About the position
The Department of Music of the University of Pittsburgh invites applications with exceptional ability for an endowed Mellon Chair in Music. Mellon Chairs are the most prestigious academic appointments at the University of Pittsburgh. We seek a visionary composer to begin on August 15, 2027, pending budgetary approval.
Position: Associate or Full Professor in Music; full-time; tenured. Advanced junior faculty with exceptional records may also be considered.
Qualifications: Ph.D. or D.M.A. in Music, or a comparable record of professional artistic achievement. Applicants should have an outstanding body of creative work, evidenced by commissions, recordings, premieres, performances, and festival or residency invitations, and be acknowledged leaders in their fields. Record of teaching composition and related subjects. Scholarly or creative expertise in any of the following additional areas: music technology, multimedia, popular music, contemporary music studies, music theory, sound art, improvisation or other related interests. The candidate should have strong research and writing skills appropriate for serving on Ph.D. committees.
Duties: A teaching load of 3 per year, including courses and individual composition lessons. Additional duties include assisting faculty in organizing concerts and guest artist visits; advising and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students; serving on graduate dissertation and comprehensive exam committees; and sharing in departmental service. The appointee should be committed to a collaborative leadership role in advancing the artistic profile and the national and international reputation of the Department of Music, both within and outside the University. We seek candidates whose interests complement those of current faculty, and who can work across sub-disciplines within the department and potentially with colleagues elsewhere in the University.
The Department: The Department of Music offers the B.A. degree in a liberal-arts curriculum and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees with concentrations in Composition/Theory, Ethnomusicology, Jazz Studies, and Musicology. The undergraduate program provides students with instruction in music history, world perspectives, theoretical frameworks, performance, and composition. Further information is available at the Department’s website: http://www.music.pitt.edu/.
To Apply: Candidates should submit a letter of application; a complete curriculum vitae including a list of original compositions with links to recordings and scores (if relevant) of two to three representative works; and the names and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.
The University of Pittsburgh is committed to championing all aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our community. This commitment is a fundamental value of the University and is crucial in helping us advance our mission, which includes attracting and retaining diverse workforces. We will continue to create and maintain an environment that allows individuals to discover, belong, contribute, and grow, while honoring the experiences, perspectives, and unique identities of all.
The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets.
The University of Pittsburgh requires all Pitt constituents (employees and students) on all campuses to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption. Visit coronavirus.pitt.edu to learn more about this requirement.
Assignment Category Full-time regular
Campus Pittsburgh
Required Attachments: Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae, list of references.
This listing was collected from a public source and is reproduced here for
information only. Always confirm the details on the original posting before applying.
View the original posting