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Lead the Next Chapter of Cantabile Youth Singers – Executive Director Opportunity

Cantabile Youth Singers of Silicon Valley is seeking a collaborative, relationship-driven nonprofit executive to serve as its next Executive Director. Under the artistic leadership of Elena Sharkova, Cantabile has earned an international reputation for artistic excellence, adventurous programming, and innovative youth music education. More than 180 singers, ages 6 to 18, receive exceptional vocal and musical training while developing confidence, leadership, and a lasting sense of community.

Cantabile has commissioned and premiered more than twenty new works since 2014, toured internationally, and will perform a major commission at Carnegie Hall in 2027. The next Executive Director will partner with the Artistic Director and Board to bring the Cantabile experience to more young people and families, grow philanthropic support, and build new relationships throughout the community.

Cantabile has an operating budget of approximately $1 million (70% earned revenue, 30% contributed revenue). The hiring range starts at $125,000 plus a performance-based bonus and a competitive benefits package. The anticipated start date is late 2026. Contact segunning@devosinstitute.net to apply.

Who Are We

Cantabile Youth Singers provides premier music education, vocal training, performance opportunities, and leadership development for young people throughout Silicon Valley and Northern California. Founded in 1994 by Signe Boyer and led by Artistic Director Elena Sharkova since 2004, Cantabile offers an innovative music curriculum and artistically accomplished, emotionally resonant concerts that cross musical boundaries.

Cantabile’s Board and staff have recently invested in strengthening the organization’s capacity by streamlining internal processes and establishing priorities to support its long-term sustainability. In March 2026, Cantabile celebrated its 32nd anniversary with a sold-out gala concert. In June 2026, Cantabile’s top choirs toured England with concerts in London, Cambridge, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Barnsley. In fall 2026, Cantabile welcomed a new Associate Conductor, who will work in partnership with Sharkova to continue its rich musical tradition. The Board is actively working to expand from seven to nine members by 2027. Cantabile is seeking a collaborative, relationship-driven leader who can build on this momentum, partner closely with its artistic and Board leadership, and guide the organization into its next chapter.

Cantabile’s Approach

Cantabile currently serves 180 singers, ages 6 to 18, across six performing choirs and three levels of preparatory classes. Its distinctive program includes choral singing and solo voice coaching, stage presence training, and a graduated music theory curriculum, enhanced by mindfulness and yoga, choreography and improvised movement, and an appreciation for diverse cultures, languages, and artistic traditions. Through joyful and creative learning, Cantabile fosters musicianship, leadership, self discipline, teamwork, and a strong sense of community.

Performance, Tour, and Leadership Opportunities

Each year, Cantabile singers appear with local professional arts organizations, including San Jose Symphony and Chorale, Opera San Jose, and New Ballet. They have also performed with prominent ensembles and artists, including Kronos Quartet, Conspirare, and composer Joe Hisaishi. In 2015, Cantabile was the first youth chorus in the country to establish its own student chapter of the American Choral Directors Association to offer mentorship and leadership opportunities for advanced students. Each year, ten or more students are engaged in musical, social, and administrative assistantships. Cantabile graduates attend prestigious collegiate programs, and many continue to sing with leading a cappella groups and university choirs.

Commissioning

Cantabile’s commitment to promoting new choral music for young singers was the driving force behind the creation of a New Music Commission Fund in 2014. Since then, Cantabile has commissioned and premiered more than twenty choral compositions by Jocelyn Hagen, Sarah Quartel, Will Todd, Tim Sharp, Andrea Ramsey, Stephen Hatfield, Eric Tuan, and Tom Shelton, among others. In 2020, Cantabile was awarded the Chorus America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming in recognition of its dedication to fostering and promoting new music. In June 2025, Cantabile presented the world premiere of We Are the Garden by Jocelyn Hagen at Bing Concert Hall, a large-scale collaborative work celebrating youth voices, environmental stewardship, and community connection that will be performed at Carnegie Hall in June 2027.

Community

Cantabile Youth Singers reflects the diverse community of Silicon Valley and includes students from over three dozen cultural origins. Cantabile views its diversity as a wealth of shared experience upon which to build empathy and appreciation for others; it regularly performs music that directly addresses relevant issues of social justice and empowers young people to engage in musical activism, leading with the notion that “people who make music together cannot be enemies.”

Who Are You

A grounded and entrepreneurial business leader. The Executive Director will bring relevant nonprofit management experience that has prepared them to lead enrollment growth, fundraising, financial management, and organizational planning at an organization of this size. They will be a strategic, organized, and financially disciplined leader eager to develop new approaches that diversify revenue and support Cantabile’s continued growth.
An outgoing relationship builder passionate about youth programming. The Executive Director will be an enthusiastic spokesperson for Cantabile’s exceptional artistic training and its impact on young people. By building relationships with teachers, schools, music professionals, community partners, parents, and alumni, they will increase Cantabile’s visibility and enrollment throughout Silicon Valley.
A trusted Board partner. The Executive Director will bring direct or transferable experience working with nonprofit Boards, engaging current members, welcoming new community leaders, and communicating financial and organizational information clearly.

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted partner and collaborator with the Artistic Director to ensure alignment among artistic ambition, organizational capacity, and long-term sustainability.
Represent Cantabile throughout Silicon Valley, cultivating relationships with prospective singers and families, community partners, donors, and potential Board members. In coordination with the Artistic Director, serve as a spokesperson for Cantabile within the arts and education sectors and with the press.
Lead marketing and communications efforts that increase Cantabile’s visibility and reputation, communicate its distinctive approach, and support enrollment, fundraising, and Board engagement. Develop and implement strategies to maintain and increase enrollment, including outreach to schools, teachers, music educators, and community music programs.
Lead Cantabile’s annual and special-event fundraising efforts, with a primary focus on individual donors. Manage donor relationships and partner with Board members to strengthen Cantabile’s case for support.
Work closely with Cantabile’s Board to deepen engagement, recruit and onboard new members, and equip Board members to serve as ambassadors, fundraisers, and strategic partners to ensure Cantabile’s continued success. Establish concise, regular reporting that keeps the Board informed about Cantabile’s financial health, organizational performance, and strategic priorities.
Provide responsible and disciplined financial leadership. Manage budgets, cash flow, and financial reporting, and track financial and organizational metrics to support reliable multiyear planning.
Provide supportive leadership to staff, ensuring that Cantabile has the capacity to deliver an exceptional experience for singers and families. Oversee efficient, practical internal operations that offer excellent customer service and make effective use of technology.

Who the Executive Director Will Work With

The Executive Director and Artistic Director report to the Board of Directors and work in close partnership with one another in service of Cantabile’s mission and artistic vision. The Executive Director’s direct reports include two full-time staff members (a Program & Communications Coordinator and an Operations Manager), as well as external administrative contractors currently supporting finance and development. The Operations Manager role is currently filled on an interim basis. The incoming Executive Director will have the opportunity to hire for the permanent position, shaping the role to complement their skill set and Cantabile’s needs. The artistic team reports to the Artistic Director and includes conductors/educators (two full-time and two part-time) and part-time accompanists.

Qualifications

Demonstrated nonprofit management experience as an Executive Director or in a comparable public-facing leadership role, with relevant experience across Board partnership, marketing and enrollment, fundraising, and financial management.
Willingness to relocate within commuting distance of Silicon Valley, if not already based in the region, and to spend significant time building community relationships.
Grounded demeanor with exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusting relationships. High integrity and ethical standards.
Experience with and passion for youth-serving programming, ideally including responsibility for marketing and enrollment.
Experience leading individual giving and special-event fundraising in partnership with the Board.
Candidates who meet most, but not all, qualifications and bring relevant transferable experience are invited to apply.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

ARTISTIC STAFF

Cantabile Youth Singers of Silicon Valley is seeking an Assistant Conductor, Training Division Director for the 2026-2027 Season.

Position Overview

A member of Cantabile’s artistic team, the Assistant Conductor (AC) works closely with the Associate Conductor and reports to the Artistic Director. The AC is a dynamic choral conductor, expert teacher, and passionate educator with an excellent record of cultivating the vocal and musical skills of children ages 5-12 with diverse musical abilities, skills, and experience.

The AC is responsible for curriculum, administration, repertoire, and performance of Cantabile’s Training Division (singers ages 6-11). The AC plans, develops, and teaches the Training Division Summer Camp and manages Cantabile’s Fall Retreat. The AC acts as manager of off-site collaborations with professional arts organizations.

The AC will work a hybrid on-site (Los Altos, CA)/remote schedule. Rehearsals currently take place during the week, in the afternoon and evenings. Although Cantabile maintains regular business hours, rehearsals, performances, and other educational and concert programming often take place in the evenings and on weekends. The anticipated start date is July 15th, 2026.

Other responsibilities include working collaboratively with the Associate Conductor and Artistic Director to select repertoire; cultivating relationships and communicating with Cantabile families; communicating and working with the collaborative pianists and guest musicians; and modeling the skills necessary to be a professional performer.

Strong Candidates Will Possess the Following Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in music education, choral conducting, or music performance, or the equivalent
Minimum of three years of successful experience teaching music to children, and experience cultivating vocal and musical skills in students of elementary school age
Orff and Kodály training with successful teaching application
Exemplary personal musicianship, vocal and conducting skills, and classroom management
Intermediate keyboard/accompaniment skills
Experience in teaching a wide variety of music styles
Demonstrated ability to work collegially with children, parents, and organizational staff
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously using professional judgment, discretion, and tact
Administrative skills that include: music preparation, parent communication, registration, attendance, etc.
Intermediate proficiency in office software (Microsoft or Google), including email, word processing, and spreadsheets.

Other Preferred Qualifications

Previous experience in an arts nonprofit organization.
Experience integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into organizational decision-making.

Physical Requirements

This position performs its duties in an indoor rehearsal and stage environment. You must be able to perform the following duties with or without accommodation:

Stand, sit, kneel, walk, bend, and perform repetitive motions for the duration of an assigned shift.
Ability to regularly use multiple modes of transportation to travel to job-related meetings, rehearsals, performance and events, both nationally and internationally.
Traverse safely throughout each facility leased by Cantabile
Safely lift, move, and transport items weighing up to 25 lbs. in and out of vehicles.
Communicate in a clear speaking voice to instruct classes

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position, with an annual salary of seventy-one thousand to eighty thousand dollars ($71,000.00-$80,000.00) to be paid in bi-monthly installments, plus an additional stipend of six thousand dollars ($6,000.00) annually in lieu of benefits, ten Cantabile holidays, ten days vacation accrual, and sick time accrual. The position is eligible for two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) per year in professional development courses, seminars, or training, and for thirty dollars ($30.00) per month as reimbursement for use of the employee’s personal cellular phone.

A background check is required. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US and must have US residency. Cantabile will continue to make appropriate deductions for taxes and other payments in accordance with federal and state laws. This is also an at-will position; either the employee or Cantabile may terminate employment with or without notice.

How to Join the Cantabile Team

Please apply by visiting our applicant website here. Please include a cover letter, resume, a short performance and rehearsals video link, and a copy of a recent concert program.

Due to our size and the increased demand for our services, we are unable to take phone calls about this position, nor sponsor visas at this time.

EEO Statement

Cantabile believes that all individuals deserve to be always treated with respect and dignity. To that end, Cantabile provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Cantabile complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Cantabile is always looking for additional accompanists, guest musicians, and substitute instructors. If you are interested in joining our Artistic Staff, please submit your resumé, references, and portfolio to hr@cantabile.org

Cantabile Youth Singers of Silicon Valley is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in its work and on its staff. Cantabile does not make employment decisions or discriminate based on protected characteristics including, but not limited to, race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sex, gender (including gender identity and/or gender expression), sexual orientation, age, disability, citizenship, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state, and federal law. We encourage people with diverse identities to apply.