Organist​/Pianist​/Director of Music

Organist/Pianist/Director of Music

This is intended to be a fully in-person position.

Grace Lutheran Church ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) in State College, Pennsylvania seeks an Organist/Pianist/Director of Music. The successful candidate will have a vision for bringing people into contact with the Divine by offering and coordinating diverse music (including from our musically rich musical heritage) that enhances quality worship and supports the Scriptures and mood of each week and season. The Organist/Pianist/Director of Music will support the mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) by fostering worship in partnership with the Senior Pastor and pastoral team at the highest possible level while simultaneously encouraging the talents of lay musicians within the parish.

The Organist/Pianist/Director of Music will work alongside the Director of Arts Ministries’ music outreach by providing accompaniment for soloists and ad hoc ensembles within worship services and major parish events (typically 2-3 per year) when requested.

The Organist/Pianist/Director of Music must have exemplary service‑playing skills (liturgy, hymns, psalms) and organ and piano skills to lead the people in worship. This includes accompanying the choir and volunteer musicians as well as inspiring, engaging, and encouraging musicians of all ages and skill levels (children, volunteer musicians, choirs, and paid section leaders) as well as instrumentalists for special services and presentations.

Strong communication and organizational skills are needed along with a collaborative approach to serving the congregation and community. We are firmly and joyfully rooted in the Lutheran tradition, but likewise embrace creativity and innovation.

Playing organ/piano, provide musical leadership for three Sunday morning Services of Holy Communion (two are organ‑led and one is piano‑led; all are traditional), as well as seasonal services (Christmas, Holy Week, Easter, weddings (additional compensation), funerals/memorial services, and approximately 13 Wednesdays (principally Advent and Lent) with mid‑day and/or early evening services. The Organist/Pianist also serves as the chief administrator and accompanist for an annual one‑week summer worship and fine arts (music) camp.

The person who is hired will support the adult choir director by accompanying the choir for one 90‑minute weekly evening rehearsal (Sept.–May) and on Sunday services (and occasional evening services) as well as accompanying other lay musicians who enrich worship with music and occasional parish festivals. Other accompaniment duties include serving as the principal organist/pianist for other worship and community events, especially the Lenten Ecumenical Choir (7 Sunday afternoons and one Wednesday) and the Christmas Eve 9 PM choir (6 rehearsals that are separate from the adult choir).

This position also coordinates pastor‑approved guest recitalists, ensembles, and other musicians (2‑4 times per year). Responsible for scheduling substitute organists/pianists to fill in on vacation days as well as caring for the keyboard instruments and arranging for instrument tuning and professional care twice annually as well as coordinating additional tuning as required when guest artists are approved to give recitals or concerts.

This position also schedules and trains new lay cantors for all 9 and 10:30 services where the choir is not scheduled to sing. The successful candidate will foster relationships within the church and with Penn State School of Music and other local musical resources for potential enrichment of music in worship, local concerts, etc. Regular attendance at weekly Tuesday morning staff planning meeting is expected.

The organist works with the pastors on recommending hymns for worship; ensuring all licensing and streaming permissions are obtained, archived, and reported; finding and reporting substitute music from the church audio streaming library when music that has been selected for live worship may not be legally streamed; and reporting all permissions internally as well as to One License…