About this role
Position Overview
The Visiting Professor / Collaborative Pianist serves as a key artistic and instructional partner within ACU Theatre, with primary responsibility for supporting the BFA Musical Theatre program through collaborative piano, vocal coaching, classroom instruction, rehearsal, and production support.
The position will be housed within ACU Theatre while also providing intentional collaborative support to the Department of Music during the 2026–27 academic year. The goal is to create a sustainable workload that prioritizes Theatre’s ongoing needs while allowing thoughtful partnership with Music. The position will move into full time alignment for the Department of Theatre in Spring 2027.
Note: The position will continue to contract and support the Music Department if needed in a partial contract capacity.
Primary Responsibilities — ACU Theatre
- Provide approximately 15–17 hours per week of collaborative piano, coaching, and instructional support for Theatre.
- Accompany individual BFA Musical Theatre voice lessons and coaching sessions.
- Support Freshman Musical Theatre Voice/Class Voice, including:
- Monday/Wednesday/Friday section
- Tuesday/Thursday section
- Collaborate closely with Dr. Chris Hollingsworth and other Theatre voice faculty.
- Provide collaborative piano support for Musical Theatre Lab as scheduled.
- Coach students in repertoire, musical preparation, interpretation, style, and performance.
- Support senior Musical Theatre students preparing for the 2027 NYC Showcase.
- Accompany auditions, juries, recitals, departmental performances, and other student-performance needs as reasonably scheduled.
Production Responsibilities
- Serve as a collaborative pianist, rehearsal pianist, coach, and/or pit musician for major Theatre productions and events as assigned, with particular emphasis on:
- Fiddler on the Roof — Homecoming Musical
- Spring musical and other musical-theatre production needs
- NYC Showcase preparation and performance
- Selected rehearsals, auditions, cabarets, and departmental events
Production responsibilities will be scheduled thoughtfully in coordination with the regular weekly teaching and coaching load.
Music Department Partnership
During this transitional year, the position will also provide designated collaborative-piano support for the Department of Music, including work with Dr. Rick Piersall and other faculty/students as assigned.
This may include:
- Voice lessons and vocal coaching
- Opera coaching/rehearsal support
- Recital and Chapel performance support
- Auditions and other collaborative-piano needs
Theatre and Music leadership will work together to define these responsibilities and maintain a reasonable overall workload.
Faculty Engagement
- Collaboration with Theatre faculty regarding student progress and artistic development.
- Participation in departmental activities and special events when appropriate.
- Mentoring students as a professional musician, coach, and collaborative artist.
- Supporting ACU’s commitment to excellent artistic training within a Christ-centered educational environment.
- Regular Friday Theatre faculty meetings are not expected as part of the weekly workload; relevant information and notes can be shared as needed.
Scheduling & Workload
- The weekly schedule will primarily be structured Monday–Thursday, with the intention of preserving Friday whenever possible.
- The schedule will be built collaboratively and may shift during production periods. Particular care will be taken to balance:
- Theatre’s 15–17 hours of weekly studio/vocal support
- Music Department responsibilities
- Production and rehearsal commitments
- Reasonable preparation, transition, and meal time
- Previously approved professional artistic commitments when feasible
Position Goal
This position is designed to be more than an accompanist role. This position will serve as a faculty artist, musical collaborator, coach, mentor, and partner whose professional experience strengthens the artistic and educational work of ACU Theatre while providing meaningful collaborative support across the university’s vocal programs.
ACU does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, disability, genetic information, national or ethnic origin in employment opportunities, in keeping with applicable state and federal law.
ACU is committed to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment and protecting the university's financial and physical assets. Therefore, Abilene Christian University conducts background checks on all candidates for employment in security sensitive positions. As a current employee, it will be determined if you need an additional background check upon your hire.
Employment Opportunities at ACU
Abilene Christian University is the premier university for the education of Christ-centered, global leaders, offering an exceptional education to about 6,700 students annually from 51 states and territories, and 42 nations. This private, comprehensive university, founded in 1906 in Abilene, Texas, offers 88 baccalaureate majors that include more than 175 areas of study, 77 areas of study in master’s degree and specialist programs, and five doctoral programs. It has been ranked as one of the top institutions in the nation for undergraduate research, undergraduate teaching, first-year experiences, service learning, study abroad and learning communities. ACU’s mission is to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world. ACU Dallas, a branch campus in Addison, Texas, is the home of the university’s online undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.