St. Stephen Presbyterian Church
Interim Choir Director & Organist
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Summary
St. Stephen Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, TX is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and has a cathedral like sanctuary with excellent acoustics. The sanctuary houses a large four manual organ of 78 ranks (restored and rebuilt 1993, Garland Pipe Organs), a Bosendorfer Concert Grand Piano (“Imperial” model—full 8-octave range), and a peal of five bells (Eijsbouts, Ltd., Bell Founders) in the Tower. Music is an integral part of the worship experience, evoking majesty, wonder and awe. The parish has a long tradition of excellence in music coupled with an intellectual, liturgy based worship style while incorporating a wide, eclectic mix of music.
The Interim Choir Director/Organist serves as the principal musician of the church, providing leadership, management and coordination of the music ministry program for St. Stephen.
Accountability
The Interim Choir Director/Organist is employed by the Session and works under the supervision of the Pastor and the Worship Committee. This position requires some flexibility in hours available for work, including evenings and weekends. The position is a part time, year round, salaried position. The hours required during any given week are those needed to fulfill the responsibilities of the position and may vary at different times of the year but are approximately 20–25 hours per week.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Play Sunday services (8:30 and 11:00 a.m.) and all additional services during the liturgical year. Be available for Sunday traditional services, choir rehearsals, special services, including but not limited to: Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday
• Rehearse and direct the adult choir (Thursday evening rehearsals, Sunday mornings, and at other times as needed.
• Plan all music (choral & instrumental), which is part of regular worship services, and plan for performance of that music by the choir, a soloist or organ. Plan liturgical responses; plan hymns (in consultation with preaching minister)
• Select hymns and service music for congregational singing
• Select anthems for the Choir for regular and special services
• Practice to prepare hymns and service music as appropriate
• Arrange for substitutes, (when necessary)
• Purchase necessary music (within budget allotment)
• Work with volunteers to catalog and file music and prepare music for choir distribution
• Submit necessary information for bulletins in a timely fashion as required by the church office
• Oversee tuning and maintenance of the organ and piano within the structure of the approved budget
• Provide proper notice to the church office if unable to be at scheduled practices, services or events
• Serve as accompanist or delegate responsibilities to contract organist as necessary
• For all choir rehearsals and Sunday services
• For weddings and funerals
• Communicate with choirs and communicants
• Communicate schedules to members of choirs
• Communicate dates of special performances to congregation and general public utilizing: letter mail, e-mail, web site, Facebook, brochures and newspaper as appropriate
Other Responsibilities and Expectations
• Attend weekly staff meetings or make arrangements to meet on a regular basis with Pastor, Director of Christian Education and Parish Associate
• Attend Worship Committee meetings
• Communicate, as needed, with congregation
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in music required (Master’s degree is strongly preferred; must demonstrate outstanding proficiency in organ and piano playing; playing of service music; and choral direction. Minimum of five years of experience in a church choir director/organist position. Strong interpersonal skills are required to interact with co-workers and volunteers in a humble, respectful, and pastoral manner. Excellent organizational and record-keeping skills required.
Salary and Terms
Organist salary will be based on AGO guidelines and additional Choir Director compensation will be negotiable based on education and experience. TAFB (time away from bench) is negotiable but should be cleared in advance with the Pastor. Responsible for engaging a suitable substitute organist/choir director when absent. Interim Choir Director/Organist is given right of first refusal for weddings and funerals, for which there is additional compensation.
Use of facilities for private teaching may be scheduled, but may not conflict with church duties or scheduled use of parish buildings.
The Interim Choir Director/Organist shall give sixty days advance notice to terminate employment.
The Interim Choir Director/Organist is welcome to apply for the permanent Choir Director/Organist position when it becomes available.
How to Apply
Please visit http://f89.5d0.myftpupload.com to learn more about the church.
Send the following materials by email to: The Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch at search@ststephenpcusa.com or deliver to church office at 2700 McPherson Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76109
• Letter of interest
• Résumé
• Contact information, including a phone number and email address (which will remain
confidential)
• Three personal references (not related) and two individuals with first-hand observation of the applicant in the context of working in a music environment
Apply by December 1, 2014
We will acknowledge receipt of completed applications immediately and accept them until the Interim position is filled. We will initially communicate with applicants by email. We will make every effort to respect the confidentiality of all candidates and will only call references later in the process and with a candidate’s permission.