Report

Teaching Assistant / Piano Accompanist - 2026-2027

Salary

$39k - $60k

Location

New York, New York, United States

JobType

full-time

About the job

Info This job is sourced from a job board

Overview

About the role

Teaching Assistant / Piano Accompanist
Union Position - Covered by Collective Bargaining Agreement
Status: Non-Exempt
As of: April 23, 2026

Founded in 1947, the United Nations International School (UNIS) is a Pre-K through Grade 12 independent school in Manhattan, serving a diverse, global community. About half of UNIS families are affiliated with the United Nations, while the rest are internationally minded New York–based parents. Guided by the ideals of the United Nations, UNIS provides an inclusive learning environment where rigorous international programs foster academic excellence, creativity, innovation, and cross-cultural communication, inspiring students to help build a peaceful, compassionate, and sustainable world.

Position Summary
The Arts Department at the United Nations International School seeks a highly skilled Piano Accompanist to support the Choir Program from Grade 5 through High School, including occasional support for the IB Music program.

Reporting to the Director of Arts, this Teaching Assistant serves as a dedicated Accompanist, providing the musical foundation for rehearsals, performances, and classroom activities. The role focuses on delivering high-quality piano accompaniment across diverse repertoires to ensure musical continuity and a productive learning environment. While participating in the broader school community, daily responsibilities center on professional performance and supporting music faculty in the execution of the curriculum.

The ideal candidate is an advanced pianist with strong sight-reading skills and experience accompanying vocal ensembles, capable of supporting students performing music from a variety of international genres, historical periods, and compositional styles.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Music Program Support

Provide piano accompaniment for choir classes serving students from Grade 5 through High School.
Support rehearsals, classroom instruction, and performances with professional-level piano accompaniment.
Accompany a wide range of musical repertoire, including classical, contemporary, musical theater, jazz, and world music styles.
Assist the choir teacher in preparing students for concerts, performances, and special school events.
Provide occasional accompaniment for IB Music students during rehearsals, assessments, and performances.
Support sectional rehearsals or small group work when needed.

Curriculum Course Rehearsal & Performance Support (excludes non-curricular extracurricular activities).

Attend scheduled rehearsals and assist during music classes as requested by the choir teacher.
Accompany students during concerts, showcases, and other school performances.
Be prepared to sight-read and adapt to varying musical arrangements and student needs.

Student & Classroom Support

Assist with the organization and management of music rehearsal spaces.
Participate in school-wide supervision
Faculty Collaboration & Communication
Meet regularly with music faculty to coordinate repertoire
Attend department meetings and participate in professional goal-setting and evaluations.
Coordinate closely with teaching partners on scheduling and student progress.
Adhere to school protocols by ensuring all parent communication is supervised by a lead teacher or Principal.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

Expert-level piano proficiency with strong sight-reading and accompaniment skills.
Demonstrated experience accompanying choirs, vocalists, or ensembles.
Ability to perform and adapt to multiple musical genres and styles.
Strong collaborative skills and the ability to work closely with teachers and students.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Flexibility and responsiveness in a dynamic school environment.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree in Music, Piano Performance, Collaborative Piano, or a related field preferred.
Significant experience as a piano accompanist, particularly in educational or choral settings.
Equivalent professional performance or accompaniment experience will also be considered.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Compensation is between $39,593 and $60,022 commensurate with years of experience as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (salary is prorated for part-time or temporary positions

* Pending the completion of collective bargaining negotiations currently underway)

APPLICATION PROCESS
All candidates must submit an electronic application via the school website: https://www.unis.org/about-unis/employment. Supporting documentation, such as a cover letter and resume, must be uploaded to the electronic application. Paper and emailed applications and documents will not be accepted from external candidates. Review of applications will begin immediately and will be ongoing.

In accordance with the guidelines of the International Taskforce on Child Protection, the United Nations International School adheres to a rigorous standard of recruitment practices and background checks, emphasizing the protection, safety, and welfare of our students.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING
Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job posting describes you, then please apply for this role.

The United Nations International School provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, height, weight, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

About the company

Operates a private international K-12 school in New York City.

Skills

Piano

Choral Accompaniment

Sight-reading