Employment Opportunities

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Pops Orchestra has presented more than 200 live virtual performances, employing hundreds of artists and technical staff at pre-COVID pay.

With your help, we can continue to create countless meaningful and artistically fulfilling jobs. In addition to keeping our talented musicians employed, your support helps us continue to perform for thousands of people across the country.

We appreciate your support – thank you for being part of our APO Family!

Music & Operations Liasion

Position Overview

We are looking for someone who is passionate and knowledgeable about music. The American Pops Orchestra is not your traditional orchestra and this role demands the willingness to be proactive and think outside the box. An ideal candidate is organized, adaptable, energetic, passionate about music, and able to maintain a “can-do” spirit in high-pressure situations. 

Manage day-to-day music operations of the orchestra with presence at the APO offices in Washington, DC. Ensure that all performances transition seamlessly from rehearsals to performances. Have ownership of APO’s music library and be the main point of contact for musicians both on and off site.

  • Status: Full Time
  • Start Date: May 2023
  • Benefits: Vacation/mental health days, healthcare contribution and more
  • Travel: Capacity to travel up to 25% and work evenings and weekends as needed

Specific Duties

  • Act as the primary operations liaison between APO staff, Orchestra Personnel Manager, Musicians (as needed) and Music Director/Music Director’s team 
  • Coordinate with Orchestra Personnel Manager to hire musicians for APO concerts and engagements 
  • Serve as Music Librarian, communicating with arrangers and orchestrators to obtain new, custom music charts for each engagement and ensuring that APO’s Music Library is organized and updated at all times 
  • Prepare stage plots, pack lists, and backline rentals for all APO performances (in coordination with concert producers as needed) 
  • Generate and distribute production sheets and other paperwork for all self-produced APO concerts and events, including production schedules, call sheets, run of shows, etc.
  • Schedule piano moves and tunings for APO engagements and rentals of APO pianos
  • Act as primary “manager on duty” for APO performances including: monitoring rehearsals and performances, preparing and providing music for all musicians, coordinating front of house and backstage information, overseeing musician onsite needs, completing event reports and assisting with musician payroll following each performance, securing instrument, audio, and other production rentals as needed
  • Expand and oversee APO Music, Equipment, and Prop Inventory including; APO iPads, pedals, pencils, and accessories, musical instruments (drumset, percussion, guitars, pianos, etc.), props, costumes, and set designs for APO Children’s programming, and other related items as required for concert productions in conjunction with internal APO and external production teams
  • Schedule travel and accommodations for musicians for traveling engagements

Successful Candidates will...

  • Have a background related in music, arts, or similar background with 2-5 years experience
  • Music Librarian experience a plus
  • Thrive in a fast-paced environment
  • Be a self-starter
  • Be detail-orientated
  • Be a creative thinker, with a get-to-yes attitude

Next Steps

Please email cover letter and resume to: openings@theamericanpops.org no later than May 19, 2023.

The American Pops is committed to a diverse workplace, on and off stage. Diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.


Administrative Intern

Internship Overview

APO seeks undergraduate and graduate students interested in working for and learning about a young non-profit performing arts organization. Our internship program is designed to provide meaningful learning opportunities and hands-on experience to students with an interest in the performing arts, arts administration, or a related field. The selected intern will assist with specialized tasks and assignments within our organization’s marketing and operations departments, learning about and contributing to the ongoing projects within each area.

The majority of this internship will be spent supporting the day-to-day needs of the organization, with short and long-term projects being assigned throughout the internship term as well. This position will have the opportunity to assist with the onsite operations of TV Show Filmings for PBS, contributing to pre-production and on-site production needs. Start and end dates of this internship are flexible, and the internship will take place in-person. Interns will work up to 20 hours a week focusing on tasks that are tailored to the needs of the organization and the interests of the intern, when possible.

Benefits

APO Interns who complete the program will have the opportunity to gain real-world experience working for a performing arts organization currently engaging in multiple projects with PBS.

Additional benefits include:

  • Monthly stipend of $500
  • Networking opportunities within our organization, our partners, and beyond
  • Academic/Internship credit (per accepted participants’ college/university guidelines)
  • Opportunity to receive a letter of recommendation upon successful and satisfactory completion of the internship

**Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Duties

Internship duties will include but not be limited to-

  • Assist with load in, set up, and load out for APO events, concerts, and TV filmings;
  • Serve as a production assistant for filmed and live performances in the DMV area;
  • Help with office administrative tasks including organization of office supplies and other inventory upkeep;
  • Support the creation and distribution of social media marketing materials for upcoming APO events;
  • Work with other members of the APO team to help keep storage units organized;
  • Perform basic administrative tasks as needed and other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Current undergraduate or graduate student
  • Ability to multi-task and simultaneously work on multiple projects from different departments
  • Willingness to complete multiple research projects and social media postings
  • Capability to lift up to 30lbs and assist with load-in/loadouts of APO events
  • Experience working with Microsoft Word, Excel, Dropbox, and social media platforms
  • Strong writing and communication skills
  • Knowledge of and ability to read music a plus

About APO

The American Pops Orchestra was founded in 2015 and is dedicated to bringing American popular music to diverse new audiences in dynamic ways. APO reimagines music, performing in non-traditional orchestral settings and custom arrangements. Partnering with PBS, APO has recently been seen in various national specials, including PBS’ 2021 NYE special “United in Song”.

To Apply

Please submit the following materials:

  • Resume and Cover Letter (including two [2] references and if you are seeking academic credit for this internship)
  • Link to a recent artistic performance or artwork that inspires you (with brief description of impact)

A Message from The APO

The American Pops Orchestra has made it a priority to not only maintain Pre-COVID content in a virtual form, but also create new content to keep our audience engaged and our musicians employed.  As an organization that strives to break the mold of concerts, we are using COVID-19 to reimagine our normal operations.  Since March we have streamed two full original concerts, created solo performances by instrumentalist and vocalists, rethought our Music and Mindfulness series as a more often and virtual event, and partnered with organizations across the country in our virtual trivia series.  

In addition, APO has held multiple in-person socially distanced outdoor Porch Concerts that provide our audience with the opportunity to safely see live art despite the current situation around us.  Throughout the pandemic, APO has employed hundreds of musicians and artists and in a time when many other organizations couldn’t. In the words of Maestro Luke Frazier, “we never stopped.”

Moving forward, APO is proud to present our NextGen National vocal competition which will include students from across the country competing virtually for the chance to win a monetary prize and the opportunity to perform in a future APO MainStage Show. This will include a virtual audition and semi-finals with a live (COVID permitting) finals in Spring of 2021.  APO has also filmed multiple productions that will be broadcast nationally on PBS.  APO has been grateful to keep creating and making music despite the limitations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and will keep working to bring you, our valued audience, original and unique content.

To support APO as we keep moving forward you can click here, so that we can continue to employ more artists and musicians.  If you have any questions about what APO has been doing during the pandemic, please email hannah@theamericanpops.org. Thank you and stay safe.