Associate Director of Music (Little Rock, AR)

Date Posted: 
February 25, 2023
Organization Name: 
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Salary Range: 
$50,000-$60,000
Job Description: 

Trinity Cathedral Associate Director of Music

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral 310 W 17th Street Little Rock, AR 72205

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is seeking applications for the position of Associate Director of Music. The mission of Trinity’s music program is to glorify God through music, support congregational singing and participation, engage with the greater Little Rock community, and support high quality church music as a leader in the Diocese of Arkansas. This position reports to the Director of Music.

Trinity has a busy and exciting musical life, including chorister and choral scholar programs, a concert series (including choral concerts with orchestra), a handbell choir, the Trinity Ringing Society (tower bells), and the Cathedral Choir. The Cathedral Choir, comprising volunteers, choral scholars, and eight professional singers, is one of only a handful of choirs in the country to sing weekly Choral Evensongs (September through May).

Requirements of the position include the following:

  • Excellent organ-playing abilities: The successful candidate must be able to cope with a high volume of difficult repertoire (both solo and choral) and have already cultivated a large and varied repertoire of solo organ music. A typical Sunday includes two sets of Anglican chant psalmody, three anthems, a Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, and four substantial voluntaries. The choir also performs choral mass settings and communion services periodically. Choral repertoire regularly includes difficult accompaniments (e.g. works by Elgar, Harris, Stanford, Bairstow, Duruflé, etc.).

  • Flexibility and collegiality

  • Skill in choral accompaniment

  • A commitment to and familiarity with sacred choral music

Desirable qualifications:

  • Degrees in organ performance and/or church music

  • AGO certification

  • Skill in conducting and/or improvising

  • Musical creativity, particularly in hymn and psalm accompaniment

  • Writing, communication, and organizational skills

Responsibilities include the following:

  • Serve as the primary accompanist for choral eucharists and evensongs each week

  • Shared responsibility for playing voluntaries, hymns, service music, improvising,

    and conducting the choirs

  • Deputize for the Director of Music in his absence

  • Manage extensive music library (approximately 2,400 titles)

  • Play weddings, funerals, and diocesan events for extra compensation as assigned

  • Assist in accompanying and rehearsing the Cathedral Choir and Children’s Choirs

  • Direct the Cathedral Bell Choir

  • Attend weekly staff meetings

  • Meet weekly with the Director of Music to review choral music

  • Assist with other administrative responsibilities within the music program,

    including planning concerts and coordinating visiting artists and clinicians

Trinity’s Instruments:

  • Muller Pipe Organ: 82 ranks (plus 4 digital pedal stops), six divisions (three of which are expressive), and four manuals with pedal

  • Several pianos

  • Trinity has also submitted a deposit to Taylor and Boody Organbuilders for a continuo organ. This instrument will arrive by December 2023. A dedication concert (with choir and orchestra) will occur in early 2024.

Hours, Salary, and Benefits: This position is 40 hours work per week and comes with health and dental insurance, long-term disability, life insurance, a 9% pension contribution, a continuing education allowance, and, if necessary, a moving allowance. Information about these benefits is found in the “Standards and Plan Offerings for 2023” booklet from the Diocese of Arkansas. The salary range is $50,000-$60,000, depending on credentials and experience.

Vacation: This position comes with two weeks of vacation the first year and three weeks thereafter. There is significant flexibility to accommodate a recital career. Time away for recitals does not count as vacation but must be approved.

Please address applications to Colin MacKnight, Director of Music. Applications should include a letter of inquiry, résumé, and links to unedited recordings of solo organ repertoire sent to colin@trinitylittlerock.org. (Recordings of improvisation, choral conducting, choral accompaniment, and hymn playing are also welcome.) Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Anticipated start date is summer of 2023.