Assistant Conductor
East London Community Band
Summary:
East London Community Band (ELCB) is seeking a creative, ambitious, and community-minded musician to take up the position of Assistant Conductor. This is a fixed-term 12-month appointment aimed at conductors in the early stages of their career. The role will involve leading performances and rehearsals, assisting with planning and administrative tasks, and receiving tuition and mentoring.
Key details:
● Hours: Friday evenings during term time 5.45-8.45 pm, on agreed dates.
● Location: The Shadwell Centre, 455 The Highway, E1 3HP.
● Remuneration: variable, see below.
Background:
The East London Community Band (ELCB) is a vibrant, inclusive, and community-driven music organisation based in Tower Hamlets. We provide musical opportunities for people of all ages and abilities, fostering a welcoming and supportive environment where musicians can develop their skills, perform regularly, and engage with the local community. We particularly encourage young people and prioritise places for youth members. Our intergenerational character (where 8-year-olds and 80-year-olds can play side-by-side) is something of which we're very proud.
Our ensembles include wind bands, jazz ensembles, a percussion group and an early music group. We also have a team of tutors who provide 1-to-1 tuition. We have been making music since 1974 and take pride in our diverse, welcoming, and sociable community.
The Assistant Conductor will mainly be involved with our three wind bands: Premier Band, our training ensemble; Wind Band, our intermediate ensemble; and Concert Band, our advanced ensemble.
Job description:
This is a leadership and educational role; the Assistant Conductor will be expected to support ELCB’s members in their music-making and musical development. Responsibilities include:
● Deputising for our Director of Music, Samuel Huston, in his absence. This involves conducting the Concert Band and providing chamber music coaching to the early music group.
● Being present at five Friday evening tutti rehearsals per term (at least), alongside the Director of Music, during which you will support members, potentially play in the Concert Band, and spend some time conducting.
● Leading sectional rehearsals on two dates during each term: once with ELCB's Premier Band and Concert Band, and once with ELCB's Premier Band and Wind Band.
● Directing at least one piece in each of ELCB's major concerts during the year.
● Being present at and playing with the group during ELCB performances.
● Contributing to discussions about artistic planning, performances, collaborations, organisation, and logistics.
● Attending the band’s committee meetings, if possible, to gain an understanding of the planning and administrative work that goes into managing a group of this kind.
● Assisting with sundry administrative tasks relating to the organisation of the band as requested, potentially including but not limited to: helping create parts or arrangements, helping with programming, helping to organise rehearsal schedules and percussion allocations.
There is a strong social and community ethos underpinning all of ELCB’s activities, and the band prides itself on having a warm, friendly, welcoming atmosphere. It is expected that the Assistant Conductor will proactively get to know the members in order to best help them develop as musicians and help the band achieve its musical goals.
Development:
To a large extent, this position is designed as an educational and developmental opportunity; it is expected that by the end of the 12-month period, the Assistant Conductor will have significantly enhanced their skills and understanding of the leadership role in the mixed-ability community music environment, and will have improved their own conducting skills through in-depth lessons and leading rehearsals.
Specific developmental aspects of this position include:
● Regularly leading portions of rehearsals with immediate guidance and feedback from the Director of Music (a 20-30 minute session at least 5 times per term).
● Receiving feedback and mentoring more generally from the Director of Music throughout the year.
● At least one two-hour, in-depth, one-to-one session each term with the Director of Music to work on preparing ELCB music, and to discuss any other matters relating to directing ELCB, practical conducting skills, or music-making more widely.
● The opportunity to conduct the band in performance.
Person specification:
This opportunity is primarily aimed at individuals who are passionate about community music and music education and are enthusiastic about helping others and developing their own skills in these areas.
It is not a requirement for applicants to have undergone formal musical training or to be pursuing a career in music.
Essential qualities:
● Experience of being involved with wind bands as a player or director;
● Great enthusiasm for community music-making in particular;
High-level playing skills on a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument;
● Good-natured, easy-going, approachable personality;
Excellent communication skills, verbal and written;
● Well-organised and efficient;
● Ambitious and open-minded about music-making in general.
Desirable qualities:
● Some level of formal music education in instrumental playing and/or conducting;
● Teaching experience;
● Knowledge of wind band repertoire.
Remuneration:
● For rehearsals attended and administrative tasks undertaken, per term: £210 in total
● For leading sectional rehearsals (usually two per term): per sectional session, £143
● For ad hoc deputising in the Director of Music’s absence, the rates the Director of Music would usually receive for those sessions
NB: attending rehearsals in the capacity of Assistant Conductor (as per point 2 under “Job Description” above) and directing performances in the Director of Music’s presence, will not attract any fee in addition to remuneration point 1 above.
Application process:
Anyone who would like to know more about the position should contact info@eastlondoncommunityband.co.uk for further information. A conversation with the Director of Music can be arranged if desired.
To apply, submit a CV and cover letter (500 words max.), outlining why you’re interested in the role and why you would be a good fit, to info@eastlondoncommunityband.co.uk no later than 15 May.
Up to six candidates will be shortlisted for interview, and interviews will take place online during the week beginning 25 May.
Up to four candidates will be selected for auditions, which will take place on 19 or 26 June.
The appointed applicant will be expected to take on the role from the start of the Autumn Term (September 2026). The expectation is that applicants will not already have a regular Friday-evening commitment.