Director of Music (Hershey, PA)
Director of Music
DERRY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Position Description
Title: Director of Music Issue Date: February 21, 2019
Reports To: Pastor (Head of Staff) FLSA Status: FT Exempt
GENERAL SUMMARY
The Director of Music (DOM) leads the music ministry at Derry by administering and producing all aspects of music for the church. This includes recruitment, training, and leading a varied ministry of music for the congregation in harmony with the church's mission statement. The DOM plans, produces, and provides music ministry programs that create community, educate, and give glory to God.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
· Fosters and creates communication and community within the music ministry of Derry and a philosophy of music in the service of worship.
· Schedules and provides for music at all services of worship in collaboration with pastors, volunteer directors, musicians, and the Worship and Spiritual Life Committee.
· Directs and rehearses various choirs; trains choirs in appropriate techniques and appreciation of diverse music for worship.
· Collaborates, oversees and supports volunteer directors with resources, encouragement, and communications to ensure all ensembles and choirs and leadership.
· Leads efforts to recruit new choir members.
· Develops new choirs and ensembles when such needs and opportunities present themselves to enhance the ministry.
· Selects appropriate instrumental, choral music, and other service music for the
8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship services in consultation with the preaching Pastor based on worship themes and Scriptures. The preaching pastor selects hymns in consultation with the DOM.
· Assists the congregation in expanding its singing ability and worship music repertoire and appreciation.
· Provides music for member funerals and memorial services and works with pastors and families in the selection of appropriate music for weddings, funerals, and memorial services.
· Works with pastors to provide musical direction and leadership for Engage worship (quarterly Saturday night experiential and creative worship) services by working with volunteer musicians.
· Works with Vacation Bible School leadership to provide music at VBS.
· Organizes and supervises maintenance of the music library.
· Communicates effectively to music ministry participants about schedules, expectations and needs.
· Attends staff meetings.
· Acts as staff liaison to Worship and Spiritual Life Committee of Session and assists with budget and short / long range planning.
· Collaborates with the Worship and Spiritual Life Committee on the annual ministry budget. The DOM, in consultation with the Worship and Spiritual Life Committee, is responsible for the purchase of all music and music-related supplies, the hiring of guest instrumentalists and vocalists, and the purchase and maintenance of the church’s musical instruments
· Assumes administrative responsibilities associated with the music ministry.
· Serves as resource to Arts Alive Committee and Choir Council.
· Searches out and is receptive to the introduction of diverse musical genres, styles, and programming for worship and concerts.
· Provides a missional vision for the music program by scheduling and encouraging our musicians and singers to take the music program out of the building and into the community throughout the year.
· Maintains professional competency by practicing, performing, attending continuing education opportunities, teaching workshops, and/or reading professional journals.
· Attends monthly Session meetings as directed.
RELATIONSHIPS
The DOM reports directly to the Pastor, and through the Pastor, works cooperatively with other members of the staff, the Worship and Spiritual Life Committee, the Choir Council, and choir members, and maintains positive working relationships with members of the congregation.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in music preferred.
- 3-5 years’ experience as a conductor of multiple choirs and ensembles (vocal, instrumental, bells).
SKILLS, ABILITIES, COMPETENCIES
- Proficiency in piano and/or organ.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal and team building skills.
- Ability to read music, sing and play with accurate pitch and rhythm.
- Knowledge of appropriate church music (classical, contemporary, folk, gospel) and the role of music in supporting and enhancing worship.
- Knowledge of basic music theory, including transpositions or harmonizing a melody.
- Ability to use music notation software such as Finale or Sibelius to arrange music and parts.
- Ability to direct the choir while playing a keyboard instrument.
- Strategic and inclusive thinking to incorporate music in all church activities and aspects of worship.
- Ability to innovate and bring creativity while maintaining empathy and caring for choir members and staff.
- Strong organizational, planning, scheduling, and execution skills.
BACKGROUND RELATED PREREQUISITES
All employees are required to either produce current documentation or successfully pass the PA Child Abuse History Clearance, PA State Police Criminal Record Check, and FBI Criminal Record Check.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employee will need to sit (at times for extended periods) or stand as needed.
EVALUATIONS
The DOM performance will be reviewed by the Pastor along with input by other stakeholders; i.e., Chair of Worship and Spiritual Life Committee, etc. as needed (annually at minimum).
OTHER DUTIES
This position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of duties, responsibilities, and activities that are required of the employee in this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.