Director of Music Ministries (Petoskey, MI)
Emmanuel Episcopal Church Organization
Website: eecpetoskey.org
Salary Range (optional):
Job Description:
1. Provide a diversity of music, blending contemporary, reflective (i.e., Taize) and traditional music styles for two Sunday services, as well as additional liturgies including but not limited to Sunday evening contemporary services, major feast days (i.e., Christmas and Holy Week) and other major celebrations as determined by the Rector and parish worship leadership.
2. Instrumental and vocal talent within the parish will be utilized throughout the year to enrich and add variety to the worship services. Instrumental and vocal talent within the parish and community will be utilized throughout the year to enrich and add variety to the worship services.
3. Meets with Adult and Children’s Choirs from September through May for weekly rehearsals, and actively recruits for these choirs, both within and outside the congregation. Assists in the pastoral care duties of the members and supervises volunteers as needed.
4. Supports the Adult Choir in offering a service of Advent Lessons and Carols during the season of Advent.
5. Contacts, schedules, selects, and rehearses Bay View Music Conservatory students for Sunday music worship during the summer months.
6. Places the appropriate hymn numbers on the hymn boards for each service.
7. Serves as accompanist for choirs and soloists during worship services.
8. Works with area churches on joint worship services.
9. Meets with the family or wedding couples to plan music for parish funerals and weddings, in compliance with parish policies and fees adopted by Vestry and included in the Letter of Agreement. In the unlikely event that the Music Director is unavailable, he or she will assist in locating alternate music support.
10. Identifies appropriate substitutes on occasions when the Music Director is absent from parochial duties.
11. Serves as the EEC point of contact regarding musical events at the church.
12. Schedule, organize, and advertise concerts and musical offerings by outside groups.
13. Schedules routing maintenance, tuning and repair of all parish musical instruments, including the organ and pianos.
14. Keeps copyright license up-to-date, including music currently in use.
15. Prepares and presents a proposed annual music budget to the Vestry on or before October 15, purchases new music within the budget, and seeks advance Vestry approval of out-of- budget expenditures.
16. Communicates rehearsal times, event scheduling, and bulletin information to the Office Manager in a timely manner. Serves as the primary contact for persons who seek to use the church for private music lessons.
17. Attends regularly scheduled meetings with the Rector and works with the Rector and other staff to plan liturgy and attends other meetings for the conduct of the parish music program. Submits monthly articles for parish newsletter focused on the music program.
18. Subject to the canonical authority of the Rector, works cooperatively with the Rector, parish staff and other members of the congregation to further the work and mission of the parish in individual and corporate spiritual formation.
19. Complies with the Emmanuel Episcopal Church Employee Handbook, and treats those served in a professional manner, with dignity, compassion, civility, and respect. Shows respect to those served regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, socio-economic status, disability, or medical condition. Avoids any sort of abusive behavior, whether verbal, physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, or other.
20. Refrains from disclosing confidential or sensitive information about others obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves a compelling professional purpose or is required by law.
Future Success Factors:
1. Develop a vibrant Adult and Children’s Choir. Seeks out new choir members with a missionary zeal and encourages others to do the same. Doubles the size of the adult choir quickly. The choirs, including children’s and youth, give breath and voice to Emmanuel’s mission, and through a music education ministry, draws the congregation more deeply into worship. Recognizes the musical talents (vocal as well as instrumental) of our members and includes them in the service. Encourages choir members to develop their skills through enthusiasm and positive suggestions.
2. Team Player with Staff of Emmanuel. Attuned to Emmanuel’s “big picture” strategic goals and establishes musical activities and programs to support the mission of the church. Actively participates in regular staff meetings with the Rector and senior staff as a key church leader. Seeks frequent feedback from the Rector and other staff for performance improvement opportunities, demonstrates general teamwork skills. Communicates with staff members and the congregation in multiple ways, including the Harbinger and the webpage.
3. Visible Music Director in northern Michigan’s community of musicians. Builds a network in the musical community in ways that draw talent to the church’s music program, and through the music ministry, serves as a source of parish growth. Works with other churches on joint events and services. Promotes the use of our facilities and organ as a venue for a variety of musicians and musical performances. Includes Bay View faculty and students in our summer music worship.
4. Values Episcopal traditions and demonstrates knowledge of Episcopal music repertoire. Supports the Rector, parish staff, and members of the congregation to further the work and mission of the parish in both individual and corporate spiritual formation. Understands Episcopal liturgy, and the Anglican music that draws Episcopalians together, including The Hymnal of the Episcopal Church, music that reflects the diverse natures of the children of God, and new musical expressions in liturgy, keeping a balance of music familiar and unfamiliar to the congregation.
5. Approachable. Shows warmth and a sense of humor. Puts people at ease and connects with them. Demonstrates good speaking, listening, and writing skills. Deals effectively with differences.
6. Effective organizer. Reliable, punctual, and prepared for meetings, rehearsals, and services. Prepares self and others for musical performances. Clearly conveys objectives, expectations, and critical dates or deadlines to the choir, staff, and vestry. Prepares a proposed annual music budget for Vestry approval and manages budget expenditures within approved guidelines. Responsible for timely repair and maintenance of our instruments. Efficiently uses current music library.
7. Inspirational leader to the congregation. Rallies support to get things done and motivates others to perform their best. Applies pastoral sensitivity to interpersonal relationships. Looks for common ground and shared purpose among different groups within the church. Approaches the position as a ministry. Provides a positive emotional climate so that members are comfortable expressing themselves musically and willing to take risks to improve their musical skills.
8. Aspires to be part of the church family. Engages in church activities beyond a narrow scope of job duties. Participates with the congregation in social activities and seeks to connect with our members to form relationships. Serves as a role model of Christian values and ethical conduct. Uplifts others by his or her presence. Available for parish funerals and weddings, and to meet with family and wedding couples to plan service music responsive to their wishes.
9. Effective teacher. An active learner who encourages new ideas, experiments with novel approaches, and seizes new opportunities. Ability to educate and motivate others to improve their musical skills, and for non-musicians, to understand the important spiritual role of music in the church. Directs the choir with enthusiasm, a sense of humor, patience, structure, and discipline. The music director uses rehearsal time to educate choir members spiritually as well as musically. The Rector and Music Director develop a mutual learning relationship, where the Rector engages in musical study and the Music Director engages in theological and liturgical study. The Music Director can assess and teach musical skills to diverse learners, and has a background and experience using a variety of teaching methods.
10. Musical expertise. A track record of selecting, producing, and performing music in a church setting. Personal musical skills include: advanced level of piano and organ individual performance and accompaniment for both choirs and soloists during worship services and special services. Other musical skills include an understanding of compositional, instrumental, and performance techniques, and music theory. Has a working knowledge of vocal fundamentals and choral techniques, an ear for pitch and rhythm, and a knowledge of English diction as it applies to choral singing. Capable of planning, organizing, and delivering special musical event. Provides a diversity of music, blending contemporary, reflective, and traditional musical styles.
Minimum Qualifications:
1. Demonstrated compliance with the American Guild of Organists Code of Ethics (2017) with respect to responsible conduct to those served, respect for professional colleagues and integrity in professional work.
2. Commitment to building up the Body of Christ through the ministry of music.
3. Ability to inspire and develop volunteer singers through choral direction.
4. Ability to recruit and incorporate new members into an established and growing choir.
5. Interest in teaching singing to both children and adults.
6. Confidence, aptitude, and ability as a church musician playing the organ and piano.
7. Familiarity with a wide range of Christian music, including the Episcopal canon or comparable experience as a church musician.
8. Experience in leading congregational song.
9. Experience playing for weddings and funerals.
10. Experience in building a network of musicians within a community.
11. Leadership experience in collaborating with a church staff to help members engage their gifts in service.
12. Demonstrated skilled communicator of all musical aspects of worship and its role within the liturgy.
13. At least 2-4 years of experience as organist or choir director.
14. A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant area, or equivalent experience.
Does this job pay? Yes. Salary negotiable based on experience. Health, dental, retirement, and continuing education benefits plus parish facilities for practice, teaching and performance. Full description, including a detailed description of our lovely, 25 rank Lauck Pipe Organ can be found on our website: eecpetoseky.org. Click “About EEC” and follow link to position openings.
Contact Email: office@eecpetoseky.org