Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition 997804

Job description

Title: Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition - 997804

Position Number: 997804

Unit/Department: Music

FTE: Full-Time, 9 month

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience



Department Summary:

Drake University’s Department of Music (School of Fine Arts) is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

The Music Department’s mission is to provide a center for the study and understanding of music that develops students’ intellectual, practical, and expressive abilities by emphasizing professional preparation, collaborative learning, critical thinking, and musical communication.

Drake University seeks to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff.
Drake offers the best of both worlds: a department that is large enough to support a vast range of musical activities, but small enough that students receive highly personal attention.

We pride ourselves on providing big-school opportunities in a small-school environment, and our graduates are well-trained and well-rounded musicians who are highly competitive in a wide range of vocational fields.
For more about the Department, visit: https://www.drake.edu/music/.
Job Summary:

Primary responsibilities include teaching the required courses in the undergraduate theory sequence, particularly advanced tonal and post-tonal theory and composition.

Additional responsibilities include overseeing the music theory curriculum, advising senior theses for the B.A. (Music) degree in the areas of theory and/or composition, and teaching specialized seminars or courses currently offered by the department (e.g., orchestration, structure and design, composition lessons) and/or within the candidate’s area of expertise.

Secondary areas of specialization may include music technology, pedagogy of theory, and/or music industry and administration.
Faculty are expected to contribute via service at the department, college, and university levels.

The successful candidate will be expected to work closely with colleagues, and to assume an active role in the advisement and retention of music students.

The candidate must demonstrate both commitment to and a record of successful teaching at the University level.

The candidate will provide evidence of and an agenda for pursuing scholarly and/or creative achievement at the regional and national level or beyond.
This appointment begins in August 2026.
Minimum Qualifications:

Those with either a DMA, Ph.D. or ABD are welcome to apply.



Special Instructions to Applicants:

To apply, please complete the online application and attach: (1) a cover letter, (2) CV/Resume, (3) statement of teaching philosophy, (4) a statement about your experience in supporting the success of students from diverse backgrounds, and (5) contact information for three references.

Please do not attach additional documents at this time.

Supplemental documents may be requested or required of finalists.



All job offers are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check, satisfactory reference checks, and proof of work authorization.

Have Questions?
Questions about this position can be directed to the search chair: Nicholas Roth at nicholas.roth@drake.edu

Questions about the application process, working at Drake, spouse/partner support, reasonable accommodations, benefits, or additional information about Drake or Des Moines, Iowa may be directed to Drake Human Resources at jobs@drake.edu.


Due to the newly established $100,000 fee for new H1-B applications, Drake University is unable to provide new H1-B sponsorship at this time.


Review of Applications Begins:

For full consideration, please apply by October 5, 2025.

The position will remain posted until filled.





Salary and Benefits:

Salary is competitive with peer schools and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.

At Drake, we are proud to offer our employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a wide range of core benefits, perks, and discounts.

If you are exploring a job with Drake University, we invite you to spend a little time

with our digital benefits guide: Drake Benefits Guide (Plan Year 2025) (https://www.drake.edu/media/departmentsoffices/humanresources/documents/2025%20Benefits%20Guide11.13.2024.pdf) .

One of our very popular policies provides a tuition waiver for Drake employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents.

Drake also participates in two tuition exchange programs available to dependent children.

You can learn about both the tuition waiver policy and tuition exchange programs here: Tuition Benefits (https://www.drake.edu/hr/benefitsoverview/tuitionbenefits/) .

Required Skill Profession

Other General