Vocal Instructor and Harmony Coach

Job Description

Young Actors Theater Academy is seeking a talented, collaborative, and student-centered Vocal Instructor and Harmony Coach to join the creative team for our upcoming production of Dear Evan Hansen.

This 12-week contract position combines classroom teaching, production vocal direction, harmony coaching, and individualized vocal instruction. The Vocal Instructor and Harmony Coach will lead our Paired Production Class, Harmonies and Dissonances, while preparing students for the vocal demands of one of contemporary musical theatre’s most challenging scores.

We believe vocal instruction is more than teaching notes and rhythms. Great vocal instructors help performers discover the emotional truth inside a song, build confidence, develop healthy technique, and understand how their voice serves the story.

This position is contracted for a single production and includes a flat fee stipend.

Position Details

This is a Independent Contractor position.
  • Contract Length: 12 Weeks
  • Production: Dear Evan Hansen
  • Student Grade Levels: 8th–12th Grade
  • Vocal Coach and Teacher for the Dear Evan Hansen
    Paired Production Class: Harmonies and Dissonances: Mondays | 6:00–7:00 PM
  • Compensation: Flat Fee — $1,000

Application Materials

Interested candidates should submit:

  • Resume
  • Vocal direction reel, production recordings, teaching samples, or portfolio materials
  • Brief statement describing your vocal instruction and teaching philosophy
  • Brief statement describing your approach to teaching emotionally challenging material
  • References upon request

Who We Are Looking For:

Successful YATA Vocal Instructors and Harmony Coaches are:

  • Strong communicators who respond promptly to emails, texts, and phone calls.
  • Collaborative team players who enjoy working closely with directors, choreographers, technical staff, and fellow creatives.
  • Positive leaders who create encouraging and structured rehearsal and classroom environments.
  • Organized prepared, and professional.
  • Skilled teachers who can adapt instruction to varying mixed ability casts.
  • Growth-minded and coachable.
  • Professional in their communication and conduct.
  • Able to maintain high standards without becoming high drama.
  • Sensitive to the emotional weight of challenging material and equipped to hold space for students navigating it.
  • Passionate about helping students grow both artistically and personally.

A Note About Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen deals directly with suicide, mental health, anxiety, and grief. These themes make it a powerful and meaningful production for teen performers. They also require every director on this production to approach the material with care, intentionality, and a working knowledge of how to support students who may have personal connections to these topics.

YATA is committed to establishing a clear internal support protocol before rehearsals begin, and all directors will participate in a pre-production orientation to align language, approach, and student support resources. We are looking for a Vocal Instructor and Harmony Coach who shares this commitment.

Responsibilities

Paired Production Class — Harmonies and Dissonances

  • Plan and lead a 12-week vocal technique master class focused on ensemble and soloist vocal technique, 3–4-part harmonies, and the specific vocal demands of Dear Evan Hansen.
  • Teach soprano, alto, tenor, and other vocal parts as assigned.
  • Record and distribute individual guide tracks for each vocal part digitally for student use outside of class.
  • Provide instruction adapted for students across beginner-to-advanced vocal experience levels.

Production Vocal and Harmony Work

  • Lead all vocal and harmony-related rehearsal work for the production of Dear Evan Hansen.
  • Attend 1–2 vocal-specific rehearsals (sing-throughs, protagonist sessions, etc.) outside of class time.
  • Attend callbacks on August 24, 2026, and provide input on vocal casting. Final casting authority rests with YATA and the Director unless otherwise agreed.
  • Attend the first day of tech rehearsal, November 7, 2026.
  • Complimentary tickets will be provided for all performances (November 12–15, 2026). Attendance beyond the first tech day is at the Vocal Instructor’s discretion.

 Individual Vocal Coaching

  • Offer individual vocal coaching sessions for leads as needed during Monday general rehearsal sessions.
  • Support leads in building vocal stamina, technique, and performance quality appropriate to the demands of the show.

Mental Health and Student Support

  • Approach all instruction and rehearsal work using a Trauma-Informed Practice framework, prioritizing psychological safety in the classroom and rehearsal room.
  • Apply Safe Messaging Guidelines in all discussion of Dear Evan Hansen‘s themes, including suicide, anxiety, isolation, and grief, both in the classroom and in any student-facing communication.
  • Participate in a pre-production mental health orientation with all directors on the production before rehearsals begin.
  • Recognize when a student may need additional support and connect them to YATA’s internal support resources.
  • Help students understand the difference between their own experience and a character’s and create space for that conversation when needed.

Specialties We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate may possess expertise or experience in the following areas:

  • Ensemble Harmony Instruction
  • Soloist and Lead Vocal Coaching
  • 3–4 Part Harmony Teaching
  • Guide Track Recording (DAW experience preferred)
  • Acting Through Song
  • Vocal Technique for Musical Theatre
  • Teaching Vocal Technique for Teen Performers
  • Trauma-Informed Teaching Practice
  • Safe Messaging Guidelines Familiarity

You Might Be a Great Fit If…

  • You prioritize responsiveness 
  • You understand that a song is a scene, not a vocal exercise.
  • You can teach both trained singers and students who are finding their voice for the first time.
  • You know how to hold space for students when heavy material lands close to home.
  • You are familiar with or willing to learn Trauma-Informed Practice and Safe Messaging Guidelines before rehearsals begin.
  • You enjoy collaborating with directors rather than competing with them.
  • You can maintain high standards without creating a toxic culture.
  • You believe confidence is built one rehearsal at a time.
  • You value positive relationships, clear communication, and mutual respect.
  • You want to help build something exceptional.

Independent Contractor Relationship

  • The choreographer is engaged as an independent contractor, not an employee.
  • Nothing in this agreement creates an employment relationship, partnership, joint venture, or agency.
  • The contractor is responsible for their own taxes, insurance, tools, equipment, and business expenses.
  • The contractor is not eligible for YATA employee benefits.
  • YATA controls only the final deliverables, not the contractor’s schedule or methods.
  • This agreement does not guarantee future work.

Student Safety, Boundaries, and Conduct

  • Contractors must always maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students.
  • Physical contact must be instructional, appropriate, and clearly communicated.
  • Contractors must comply with all YATA safety policies and Texas child-protection laws.
  • Contractor must report any concerns or incidents immediately.

Ownership of Choreography

  • Upon full payment, YATA receives a license to use choreography for this production, including rehearsals, performances, recordings, and internal training.
  • Contractors retain ownership of their original choreography but may not restrict YATA’s use for this production.
  • Contractor may not reuse or sell YATA-specific staging, notes, or confidential materials.

Confidentiality

  • Contractor agrees to maintain confidentiality regarding student information, rehearsal materials, production plans, and internal communications.
  • Confidentiality obligations survive the completion of the contract.

Liability and Indemnification

  • Contractor agrees to perform services in a professional manner consistent with industry standards.
  • Contractor agrees to indemnify YATA against claims arising from negligence, misconduct, or violation of intellectual property rights.
  • YATA is not liable for delays caused by contractor scheduling, missing materials, or external factors.

Entire Agreement

This document constitutes the entire agreement between the parties. No verbal statements or prior communications modify these terms unless agreed to in writing and signed by both parties.