Music Director

Job Summary

The Music Director is responsible for planning, organizing, and implementing music for the Liturgies of St. Thomas More. This includes Saturday and Sunday morning Masses as well as Feasts and other important occasions. The selection of music should encourage singing in the congregation. Music shall follow guidelines as stated in the document on sacred music from the USCCB, Sing to the Lord, and also conform to directives from our Bishop and our Pastor.

The position reports to the Pastor of St. Thomas More and operates under general supervision with wide latitude for the use of independent judgment and initiative.

Must lead the efforts to foster musical worship to support the Liturgy of St. Thomas More. Must exhibit strong leadership character and help foster spiritual growth within the ministry. Must exhibit understanding and support of pastoral concerns of the Pastor of the Church, and support and always encourage proper music for the liturgy. Must understand and support rubrics of musical worship as promulgated by the Vatican and the USCCB in various documents including Sing to the Lord and the Roman Missal.

• Support and uphold the philosophy of Catholic ministry and the mission of St Thomas More Catholic Church in both your professional and personal life.
• Act as a witness to Gospel values by modeling the teachings of the Catholic Church.
• Continuously grow in your ministry by participating in religious ceremonies, training sessions, and reflection activities as directed.
• Lead Music during Masses as singer, cantor, conductor and instrumentalist (additional instruments not required, but a plus – piano/organ in particular).
• Rehearse choirs and ensembles for services.
• Lead choruses and ensembles:
  St. Thomas More Choir, Funeral Choir, Seasonal ensembles (Holy Week Choir, Christmas Midnight Mass Choir), Instrumental Ensembles during Regular Masses and at major feasts.
• Participate in Liturgy team mas More in designing Liturgy that conforms to the norms of the Catholic Church, that responds to the particular needs of St. Thomas More, and effectively praises God. Periodically gather feedback on the effectiveness of music in the liturgy and adjust plans based on that feedback.
• Lead the music ministry, building it as a community of faith.
• Recruit new members.
• Hire pianists and other instrumentalists to cover needs for services.
• Plan and coordinate music for extra services as needed.
• Plan and approve music plans for weddings as per wedding music policy. Inform wedding coordinator and clergy of music plans in a timely manner. If the couple requests that outside musicians be used, coordinate with them to ensure that they are welcome and can join in the music for the wedding.
• Plan and execute music for Funerals. If possible, join in planning meeting with family to help pick music. Interface with any outside musicians to ensure that they are welcome and can join in the music for the funeral if the family requests.
• Support music needs of other departments in St. Thomas More.
• Assemble booklets for music worship aids, when needed (music that is not in our hymnals or the holy week aid).
• Supervise Audio equipment on campus, including operation, upgrades, maintenance.
• Arrange music for St. Thomas More ensembles.
• Compose music for St. Thomas More ensembles.
• Manage budget carefully, keeping full records and following guidelines from finance committee.

• Knowledge of Music rubrics of the Church.
• Knowledge of History of Music in the Church.
• Advanced knowledge of Choral, Vocal and Instrumental Music.
• Ability to Conduct and rehearse Choirs.
• Knowledge of Music Theory.
• Knowledge of Music Composition.
• Knowledge of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church as passed down through tradition, sacred scripture, and the documents of the church, including but not limited to the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Code of Canon Law, and Papal Encyclicals.
• Skill in verbal and non-verbal communication.
• Ability to operate various word-processing software, spreadsheets, and database programs.
• Ability to operate…