Director Of Music

An exceptional opportunity exists for a talented, energetic and enthusiastic teacher of Music to take an active and visible role in leading our thriving Senior School Music Department. The post would be suitable for an experienced and qualified teacher who will have a good degree from a recognised university, experience of working with children or young people, and a post-graduate teaching qualification.

In addition to leadership of school and community-based music groups, we seek a proven ability to work as a member of a team and to contribute to the wider life of the School.

Edinburgh Academy Senior School offers musical opportunities to all students from Geits (P7) to 7ths (S6). It is a singing school, with the emphasis on inclusion as well as excellence. In P7 and S1 all students have weekly choir practice and perform in the carol services and at the School’s biennial concerts at the Usher Hall. The whole school has a weekly hymn practice and sings regularly ortunities for keen singers are offered via five different school choirs, including the girls’ Madrigals and the boys’ Acafellas, the G2 Choir (for younger pupils in P7-S1), the Senior Choir, and the Chamber Choir, which has recently performed at services at St Paul’s Cathedral in London and St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

The School’s instrumental teachers are supplemented by a team of 30 self-employed visiting music teachers, some of whom also provide support with band and orchestra activities. Our pupils undertake ABRSM and TCL exams termly.

There are three orchestras, two concert bands, two big bands, two highly successful pipe bands many smaller ensembles which meet each week. There are termly concerts in Stockbridge Parish Church or other venues in Edinburgh and a biennial concert in the Usher Hall bringing Junior School and Senior School pupils together with the well-established Choral Society. There is an annual musical production in the summer which involves more than 100 students.

EA takes a full part in the Edinburgh Competition Music Festival, National Concert Band Competitions and Pipe Band Competitions. Most of the school takes part in the annual intra-mural Division (House) Music Competition which is a highlight of the school calendar.

All Geits (P7) and 2nds (S1) students have a weekly one-hour class music lesson, following the department scheme of work and more than half of the cohort elect to continue with music in 3rds (S2), with three periods a fortnight. Currently 35 students are following SQA music courses, in which results are uniformly high. Students have iPad or laptops and use Notion, Musescore and Garage band software for work in music as well as accessing Focus on Sound.

The music department is housed in a purpose-built block with two classrooms, a recital room, a large rehearsal room and eight instrumental teaching rooms. The main hall has a pipe organ and a Yamaha concert grand piano, and the recital room has a grand piano and a harpsichord.

Short-listed candidates will be asked to plan and teach a lesson, take a musical rehearsal and to provide a piano accompaniment at sight (with five minutes preparation time) for a senior pupil. Interviews will be scheduled for week commencing 9th February, 2026.

The Director of Music will provide strategic and inspirational leadership of music across the Senior School, ensuring that music remains a vibrant, high-profile and integral part of school life. The postholder will oversee curricular and co-curricular music, fostering excellence, participation and enjoyment for pupils of all abilities.