Join the Music Staff!
Kobzarska Sich at All Saints Camp in Pennsylvania. The bandura. The songs. The traditions. The Appalachians. The creative musical process with students and staff. The river. An unforgettable experience found nowhere else on earth.
This year I have the honor to serve as the Music Director of this institution which began over four decades ago. Since initially starting exclusively as a two-week bandura camp in 1979, it has grown with additional programs such as the Junior Bandura Workshop, the Ukrainian Folk Singing Experience, the Ukrainian Choral Workshop, and the Adult Bandura Course. Thousands of students have taken part in Kobzarska Sich (KS) in these last 45 years, with many of them eventually becoming leaders in musical ensembles throughout the world.
In order to better achieve this mission, I will be focusing on the following three areas for 2023 in order to continue striving for excellence at Kobzarska Sich and making it on par with any musical program in North America:
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Seek out, hire, and shepherd a professional staff in the field of bandura and Ukrainian singing, and apply general educational musical industry standards for teachers.
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Develop and create a music curriculum specific to each KS music program and mentor future potential instructors based on a thorough educational plan.
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Continue to provide and improve on a safe and responsible camp environment for both young campers and adults.
I look forward to building on this rich tradition and creating new memorable musical and life experiences with the next generation of bandura players and singers.
Oleh Mahlay
Music Director, Kobzarska Sich 2023
Available Positions
— BANDURA CAMP —
LEAD BANDURA INSTRUCTOR
Full-time, Week 1 & 2.
Coordinate and supervise the bandura instructors for the Bandura Camp program (ages 12 to 25) and work with KS Music Director regarding repertoire, curriculum and philosophy. Will also teach a group and/or provide provide private lessons to students. Bandura teaching experience required.
GROUP BANDURA INSTRUCTOR
Full-time, Week 1 & 2.
Teach bandura in a group setting consisting of 3 to 15 bandura students. Need to lead technical exercises with group, teach a group song(s), learn the full ensemble repertoire, and participate in the program ensembles. Bandura teaching experience required.
Week 1 and 2 ASSISTANT BANDURA INSTRUCTOR
Full-time, Week 1 & 2
Assist the Group Bandura Instructor, Lead Bandura Instructor, and Music Director in teaching tasks. Must be proficient in bandura playing and/or have music education experience.
Week 2 only ASSISTANT BANDURA INSTRUCTOR
Full-time, Week 2 only
Assist the Group Bandura Instructor, Lead Bandura Instructor, and Music Director in teaching tasks. Must be proficient in bandura playing and/or have music education experience.
— JUNIOR BANDURA WORKSHOP —
WORKSHOP DIRECTOR (Week 1 only)
Full-time, Week 1 only
Create and implement a junior bandura workshop program for children ages 8 to 12, and coordinate with KS Music Director regarding repertoire, curriculum and philosophy. Will also be responsible to be the main teacher of the Junior Bandura Workshop. Program will include another bandura instructor as well as counselors to help with daily activities.
JUNIOR BANDURA WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR (Week 1 only)
Full-time, Week 1 only
Teach children ages 8 to 12 in the Junior Bandura Workshop program, helping the Junior Bandura workshop director in implementing the curriculum.
— UKRAINIAN FOLK SINGING EXPERIENCE —
UKRAINIAN FOLK SINGING EXPERIENCE DIRECTOR
Full-time, Week 1 only
Create and implement a Ukrainian folk singing workshop for female participants ages 14-30, and coordinate with KS Music Director regarding repertoire, curriculum and philosophy. Will be the main instructor of the Ukrainian Folk Singing Experience, and the program will include another teacher and/or vocal instructor. While the musical aspects are the focus, the program must include folkloric aspects, teaching of cultural history, and the traditions associated with the music covered.
FOLK SINGING INSTRUCTOR
Full-time, Week 1 only.
Teach Ukrainian folk singing to participants of the Ukrainian Folk Singing Experience (UFSE) program and assist the UFSE Director in implementing the repertoire, curriculum and philosophy. Will teach in both a group setting as well as in an individual setting. Experience with Ukrainian folk singing required.
— UKRAINIAN CHORAL WORKSHOP —
UKRAINIAN CHORAL WORKSHOP DIRECTOR
Full-time, Week 2 only
Create and implement a Ukrainian Choral Workshop (UCW) program for male and female participants, ages 16 and up, and coordinate with KS Music Director regarding repertoire, curriculum, and philosophy. Will be the main instructor for the UCW, leading group vocal warm-ups, teaching repertoire, individual vocal coaching, working on choral concepts, and conducting works at the final concert. Possible responsibilities may include leading the male bandura ensemble and/or the female bandura ensemble. Experience with Ukrainian choral conducting and teaching required.
VOICE TEACHER
Full-time, Week 2 only
Provide individual voice lessons to participants in the Ukrainian Choral Workshop (ages 16 and up). Other responsibilities include leading sectionals, working with small vocal ensembles, and performing in the final concert.
— ADDITIONAL POSITIONS —
ADULT BANDURA COURSE INSTRUCTOR
Full time, Week 1 only.
Provide private instruction to participants in the Adult Bandura Course (ABC), ages ranging from 25 and up. Also will teach general musicianship, basic bandura exercises, and basic ensemble concepts in a group setting. Experience in bandura teaching required.
MUSIC THEORY / GENERAL MUSICIANSHIP TEACHER
Full-time, Week 1 only
Teach basic music theory in a group classroom setting and individual sessions for participants in the following programs: Bandura Camp, Junior Bandura Workshop, and Adult Bandura Course. Experience in teaching eurhythmics an asset for possible classroom setting. Excellent knowledge of music theory and music teaching experience required.
BANDURA TECHNICIAN
Part-time, 3-5 days
Teach basic concepts of bandura care, construction, and tuning for students of the Bandura Camp program. General troubleshooting and assessment of participant banduras. Teach one class to advance group and assistants about top problems associated with taking care of the bandura. Must have experience working on and with banduras.
MALE BANDURA ENSEMBLE LEADER
Part-time, Week 2 only
Teach repertoire, conduct sectionals and lead the male bandura ensemble (which consists of participants from the Bandura Camp program and the Ukrainian Choral Workshop). Coordinate with the KS Music Director and the Ukrainian Choral workshop director regarding repertoire, curriculum, and philosophy.
FEMALE BANDURA ENSEMBLE LEADER
Part-time, Week 2 only
Teach repertoire, conduct sectionals and lead the female bandura ensemble (which consists of participants from the Bandura Camp program and the Ukrainian Choral Workshop). Coordinate with the KS Music Director and the Ukrainian Choral workshop director regarding repertoire, curriculum, and philosophy.