Cantor (Minneapolis, MN)

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Director of Adult Choirs and Organist/Pianist

2730 East 31st Street • Minneapolis, MN 55406

612.729.8358 • www.htlcmpls.org

The Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Community

Holy Trinity is a healthy, vibrant, financially stable, growing, COVID-conscious, urban faith community in the Longfellow neighborhood of South Minneapolis. We are nurtured for our life and ministry together through participatory worship, meaningful music, prophetic preaching, and varied educational and relational opportunities. In turn, these provide motivation and energy for neighborhood and global involvement through which God’s grace is proclaimed, God’s forgiveness is extended, and God’s justice is sought. While we are firmly rooted in Lutheran liturgical traditions, we strive to honor a variety of artistic and musical expressions in our worship services.

Music Program Overview

Our regular music ensembles include a 25-35 member Adult Choir that leads worship weekly; a smaller Trinity Singers choral group that sings once a month in worship; a children’s choir; a youth ensemble; and a hand bell choir. We also frequently include member and non-member guest musicians. Our worship space contains a 22-rank Casavant organ and a 6’3” Baldwin grand piano.

Position(s) Summary

Position One: Director of Adult Choirs

This is a 3/8-time (15 hours per week) position that will function as part of a team of musicians, rostered leaders, and lay people responsible for Holy Trinity’s music program and worship life. The Director of Adult Choirs will be responsible for the Adult Choir and the Trinity Singers during the academic year and a monthly Pop-Up Choir during the summer.

Essential Functions

1. Direct Adult Choir, selecting anthems, rehearsing, and singing weekly during the academic year; once monthly during the summer months; and selected other special services (e.g., Ash Wednesday, Good Friday.)
2. Direct Trinity Singers, selecting anthems and rehearsing 1-2 times monthly. Facilitate the choir’s participation in worship on a monthly basis at the 8:45 a.m. worship service during the academic year and at selected other special services (e.g., Easter Vigil).
3. Participate in twice-monthly worship planning meetings and quarterly seasonal worship planning retreats with rostered leaders and staff musicians.
4. Recruit and orient new members for the adult choral groups.
5. Purchase choral music on a regular basis and manage the music library, in consultation with the Director of Children's and Youth Music and Handbells and church volunteers.
6. Coordinate robes and folders for members of choirs, in consultation with church volunteers.
7. Act as an educational and program resource for the congregation (e.g., occasional newsletter articles, adult forums, Worship and Fine Arts Committee, social events).
8. Engage in activities to build intercultural competency.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrated skills as a musician and experience in musical leadership. Degree in choral conducting or sacred music preferred.
• Appreciation for the choir’s role in an integrated worship experience.
• Strong commitment to the Christian faith and to the mission of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church; demonstrates a personal conviction to seek peace and justice.
• Knowledge and experience with Lutheran music and worship traditions and an openness to a variety of spiritual expressions and understandings.
• Familiarity with a broad repertoire of sacred choral music.
• Ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment for worship design.
• Ability to lead joyful, organized choir rehearsals.
• Willingness to listen, learn, adapt, take risks, and explore.
• Effective interpersonal and written communication skills.

Reporting Relationship

The Director of Adult Choirs reports to the Lead Pastor and will also work closely with all rostered leaders, Director of Children's and Youth Music and Handbells, other staff members, Church Council, and members of the congregation. 

Compensation

Position Two: Organist/Pianist

This is a 1/2-time (20 hours per week) position that will function as part of a team of musicians, rostered leaders, and lay people responsible for Holy Trinity’s music program and worship life. Along with keyboard leadership for Sunday morning worship services and other special services throughout the year, the Organist/Pianist will accompany the Adult Choir and Trinity Singers during the academic year.

Essential Functions

1. Lead the congregation’s song at all regularly scheduled Sunday services, Advent and Lent Wednesday evening services, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, and at other occasional events and services.
2. Lead selection of liturgy settings, hymns, and psalm settings; make these bulletin resources available in a timely fashion; report all copyrighted elements used in worship to OneLicense.
3. Schedule and prepare vocalists and instrumentalists to regularly participate in worship and arrange for guest musicians.
4. Participate in weekly worship planning meetings and quarterly seasonal worship planning retreats with rostered leaders and staff musicians.
5. Accompany rehearsals of the Adult Choir and Trinity Singers.
6. Provide music as requested for occasional events and services, including weddings and funerals, or make arrangements for a substitute.
7. Oversee organ and piano maintenance, in consultation with the Director of Children's and Youth Music and Handbells.
8. Act as an educational and program resource for the congregation (e.g., occasional newsletter articles, adult forums, Worship and Fine Arts Committee, social events).
9. Engage in activities to build intercultural competency.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrated skills as a musician and experience in musical leadership. Degree in organ performance or sacred music preferred.
• Appreciation for corporate singing and for music’s role in an integrated worship experience.
• Strong commitment to the Christian faith and to the mission of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church; demonstrates a personal conviction to seek peace and justice.
• Knowledge and experience with Lutheran music and worship traditions and an openness to a variety of spiritual expressions and understandings.
• Familiarity with a broad repertoire of sacred music.
• Ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment for worship design.
• Comfort and experience with technology to create visuals and bulletins (e.g., Word, Finale), to use web-based worship preparation (e.g., Dropbox), and to support the congregation as we further online worship opportunities.
• Willingness to listen, learn, adapt, take risks, and explore.
• Effective interpersonal and written communication skills.

Reporting Relationship

The Organist/Pianist reports to the Lead Pastor and will also work closely with all rostered leaders, Director of Children's and Youth Music and Handbells, other staff members, Church Council, and members of the congregation. 

Compensation

Position Three: Cantor

This is a 3/4 time (30 hours per week) position that combines the Director of Adult Choirs and Organist/Pianist positions under the title of Cantor. The Cantor will function as part of a team of musicians, rostered leaders, and lay people responsible for Holy Trinity’s music program and worship life. Along with providing leadership for the congregation’s song in worship, the Cantor will be responsible for the Adult Choir and the Trinity Singers during the academic year and a monthly Pop-Up Choir during the summer.

Essential Functions

1. Lead the congregation’s song at all regularly scheduled Sunday services, Advent and Lent Wednesday evening services, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, and at other occasional events and services.
2. Lead selection of liturgy settings, hymns, and psalm settings; make these bulletin resources available in a timely fashion; report all copyrighted elements used in worship to OneLicense.
3. Direct Adult Choir, selecting anthems, rehearsing, and singing weekly during the academic year; once monthly during the summer months; and selected other special services (e.g., Ash Wednesday, Good Friday.)
4. Direct Trinity Singers, selecting anthems and rehearsing 1-2 times monthly. Facilitate the choir’s participation in worship on a monthly basis at the 8:45 a.m. worship service during the academic year and at selected other special services (e.g., Easter Vigil).
5. Participate in twice-monthly worship planning meetings and quarterly seasonal worship planning retreats with rostered leaders and staff musicians.
6. Schedule and prepare vocalists and instrumentalists to regularly participate in worship and arrange for guest musicians.
7. Purchase music on a regular basis and manage the music library, in consultation with the Director of Children's and Youth Music and Handbells and church volunteers.
8. Coordinate robes and folders for members of choirs, in consultation with church volunteers.
9. Provide music as requested for occasional events and services, including weddings and funerals, or make arrangements for a substitute.
10. Oversee organ and piano maintenance, in consultation with Director of Children's and Youth Music and Handbells.
11. Act as an educational and program resource for the congregation (e.g., occasional newsletter articles, adult forums, Worship and Fine Arts Committee, social events).
12. Engage in activities to build intercultural competency.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Demonstrated skills as a musician and experience in musical leadership. Degree in choral conducting, organ performance, or sacred music preferred.
• Appreciation for music’s role in an integrated worship experience.
• Strong commitment to the Christian faith and to the mission of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church; demonstrates a personal conviction to seek peace and justice.
• Knowledge and experience with Lutheran music and worship traditions and an openness to a variety of spiritual expressions and understandings.
• Familiarity with a broad repertoire of sacred music.
• Ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment for worship design.
• Comfort and experience with technology to create visuals and bulletins (e.g., Word, Finale), to use web-based worship preparation (e.g., Dropbox), and to support the congregation as we further online worship opportunities.
• Ability to lead joyful, organized choir rehearsals.
• Willingness to listen, learn, adapt, take risks, and explore.
• Effective interpersonal and written communication skills.

Reporting Relationship

The Cantor reports to the Lead Pastor and will also work closely with all rostered leaders, Director of Children's and Youth Music and Handbells, other staff members, Church Council, and members of the congregation. 

Compensation

Application Process

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Pastor Ingrid Rasmussen (ingridrasmussen@htlcmpls.org). Review of applications begins in early October. Position is open until filled. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church actively seeks a diverse pool of candidates. People of color and LGBTQIA+ people are encouraged to apply.