Director of Music

ST PAULS UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, CHICAGO

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC POSITION (PT)

Reports to:

Senior Pastor

St. Pauls United Church of Christ is seeking a part time Director of Music or a full time Director of Music and Organist Position (OCM). As a congregation of the United Church of Christ, we embrace respect for individuals and families of all backgrounds and configurations in a joyful expression of Christian faith in the city. We do this through worship, respect for individuals, fellowship, lifelong Christian education, social justice advocacy, and support of programs and services consistent with our core values.

St. Pauls is an Open and affirming congregation, achieving that designation in 1989. We accept into the congregation and as friends all who believe in God without regard to race, color, age, marital status, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or physical ability.

We have a 50+ member Chancel Choir that sings contemporary anthems, Jewish liturgical music, African-American spirituals, German chorales, Gospel songs and special offerings such as cantatas. Additionally, we have three children's choirs conducted by church members; a gospel quartet that plays every Sunday in worship (piano, bass, drums, vocalist/trumpet); an Intergenerational Orchestra that performs annually; an annual Bible Off Broadway musical production by our Sunday School;

an annual “How Sweet the Sound” Gospel music service; and a wonderful Aeolian-Skinner organ with over 5000 pipes, 98 ranks and four manuals and pedals.

This is a rare opportunity to join a joyful staff serving a thriving mainline protestant church in a vibrant urban setting.

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC POSITION

Part-Time Director of Music General

Job Description:

This position provides musical leadership for all church choirs, bands, and orchestras; researches, plans, consults, implements, and monitors the ministry of music for St. Pauls to actively engage the congregation in worship through music. Additionally, the Music Director prepares and monitors budgets for the music department, oversees the performance of the music staff and volunteers, ensures the development of their musical talents;

and sets and attends meetings and rehearsals with ministry partners.

Work Schedule:

The Music Director shall generally work twenty hours each week, this includes rehearsing and performing during the day or night on weekdays and weekends, particularly Sundays in accordance with the needs and schedule of church services and as personally arranged, and mutually agreed to with the Senior Pastor.

Education and Experience:

An advanced degree in Music. In addition, this position requires five plus years of experience in Church Music Ministry; expertise in supervising and managing choirs, musicians, and congregants in order to integrate musical elements into the worship experience; competency in teaching music and choral directing is required. Along with the classical music and the sacred music and hymnody of the church, the Director of Music will have a love for and aptitude in a variety of musical genres, in particular gospel, folk and jazz.

Our Gospel Quartet is led by its own pianist, but support for and collaboration with the group is an important part of the Music Director’s work.

Required Skills/Abilities:
The Music Director must demonstrate excellent musicianship as well as interpersonal skills and patience, clarity, and ease of communication necessary to teach well; must demonstrate the ability to adhere to schedules, must complete projects/assignments in a timely fashion when called upon, must cooperate and work effectively with teams, and effectively work with all levels of music ministry partners.

Physical Requirements:

Prolonged periods sitting and/or standing; use of hands to handle, control, or feel instruments, tools, or controls; repetitive movements; occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds; ability to: hear sounds and recognize the difference between them; ability to focus on one source of sound and ignore others; ability to understand the speech of another person; ability to speak clearly so listeners can understand;

ability to regularly reach…