creative process to reinterpret select operatic scenes with their own words and music.

• Program Duration: 4 sessions (typically once a week) plus one performance field trip to Lyric.
• Session Length: one full class period (50-60 minutes) for each participating class.

High School Choir Residency
This collaborative program is designed to support and enrich the music learning objectives of high school (grades 9-12) choir teachers by providing regular, year-round assistance from a Lyric professional teaching artist in the classroom.

• Program Duration: 30 sessions (typically once a week) plus one performance field trip and Choral Fest on October 22, 2026.
• Session Length: one full class period (45–60 minutes) for each participating class.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Bachelor's degree in vocal performance, theatre, music education, or related field.
• Knowledge of opera and passion for singing. 
• Vocal performance experiences in opera, musical theater, or educational settings. 
• Experience working with groups of children in diverse educational settings preferably with K-8.
• Experience developing and delivering lesson and/or rehearsal plans.
• Ability to solve problems with creativity and flexibility.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 
• Comfortable communicating with school teachers and administrators.
• Comfortable teaching in any Chicago neighborhood.
• Experience with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a plus. 
• Must have access to reliable transportation for travel to/from schools.

WORK CONDITIONS:

• Ability to work in a fast-paced and demanding environment.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule to meet business needs.
• Ability to perform essential functions of the job with or without accommodations.

COMPENSATION:
Teaching artists are paid per contact hour (teaching and professional development)
Contract Dates: August 1, 2026-June 30, 2027
Teaching Rate - $125.00/hour (TA primary lead in the classroom)
Assisting Rate - $95.00/hour (TA secondary role in the classroom)

*Mandatory Professional Development Trainings and Onboarding:
*For planning purposes, please note that Teaching Artist Professional Development (PD) and Onboarding sessions are scheduled prior to the start of each new school year. This year’s training and onboarding sessions will take place during the weeks of August 3 and August 10. There is also a PD on September 25, 2026.

Application Deadline: June 9, 2026 (5:00pm CT)

Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, parental status, socio-economic status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We strongly encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.