The Position: The music director and conductor reports directly to the board and is responsible for the fulfillment of the orchestra’s artistic potential and its image in the community. They are responsible for the repertoire, programming and artistic production, and has ultimate authority for the selection, development, and replacement of musicians.

As the orchestra’s artistic leader, they must build and sustain the orchestra’s visibility and involvement in the community. The music director is expected to work closely with the executive director, board president, and staff in carrying out these responsibilities and to participate actively in the orchestra’s audience building and fundraising activities.

Candidate Profile: The ideal candidate is dynamic, innovative, and will possess exceptional musicianship and conducting skills; significant conducting experience, including significant work with professional musicians; knowledge of a broad range of repertoire; strong interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills; vision, passion, and ability to make symphonic music relevant and exciting for existing and new audiences. Previous or current music directorship or comparable experience preferred.

The Orchestra: Now celebrating our 95th season, the Lansing Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is an integral leader of the performing arts in the region. What began as a small community orchestra has developed into a fully professional symphony serving audiences through mid-Michigan. Today the Lansing Symphony reaches more than 20,000 people each year; an additional 10,000 children, adults, and seniors participate in education and community events annually.

The orchestra’s season includes five classical concerts, three pops concerts, an education/school concert, and three chamber music series totaling at least ten concerts per season, along with community outreach events and small ensemble performance. The Lansing Symphony enjoys an average attendance of over 1,000 patrons at mainstage concerts, while serving hundreds of thousands more listeners each month via rebroadcasts on WKAR classical radio and the Great Lakes Concert consortium. The full orchestra performs at Wharton Center for Performing Arts on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.

The Lansing Symphony has gained national recognition for its commitment to contemporary composers. The orchestra consistently presents contemporary works on our subscription series and chamber concerts. LSO is also active in the commission of new music. In 2019, LSO began a Composer-in-Residence program. The three-year residency focuses on the collaborative work between the composer, the orchestra, and the community with the goal of developing transformative experiences for all.

The Lansing Symphony is governed by a 27-member board of directors and is supported by a professional administrative staff with more than 35 years of combined service to the orchestra. Lansing Symphony musicians are members of the AFM Local 56. The current operating budget is $1.6 million. Lansing Symphony board, staff, and musicians have recently undergone a strategic planning process, resulting in a comprehensive plan to guide the organization to our 100th anniversary season. The current music director is Timothy Muffitt, former music directors include Gustav Meier and Izler Solomon.

The Community: The Lansing Symphony is in Lansing, Michigan which is centrally located in the state of Michigan, 80 miles northwest of Detroit and 60 miles east of Grand Rapids. A “Best Big Small City in America,” the region offers diversity and inclusion in the form of a global community, affordable living and recreation, and space to play and create. This is an established yet still growing area with high-tech businesses and opportunities