String Instructor and Orchestra Program Coordinator

TVS

Position: String Instructor and Orchestra Program Coordinator

About Trinity Valley School

Founded in 1959 and named for the Trinity River that flows nearby, Trinity Valley School is an
independent, nonsectarian, college-preparatory school serving more than 1,000 students in prekindergarten through grade 12 on a 75-acre campus in Fort Worth, Texas. Families choose TVS.
for its deep commitment to developing curious minds and lifelong learners, as well as for its
strong sense of community. TVS provides extraordinary opportunities for students to grow in
academics, athletics, visual and performing arts, outdoor experiential education, and global
education-guided by our motto, Per Aspera ad Astra (Through Difficulty to the Stars!).

About the Role

We are at an exciting moment in our Orchestra program. With growing enrollment, a curricular expansion that adds seventh grade orchestra to our academic class offerings, and a deeply supportive community, we are looking for the right educator to lead our next chapter.

The Strings Instructor and Orchestra Program Coordinator role is a dynamic blend of teaching, artistry, leadership, and careful stewardship. We seek someone who brings warmth to one-on-one instruction, vision to ensemble leadership, and the organizational acumen required to manage and grow a thriving program. You will be an artist, administrator, teacher, and program builder, cultivating genuine relationships and creating the conditions for visible musical growth and excellence.

Trinity Valley School is open to filling this position in a flexible way: as one comprehensive full-time role spanning all three divisions (K–12), or as two complementary part-time positions.

What You'll Do

As our Lower School Orchestra and Strings Instructor, your time with students will be devoted to the foundational work of introducing young musicians to the world of strings. You'll instruct private lessons, meeting each kindergartener through fourth grader where they are-from picking up a violin for the first time or developing into confident young musicians. You'll lead rehearsals for our Lower School orchestra, creating an environment where young students experience the joy of making music together, learning to listen to one another, and discovering that being part of an ensemble means contributing to something larger than themselves. Your work in this division focuses on nurturing a love of music and building strong foundational skills and habits. You'll manage your lesson schedule with care, coordinate the logistics of Lower School concerts, and serve as a warm, patient presence that helps young musicians feel safe, encouraged, and excited about their musical growth.

If you're working with our Middle and Upper School students, your role includes individual lessons and expands into ensemble leadership and program coordination. You'll schedule and instruct private group lessons for students in grades five through twelve, meeting students completely new to strings, intermediate musicians, and preparing for college auditions. You'll lead rehearsals for our Middle School and Upper School orchestras, bringing your artistic vision and leadership to group settings where students are developing real musical sophistication, learning to blend their sound with others, and understanding that ensemble playing requires both individual excellence and collaborative listening. 7th-12th grades will meet as part of the academic day, while 5th and 6th grades meet after school. You'll select repertoire thoughtfully for our concerts, choosing pieces that challenge our students appropriately, that excite them, and that showcase the progress they've made. You'll guide students through the audition process for honors orchestras like TPSMEA, serving as mentor and advocating as they step into competitive musical experiences beyond our walls.

You'll manage the instrument rental program with care and attention, cataloging our collection, communicating with our business office about maintenance and needs, and handling minor repairs that keep our instruments in good condition. You'll coordinate the logistics of concerts and field trips-the behind-the-scenes work that allows performances to feel seamless and special. In each of these responsibilities, you're building the infrastructure that allows musicians to thrive, that honors families' investments in their children's education, and that keeps our program running with excellence.

What You Bring

We're looking for someone with a Bachelor's Degree in Music, ideally with a focus on either performance or education, and preferably with a Master's degree as well. More importantly, you'll bring the ability to teach violin, viola, cello, and bass as a generalist and can guide students towards growth and excellence on their chosen instrument. While not required, ability to teach other instruments, particularly wind instruments, is also valued. Your specific background and emphasis may depend on which configuration of this position you're applying for.

Our ideal candidate brings experience teaching students of the division they'll work with - introducing young learners to instruments and fostering a genuine love of music in all students. You'll have the ability to instruct and motivate students with patience and creativity, understanding the developmental needs of young musicians. You can choose music that stretches your students to reach their potential and allows them to demonstrate their growth and progress in beautiful ways for an audience to appreciate. For Middle and Upper School, experience preparing students for competitive musical experiences and auditions will help you support your students through these processes.

Beyond credentials, we're seeking someone with genuine warmth and patience-the kind of person who remembers that behind every student is a story, a family, and a set of hopes and fears. You'll bring the ability to remain calm and emotionally steady even when juggling multiple priorities, when a student is discouraged, or when a concert is hours away and something has gone awry.

You'll have the organizational acumen to manage schedules, inventory, and communication with grace, understanding that these logistical elements are expressions of respect for students and families. You'll bring an artist's sensibility paired with a builder's mindset-someone who understands that excellence in music education requires both inspiring artistry and meticulous attention to detail. You're someone who sees a growing program as an invitation, who gets energized by the challenge of thoughtfully expanding what's possible, and who believes deeply that music education meaningfully changes students' lives for the better.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

This role requires the ability to maintain emotional composure and focus while managing multiple concurrent responsibilities and navigating the dynamic environment of a school community. You'll spend significant time on your feet-standing and walking during rehearsals and lessons, sitting while teaching private students, and regularly bending, kneeling, and reaching to adjust student posture, demonstrate techniques, or manage instruments and equipment. You'll need the physical capacity to lift and move musical instruments and equipment, including full-sized string instruments and stands, with some items weighing up to forty pounds. You'll use computers and standard office equipment regularly for scheduling, communication, and program management. The role extends beyond the standard school day, requiring your presence for rehearsals, concerts, competitions, and occasional travel to performance venues and educational events. You'll work in environments with moderate to elevated noise levels during rehearsals and performances, and you'll supervise students in classrooms, auditoriums, performance venues, and off-campus settings, requiring the ability to maintain attention and ensure safety across varied contexts.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one and group string instruction across all three school divisions (K–12), meeting the needs of beginners through advanced students preparing for college auditions.
• Lead and direct ensemble rehearsals for the Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School orchestras.
• Select appropriate repertoire and coordinate the logistics for all concerts, competitions, and field trips.
• Manage the instrument rental program, including cataloging inventory, coordinating maintenance with the business office, and performing minor repairs.
• Mentor students through the audition process for honors orchestras like TPSMEA.
• Cultivate strong relationships with students and families and handle administrative tasks such as scheduling, communication, and program management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Music (ideally performance or education); Master's degree preferred.
• Ability to teach violin, viola, cello, and bass. Ability to teach other instruments is desired but not required.
• Lower School Focus: Experience with Lower School aged children and instructing absolute beginners with patience and joy
• Middle/Upper School Focus: Strong ensemble leadership, ability to select and prepare sophisticated repertoire, and a track record of preparing students for competitive auditions.
• Organizational acumen for managing schedules, inventory, and communication.
• Personal qualities of genuine warmth, patience, and steadiness.
• An artist's sensibility is paired with a builder's mindset.

Physical Demands and Working Requirements

• Maintain composure and focus while managing multiple concurrent responsibilities.
• Spend significant time standing and walking during rehearsals and lessons, and regularly bending, kneeling, and reaching to adjust student posture or manage equipment.
• Physical capacity to lift and move musical instruments and equipment, up to forty pounds.
• Regularly use computers and standard office equipment for scheduling and program management.
• Presence required beyond the standard school day for rehearsals, concerts, competitions, and occasional travel.
• Work in environments with moderate to elevated noise levels and supervise students across varied contexts.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should complete an online application and attach a cover letter and résumé
by visiting Trinity Valley School Career Opportunities. For questions, please contact:

Arlyn Estrella, Director of Human Resources
Email: estrellaa@tvs.org

Trinity Valley School is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any
qualified employee or applicant due to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national
origin, age, mental or physical disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected category.