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PROGRAM: Ifetayo Youth Ensemble
Title: Accompanist
Specialty Areas: Percussion instruments and orchestras
Location: Brooklyn
Reports to: Youth Ensemble Program Associate

Organizational Mission:

Ifetayo's mission is to prepare young people and their families for all aspects of their lives through comprehensive and holistic programs that help to empower them to become self-sufficient, productive adults who are actively engaged in the improvement of their communities. This mission is carried out as we work to achieve the five primary objectives of the organization which are:

1. to develop cultural awareness and self-esteem by exposing youth and families to traditional African artistic forms and their evolution into contemporary cultures;
2. to provide youth, families and communities of African descent with the tools required to become self-sufficient and to transcend challenges that are perpetuated across generations;
3. to support youth, families and communities of African descent to reach their optimum potential by attaining a harmonious balance between the mind, body, and spirit and through proper nutrition, exercise, and cultural awareness;
4. to create leaders for local neighborhoods and international communities, and
5. to develop, document and disseminate a comprehensive, African-centered approach to youth and community development.

Program Summary:
The Ifetayo Youth Ensemble is a pre-professional performance company comprised of 43 African American and Latino youth between the ages of 11 and 24. As the oldest, most distinguished and rigorous performing arts entity within Ifetayo, it supports the development of young artists through four interconnected aspects of the program. High-level arts training and performance have always been at the core of the Ensemble, and over time these have been coupled with personal development initiatives. The Ensemble also offers artistic training that prepares its members to create and perform original works about pressing social issues. For example, the most recent production, "The Advocate: Who is the Mastermind?" was an investigation into the historical and global dimensions of the prison industrial complex. The final component of the Ensemble is a training program which prepares senior students to assume leadership in the program in the areas of teaching, arts management, and creative direction. In 2005 and 2006 two such trainees, who were also graduates of the Rites of Passage Program, were hired as Ensemble coordinators.

Position Description:
Accompanists are responsible for assisting in the energy of the classes which they accompany. They are responsible for assisting with the rhythmic learning of the students and must work in collaboration with the teacher. Accompanist will also on occasion perform with the Youth Ensemble.

Key Responsibilities:
Essential duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Attending all Ifetayo Youth Ensemble Planning Meetings and Staff Training
• Arriving to classes on time
• Become a part of the Ensemble and respect performance protocol
• Set-up and Break down of equipment used in class including chairs, drums, sticks, etc.
• Introduce students to rhythms and the history of the rhythms that are played in class
• Assist Teacher with development of presentation
• Submit invoices in a timely manner (invoices are due the 1st day of the month)
• Be available and present at all rehearsals, dress rehearsal and end of year presentations
• Assist with keeping the order of each class that they accompany

• Strong interest in youth development and developing youth through the arts
• Musical background and performance with two/three years experience
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written
• Good organizing, planning, and presentation skills

You must act as if it is impossible to fail.

Ashanti proverb