Employment Opportunities

SANCTUARY CHOIR DIRECTOR

Qualifications:

Degree in Music or the equivalent experience directing a choir in a liturgical setting.

Responsibilities:

The Sanctuary Choir Director works closely with the Pastor and Church Organist as a worship leadership team to plan musical support for the congregation’s worship services. 

The primary job of the Sanctuary Choir Director is to provide musical leadership, direction, and music education for the Sanctuary Choir. The Choir leads the musical portions of the worship liturgy, along with the Church Organist. The Choir Director’s responsibilities include selection and direction of anthems for the Sanctuary Choir of adults and high school students to support the liturgy for: Sunday morning services September through June; Services on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Thanksgiving Eve, and Christmas Eve; and other services authorized by the Worship Council.  If an occasional or new service becomes a continuing part of the worship of the church, the Sanctuary Choir Director’s salary will be renegotiated. The Sanctuary Choir Director will regularly select anthems that will seek ways to include the congregation’s other instrumental musicians.

The Sanctuary Choir Director will regularly consult with the Pastor and with the Church Organist about anthem selection and other music to support congregational Worship. Weekly bulletin notes will be sent to the church office for publication in a timely manner. A Google Classroom or other electronic platform will be maintained by the Sanctuary Choir Director for the purpose of communication with the choir on an ongoing basis.

The Sanctuary Choir Director will rehearse the Sanctuary Choir one weekday evening per week (currently Thursday, or another time if determined by the choir to be more appropriate), September through June, and on Sunday morning to prepare anthems as well as to enable the choir to lead congregational hymns and responses. The Sanctuary Choir Director will arrive at least 15 minutes before the rehearsals and provide a designated time for office hours as well. Rehearsals will include vocal warm-ups, review of hymns, and practice of anthems for the upcoming weeks.

In addition to the above, the Sanctuary Choir Director will, with the help of the choir and the worship leadership team,  identify musicians in the congregation, and seek ways to include them in the church’s life and worship. Recruit and support volunteers in the Sanctuary Choir, and assist others as musical needs or new opportunities arrive.  This includes organizing our summer music program.

Finally, in collaboration with the Worship Council, the Sanctuary Choir Director will prepare a music budget for the musical needs of the choir (purchase of music, and in cooperation with the Church Organist propose an instrument maintenance budget, plan and supervise a piano tuning schedule, an organ voicing and maintenance schedule, Choir robe cleaning and repairs, etc.)

Availability and Vacation:

The Sanctuary Choir Director position is based upon a “task-to-be-accomplished” criteria, 

without specified hours. We expect that there will be seasonal variation in the weekly hours required.

The Sanctuary Choir Director  is granted six (6) Sundays of vacation each year, scheduled with the approval of the Pastor. Except under exceptional circumstances, vacation will not be granted during Advent, on Christmas Eve, on Palm Sunday, or on Easter. The Sanctuary Choir Director  will arrange for a substitute Sanctuary Choir Director, if necessary, for each of these vacation Sundays.

Accountability and Review:

The Sanctuary Choir Director serves under the supervision of the Pastor and will be reviewed annually according to the church’s personnel policy. 

To Inquire and/or Apply please contact Vicki Hayner at: churchmanager@firstreformedscotia.org.

  • Applicants should provide a resume and 3 References
  • Applicants should be prepared to interview and may possibly be asked to lead a demonstration rehearsal with members of the FRCS Sanctuary Choir