Organist / Choirmaster (Part-Time)
Employer Profile
The Church of Our Saviour is an Episcopal parish located in Virginia Highland and living into the Anglo-Catholic tradition. The parish has an enrolled membership of about 120 and an average Sunday attendance of 50 to 80. The parish serves the community by providing a home for multiple 12-step program meetings five days a week and ministering to the poor and those in
need.
Job Description
The parish is seeking a part-time organist/choirmaster to further its rich and established music program. The organist/choirmaster serves at the pleasure of the rector and is the central figure ensuring the quality, substance, and appropriateness of the music that is an integral part of the parish’s liturgy. The vision of the parish includes maintaining strong Anglo-Catholic and classical
service music traditions while recognizing opportunities to develop new music programs for both the parish and the Virginia Highland community. The candidate for this position should demonstrate experience in working under supervision of a rector and supervising a choir; have proven experience in choral directing and organ performance; and, preferably, experience in the
Anglo-Catholic musical tradition.
Professional Qualifications
Education • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
Experience • Choral directing and development of choral sound and musicianship
• Organ performance and experience with the Anglo-Catholic musical tradition preferred
• Good interpersonal skills dealing with both professional/paid and volunteer singers
Required Skills • Spiritual leadership for choir members of all ages, creating an environment where musical training and preparation become a part of maintaining and further building a solid foundation of faith for participants
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work and interact well with children, youth, staff, parents, volunteers, and parishioners
• A strong commitment to excellence
• Team-player with a “can do” yet flexible attitude
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills
Duties • Provide organ, choral, or other music at all principal services of the church,
including:
– Sunday Choral Eucharist services
– Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Epiphany services
– Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Holy Week services
– Services on other Feast Days as determined by the rector
– Occasional Services of Evensong, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
– Advent Lessons & Carols
– Weddings and funerals (with additional compensation available)
– Other major events, such as ordinations or celebrations
• Develop the strength of the St. Gregory Choir, its musical ability and sense of community and mission by:
– Holding a weekly rehearsal of the choir, with other rehearsals as necessary
– Further developing the Anglican choral sound and technique
– Further developing a vision for the choir’s ministry
• Identify, encourage, and utilize volunteer musical talent within the parish
• Select organ, choral, hymns, and service music for all services in consultation with the rector; provide details for preparation of service bulletins
• Secure substitute musicians during absence of the Organist/Choirmaster
• Prepare an annual budget reflecting music program requirements, for submission to the Treasurer
• With volunteers and as-available secretarial support:
– Manage the music library
– Ensure the parish maintains licenses as necessary for performance or reprinting
– Select and purchase music within budgetary parameters
– Communicate information within the choir
• The organist/choirmaster is a regular member of staff and is expected to:
– Participate in liturgical planning meetings and other meetings
– Fulfill all necessary diocesan required training (as identified)
– Write for the parish’s annual report as requested
Salary is budgeted at $25,500, dependent upon education, experience, and other factors.
For more information or to apply, please contact:
The Reverend Melanie Rowell, Rector
The Church of Our Saviour
1068 N Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
404-872-4169
rector@coosatl.org
[Posted 16 MAR 2023]