Chapel Musician and Lecturer in Church Music, Church Divinity School of the Pacific; Associate for Music, All Souls Parish (Berkeley, CA)

Serving both Church Divinity School of the Pacific and All Souls Episcopal Parish (located half a mile apart, north of the campus of the University of California, Berkeley), this musician will lead both communities in making music that draws from our inheritance and welcomes new forms and expressions. We seek an inspired, passionate, pastoral musician able to foster creative musical expression (including congregational song and choral and instrumental music), while facilitating and valuing an inclusive worship environment. The Chapel Musician & Lecturer in Church Music for CDSP is a two-year position with an option for renewal. The position will begin August 1, 2022 and conclude June 30, 2024. The Chapel Musician & Lecturer in Church Music for CDSP position may be extended by mutual agreement.

Music is essential to worship and life at All Souls Parish, reflecting diverse experiences of God and each other. All Souls practices a liturgy with a wide range of musical offerings, with repertoire including centuries of Christian practice. The congregation may sing chants from the Roman (Gregorian), Orthodox, and Taizé traditions; hymns from 16th-century Germany, 19th-century England, and 21st century America; and folk spirituals from Appalachia along with African-American spirituals and Gospel music, all within a single service.  All Souls Parish is a highly inclusive, fun-loving and cerebral crowd united in a commitment to social justice. The successful candidate will get to work with a gifted, brilliant and inspiring clergy and lay team who value the contributions of the parish musician, and a core group of musicians who are talented, dedicated, creative and hungry for guidance and growth. The parish has a huge library of printed music and bulletin archives, and provides a private office for the musician.

Like All Souls Parish, CDSP incorporates a breadth of musical offerings.  The Chapel Musician and Lecturer in Church Music, a member of the CDSP faculty, will further the seminary’s commitment to forming lay and ordained leaders for outward-facing ministry in culturally diverse contexts and in a changing church and world. The successful candidate should have a deep and growing knowledge of current issues in liturgical musicology as they pertain to culture, race, ability, class, and the dynamics of power and privilege. At CDSP, the chapel program is both the locus for worship and an opportunity for education, reflection and practice for future liturgical leaders. With the Director of Chapel, the Chapel Musician establishes the tone for worship through a climate of hospitality and welcome for students who are learning and for all who worship in the chapel. Through teaching and worship, the musician introduces students to the full range of music resources in the Episcopal Church and expands the repertoire beyond those resources.

Compensation will be negotiated, but will include a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment at the new Jordan Court complex completed in January 2022, directly adjacent to All Souls.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: ALL SOULS

• Assist the clergy staff with preparation of liturgy.
• Select music for Sunday services and other church happenings in consultation with other music leaders.
• Assist in the preparation of bulletin (providing song references, lyrics, and/or notational graphics).
• Overall direction of the music program including:
• Play and conduct as needed each Sunday at 9am and 11:15am services, weddings, funerals, and holy days such as Christmas, the Triduum, and Easter.
• Direct the Parish Choir and Angel Band and lead weekly practices, Wednesdays, 7-8:30 pm
• Act as partner musically with the Sunday Night Service, Sundays at 5pm
• Play an active role in weekly staff meeting.
• Project manage, track and schedule:
• Database of interested volunteer musicians
• Songs / works to be performed ‘ad hoc’ or ensemble style – manage rehearsals and scheduling these efforts into services
• Database and relationships with regular paid musicians (e.g. trumpeter, professional soprano and bass)
• Order new music and procure copyrights as needed
• Inspire and recruit singers and instrumentalists to join us; improvise musically with others.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: CDSP

• Be present and provide music accompaniment for three services each week during the fall and spring semesters, currently scheduled as follows:
  • Tuesday, 8:30 am, Eucharist
  • Tuesday, 5:30 pm, Evening Prayer
  • Thursday, 5:45 pm, Eucharist
• Be present and provide music accompaniment for one or two services daily during the two weeks of January intersession and June intensive, as scheduled with the Director of Chapel.
• Guide music planning for all services with music accompaniment, working closely with the Director of Chapel and with student officiants for Evening Prayer, preachers at Tuesday Eucharist, and the worship planning team for Thursday Eucharist, and with student officiants and preachers for January and June intensives.
• During the fall and spring semester, participate in weekly planning sessions for Thursday Eucharist.
• During fall and spring semester, recruit and build participation in musical and liturgical performance from the broader CDSP community, direct the seminary Schola, including planning special music for Thursday Eucharist and leading rehearsals.
• Provide feedback for student officiants at Evening Prayer, and coach students in leading sung offices.
• Plan and lead music for Commencement, including hiring guest musicians in accord with budget for the event.
• Teach an elective course on church music during the fall semester.
• Participate in all faculty meetings and conferences.
• Serve on the Worship Committees for the residential and low-residence programs.

Shared Faculty Commitments

• With faculty colleagues, assess and make recommendations about students’ readiness and suitability for ordination.
• Collaborate on curriculum development and assessment.
• Collaborate in creating hospitable classroom and community environments in which difference, inclusivity, and racial diversity are valued.
• Collaborate in equipping students to lead in the work of racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in traditional and new ministry contexts.
• Collaborate in further developing intercultural pedagogy and curricula.
• Serve on faculty committees and assume other responsibilities and special projects as required.
• Perform all duties in a manner that promotes CDSP’s mission and core values.
• Adhere to confidentiality rules and all other CDSP policies, procedures, and rules.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Competent and experienced choral director, organist and pianist, and gifted accompanist
• Ability to foster a creative and respectful environment that encourages participation and builds both musicians and the program
• Highly proficient in reading music and writing musical notation
• Familiarity with Finale, Sibelius or other notation software a plus
• Inspired and passionate about growing a church music program
• Openness to collaboration with other musicians and singers in arranging music
• Christian commitment and practice
• Commitment to the academic and ministerial formation of students
• Strong commitment to the shared work of fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in a largely white institutional space
• Strong pastoral, administrative, and collegial skills
• Knowledge of a wide variety of musical cultures and styles

REQUIRED AND PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND CREDENTIALS

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant discipline such as musicology, sacred music, ethnomusicology, composition, organ performance, choral conducting, music theory, music history.
• Experience in directing music in a wide range of musical styles
• Experience managing a music program at a liturgical church (preferably Episcopal)

APPLICATION

To apply, submit a cover letter, CV, names and contact information for three references to Deirdre Nurre, Search Co-Chair at deirdre.nurre@gmail.com.

Review of applications will begin March 14 and will continue until the position is filled.