St. Michael’s of the Valley Director of Music Job Description
The Director of Music position combines the usual roles of organist and choir director in a church of the Anglican tradition. The purpose of the Director of Music is to support and enhance the overall worship experience in all liturgies which require music, primarily through the use of the pipe organ, piano, and choral musicians.
The Director of Music serves under the direct supervision of the Rector of the Church, who has ultimate responsibility for the liturgy and sole authority to hire, evaluate performance, and/or terminate employment.
The Director of Music’s responsibilities include:
As Organist:
1) Sunday services: Prepare and play all organ music for the 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. services, to include hymns, service music, preludes, postludes, and choir anthems.
2) Other services: Select, prepare, and play organ music for special liturgies where the organ is the primary instrument used, for example, Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Choral Evensong, and Lessons and Carols.
3) Play for rehearsals of the Adult Choir, and a periodic (at this time) children’s choir.
4) Regularly inspect the organ and piano, and monitor the church piano humidifier, reporting any problems to the Rector.
5) Assist the Rector in securing supply organists when absent for any reason.
As Choir Director:
Re-establish the Adult Choir, continue recruiting new members, and developing the Choir’s ability to sing service music, hymns, and anthems.
Select appropriate, seasonal choral music for the Adult Choir to sing most Sundays of the year. Select music for the Holy Days we observe, such as Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Choral Evensong, and Lessons and Carols.
Conduct Adult Choir rehearsals (1 ½ hours per week, usually on a weeknight, during the program year)
Other duties include:
Prepare an annual budget request as Director of Music for the church’s total music ministry, to include organ and rehearsal piano maintenance; the purchase of organ and choir music; stipends for additional musicians; and miscellaneous items needed to support the overall music ministry (such as music stands, stand lights)
Communicate, coordinate, and cooperate with the Rector and Parish Secretary.
Monitor proper licensing for music used in addition to the authorized hymnals, and make regular reports to the licensing agencies.
Perform other duties that contribute to the total music program of the church, such as networking outside the Church with local musicians or promoting special services that focus on the music program.
Compensation
Competitive, negotiable, commensurate with skill and experience.
Weddings $425, to be paid directly by the wedding parties.
Funerals $225, to be paid directly by the funeral home or family.
$1400 annually for continuing education.
The Director of Music shall have exclusive use of the pipe organ and the grand pianos for private teaching, and shall fully have the personal benefit of that income paid directly by students.
Terms of Employment:
This position is quarter-time employment, an average of 10 hours per week year-round, with fewer hours during the summer and more hours for Holy Week and Christmas Eve. There is the potential to increase to half-time as the music program develops, with commensurate increased compensation.
There are 4 Sundays off annually, for vacation or personal days, to be arranged in advance with the Rector, and the Sunday after Christmas and Easter.
2 paid sick days on a Sunday shall be granted per year, with the Church paying the substitute organist. Any sick days taken beyond these 2 on a Sunday may be deducted from the Director of Music’s compensation for that time period. 2 paid sick days during the week will also be granted per year.
The length of employment would continue as long as both the Church and the Director of Music desire to continue to work together. If for any reason either the Church or the Director of Music did not wish to continue, a 90-day written notice would be required.
Evaluation:
After the first 6 months, the Rector and Director of Music will conduct a review to determine if any adjustments need to be made. Thereafter, annual evaluations at the end of the program year will be offered.
Qualified candidates may contact the office for more information or to set up and interview.
