Director of Music (Connecticut)

About the Parish 

Christ & Holy Trinity is a vibrant downtown congregation with a longstanding tradition of musical and liturgical excellence.  We are situated in the town of Westport, Connecticut, an arts community located in coastal Fairfield County that is an hour by train from New York City.  We are a warm, inclusive and increasingly diverse parish, with a genuine desire to deepen our communion with God and the world we are called to love and serve.  Music has always been one of the ways we have meaningfully connected with our neighbors through inspiring liturgical worship (9:30 a.m., 5 p.m. contemporary, occasional Evensong), Lessons and Carols and our Music & Arts series.

 

About the Program

We seek a Director of Music who brings a love for our Anglican musical traditions and an openness to explore and expand a vision for music ministry in the 21st Century.  We have a graded chorister program, ranging from age 4 to 18 and an active adult choir with four paid section leaders.  Our dedicated choir wing was completed in 2010 and teems with life all week long. Our 1860 nave, along with several stained glass windows, was fully restored in 2019. Our 32-rank 1933 Möller organ has recently undergone a $650,000 restoration by Thompson Allen Co. in New Haven.  There are two grand pianos and one upright on campus.. 

 

Main Responsibilities

• Shape a dynamic and joyful vision for music in collaboration with rector and parish leaders.

• Together with the clergy, plan liturgical music for Sundays and other feasts.

• Lead congregational and choral music at our principal liturgy at 9:30 a.m.,  as well as the great liturgical feasts that occur throughout the year.

• Inspire, lead and develop our devoted parish choir and chorister program. 

• Encourage parish musicians to share their talents in music making at the liturgies.

• Oversee music planning and performance for our 5pm contemplative service.

• Serve as artistic director of our Music & Arts series, which includes concerts by world renowned choral ensembles, as well as family-friendly musical events.

• Accompany a brief weekly chapel service at Christ & Holy Trinity Preschool, a key feeder to our chorister program.  

 

Qualifications, Gifts and Expectations

 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Music at minimum, and be an accomplished organist and pianist.

• Direct, nurture and strengthen our adult choir and youth choristers programs.

• Uphold a standard of musical excellence while maintaining a positive and encouraging environment that will inspire choir members, young and old. 

• Have fluency with traditional Anglican and classical organ/choral works, as well as a willingness to explore and execute a range of musical genres. 

• Have a familiarity with Episcopal liturgy.

• Collaborate with our lay Music & Arts team to organize concerts and other music events throughout the year. 

 

The Opportunity and our Process

This is a full-time salaried position with competitive compensation commensurate with experience. 

 

• Submit application to The Rev. John Betit, Rector at office@chtwestport.org.

• Include a brief resume of your career and educational qualification.

• Include a brief cover letter that highlights some of your achievements, what you hope to bring to our parish and why you believe you are a good fit.

• Please include links to recordings or videos as available to demonstrate your talents and  those of any choirs you lead.

• Based on the material that you send us, we will select a number of candidates to interview  by video conference. Finalists will be invited to meet with us in person in early spring.

• An official start date will mutually be agreed upon between the new Director of Music and the Rector. It is our hope that the successful candidate will start during the summer of 2024.

 

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis through March 15th. 

 

Benefits include: all standard health and dental, pension and 403B, vacation, and continuing education for full-time employees. 

 

Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church

55 Myrtle Avenue

Westport, Connecticut 06880

www.chtwestport.org

 

Link to the full position description