Director of Bands

The University of Notre Dame seeks a student-focused, collaborative, and visionary Director of Bands to guide the University’s historic band program into its next era of eminence. Founded in 1845, Notre Dame’s band program is the oldest continuously operating collegiate band in the country, and it has remained important to the identity and culture of the University since its inception. Its esteemed marching band, the Band of the Fighting Irish, performed for the football team’s first game against the University of Michigan in 1887 and has not missed a single home game since. An all-volunteer student organization, the band program welcomes students from every academic discipline on campus and focuses on advancing Notre Dame’s commitment to holistic student development. The next director will find that the marching band fully embodies its motto—Tradition, Excellence, Family—in every aspect of its work and culture.

The director leads the entirety of the University’s 500-member band program, including the Band of the Fighting Irish, athletic bands, concert bands, and jazz bands. The director will craft a vision for the band program that balances tradition with innovation, empower and support the band staff in their professional growth, and strengthen the role of the bands as important vehicles for student formation. A visible presence on campus, the director will build strategic partnerships with other University units, including within the Division of Student Affairs, and more broadly with Athletics, the Alumni Association, Department of Development, and Undergraduate Admissions. Beyond campus, the director will be the public face of the band program, broadcasting its successes and inspiring donors to support its work.

The ideal candidate will bring leadership experience with collegiate marching bands; a strategic and collaborative approach to leadership; experience managing organizational staff, resources, and budgets; and a passion for the program’s holistic approach to artistry, musicianship, and student development. The director will be a faculty member in the Department of Music and could hold a tenured, tenure-track, or professor of the practice appointment, depending on their credentials and level of experience.

A search committee has been formed and the executive recruiting firm Isaacson, Miller has been retained to support this search. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Applications (including CV and cover letter), inquiries, and nominations should be submitted in confidence via the link below.

Claire Hennessey is leading this search with Keith Mason and Christina Errico.

The University of Notre Dame is dedicated to equal employment opportunity and to the implementation of positive programs designed to ensure the prevention of any discriminatory practices, either intentional or inadvertent, with respect to race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, age, or sex.