Position Function:
The Department of Music, in partnership with the Starkville-Oktibbeha School District, seeks an energetic, collaborative, and artistic candidate to build a thriving, dynamic applied violin studio at Mississippi State University, while serving as a teacher-educator in the Starkville-Oktibbeha School District String Program.
The successful candidate will assume this role at an exciting time in the department with new facilities, strong enrollment, a strong relationship with the University administration, and planned growth in curriculum and community relations. The non-tenure-track Assistant Teaching Professor of Music is expected to serve the Starkville-Oktibbeha School District String Program in multiple K-12 settings and bring an innovative and energetic perspective to teaching applied violin, a collaborative approach to chamber music coaching and performance, and a collegial spirit to department and university service. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in teaching and service, and will bring that dedication to our students at the undergraduate and graduate level. A research and/or creative agenda is supported, but it is not within the primary scope of this position. We seek a colleague that values respect, access, and opportunity for all, and will infuse those values into all aspects of their departmental and community interactions.
The position is considered a 9-month, promotable, non-tenure-track line. The candidate will be expected to start July 21, 2025 (temporary Lecturer title) in service to the Starkville-Oktibbeha School District, followed by the Assistant Teaching Professor of Music title starting August 16, 2025. The university has a promotion system in place for non-tenure track faculty to be considered for and promoted to Associate Teaching Professor, and subsequently Full Teaching Professor, after required time in rank and review by the Tenure and Promotion Committee.
Salary Grade: UC
For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.
Department Profile:
Mississippi State University is a comprehensive land grant institution ranked by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a Very High Research Activity University. The university is a member of the Southeastern Conference. The Department of Music is a part of the College of Education and is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.
In the Fall of 2022, the department moved into a $21 million state-of-the-art facility. The 37,000-square-foot facility at 124 Hardy Road includes classrooms, a choral rehearsal hall, faculty offices, sound-proof practice rooms, recording studio, lecture/recital hall, student lounge and administrative suite.
See https://www.music.msstate.edu/ for more information about the department. Located partly in and adjacent to Starkville, a city of about 25,000 residents, MSU is served by the nearby Golden Triangle Regional Airport, which has daily connections to Atlanta and Dallas.
Area of Specialization:
Music - Violin
Anticipated Appointment Date:
August 16, 2025
Tenure Track Status:
Non-Tenure Track
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
•Ranked, non-tenure-track music faculty teach an ideal 4.4 courseload
•This position expects a 2.2 course release to teach class strings in the Starkville-Oktibbeha School District 20 hours per week. The expectation is the candidate will teach 12 student contact hours per week, in addition to eight hours of service in program administration and development.
•Teach studio violin and string-related courses
•Attend/contribute to string studio classes and coach student chamber ensembles
•Participate in university, college, and departmental committees and service
•Perform with faculty chamber ensembles as Violin I. In addition, the candidate will have the opportunity to serve the Starkville-MSU Symphony Orchestra, as Concertmaster.
•Exemplify an ideal personality to recruit rapidly for both programs.
Minimum Qualifications:
•Completed Doctorate is required at the time of appointment
•Appropriate performance experience
•Successful experience in teaching studio violin
•Understanding pedagogy for teaching in a youth string program
Preferred Qualifications:
•Ability to work collaboratively in a variety of academic and community settings
•Experience actively recruiting and maintaining a thriving violin studio
•Experience actively recruiting and maintaining a thriving community-based class string program (violin, viola, cello, and string bass students)
•Understanding of standard solo-violin repertoire, with a respect to teach students at a variety of levels
•Professional orchestral performance experience
•University teaching experience
•Experience advising and mentoring students within an academic setting
•Academic and professional characteristics consistent with the missions of the University, College, and the Department of Music
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
See above
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
No unusual physical requirements. Requires no heavy lifting, and nearly all work is performed in a comfortable indoor facility.
Instructions for Applying:
•Only complete application files will be considered
•Applicants must complete the personal data information form on jobs.msstate.edu and apply for this position in the portal
A complete application will include:
•Letter of application
•Curriculum vitae with names, telephone numbers and email addresses of five current references
•Copies of all academic transcripts (Official transcripts will be required at the time of hire) *Any SSN should be redacted prior to submission online*
•Recent audio and/or video links representative of violin performances (required)
•Recent audio and/or video links of representative teaching sample (optional)
•Three letters of recommendation to be requested at a later stage of the search process (selected from the five references)
•Open until filled. For best consideration, apply by June 9, 2025.
•For more information about the application process, please contact Dr. Cliff Taylor, search committee chair, at ct278@colled.msstate.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
