Director of Music/Organist (Medford, MA)

Date Posted: 
March 4, 2020
Organization Name: 
The First Baptist Church of Medford
Salary Range: 
$22,000
Job Description: 

The First Baptist Church of Medford seeks a Director of Music to lead the congregation in its sacred worship from the organ and to collaborate with the minister to promote an integrated, holistic, and engaged music ministry for the sake of the church and the wider Medford community.

The First Baptist Church of Medfordis a warm, open, and inclusive multi-generational congregation. Our worship services are formal, filled with beautiful music, and conducted according to the rich New England Protestant tradition. Our strength and vitality spring from our love of God and our rich diversity of people and opinions.

The Sunday morning worship service is the heart and soul of the First Baptist community. Each Sunday is a celebration of our shared faith in God and of the power of Love to transform our lives and the world. Our services follow a pattern of worship centuries old, filled with glorious music led by our magnificent organ and our choir, as well as a feast of readings from Holy Scripture, time for common prayer, a reflection for children, and a sermon.

Summary
The Director of Music serves both as organist and choir director. The position requires 8-10 hours a week (or roughly 1/4 time). 

The duties include:
+ Sunday services, 10:45 during the program year and 9:30 during the Summer
+ Thursday evening and Sunday morning choir rehearsals, September to first Sunday in June 
+ Special services on Xmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and May "Spring Fling”
+ Choosing choral literature with the help of the Director of the Choral Fellows and Scholars Program
+Organizing soloists/ensembles for summer services
+ Leading an informal, pick-up youth choir on select Sundays after service

The Order of Service is very formal for “Baptist” tradition. There is a prelude, interlude, and postlude on the organ, as well as a choral/vocal anthem and a choral or organ offertory in each service. Communion is observed once a month.

The choir consists of about 6 volunteer members, whose efforts are enhanced by the Choral Fellows and Scholars Program. This innovative initiative includes three professional level soloists (two Fellows and a Director), and four Scholars, who are receiving private voice lessons from the Fellows. 

Funding for this experimental program comes for a generous grant from a para-church organization, The Boston Baptist Social Union. For the 2020-2021 Season, we have applied for funding to expand the program to include three Fellows and six Scholars. 

There is a small budget available for additional instrumentalists at Easter, and the acquisition of new choral literature. The choir library is quite extensive, well organized, and maintained by the Director of the Choral Fellows and Scholars Program. 

It would be ideal if the next Director of Music would also take an interest in and take on certain leadership aspects of the Concerts @ First Baptist Church series. This program has been active for three years, and includes roughly 10 events per year. www.firstbaptistchurchmedford.org/concerts

Compensation and Benefits
The compensation is $22,000 per year, and includes 4 Sundays away from duties to be arranged with the Minister in advance. Assuming successful performance reviews, the church will make every effort to provide for an annual COLA of 2%. 

Compensation may be appropriated however the successful candidate wishes—as salary, health insurance, retirement, housing (if clergy), or the like. 

The Director of Music will be given right of first refusal for all funerals, weddings, and other services conducted in the First Baptist Church.

The organ and piano can be available for private teaching and concertizing.

Instruments
The organ is the 1913 Estey opus 1191 (II/17), moved from its original location in Braintree in 1936. It was rebuilt and enlarged electronically by Dick Pelland in 1992. The effect of the expansion is of a much larger “French style” instrument. 

The piano in the sanctuary is a completely rebuilt 1917 Baldwin D, 9’ concert grand. The instrument was acquired by the church in 2015, and is the centerpiece of the Concerts @ First Baptist Series.

The 1947 Schulmerich Carillonic Bells were dedicated in memory of the 13 men and 1 woman from the church who died serving in WWII. This 25 note instrument—G to gg—is played from the organ console, and may be controlled to sound in the sanctuary, in the neighborhood, or both.

All instruments are regularly maintained by experienced technicians.

Audition Process and Schedule
Beginning immediately, interested individuals should send a resume and informal letter of inquiry to Dr. Rasure, at minister@firstbaptistchurchmedford.org. An interview over the phone or (preferably) in person in Medford will be scheduled as soon as possible (20 minutes).

Viable candidates will then be invited to an audition interview with the Search Committee (45 minutes).

The top three candidates will be granted an audition with the choir on a Thursday evening at 7:30, ideally in April or early May (1 hour).