First Reformed Church of Scotia is seeking a Director of Music. Below you will find the required and preferred qualification and list of responsibilities. Please contact pe*******@*****************ia.org with questions or to apply. Applicants must supply a Resume/CV and a cover letter. Yearly Salary $20,000-25,000 (depending on experience). Applications are due by August 1st, 2026.
Qualifications:
- Experience and knowledge in vocal and choral directing and singing ideally in a church setting.
- A bachelor’s degree with a music major or minor is desired, but not required.
- Accomplished vocalist with choral group experience.
- Ability to lead a volunteer choir by interpreting musical scores, coaching vocal technique, and directing performances and desire to bring various genres of music to worship.
- Knowledge of sacred music is desired, but not required.
- Instrumental skills are desired, but not required. Preferred instruments include: organ, piano, and guitar.
Responsibilities:
The Director of Music collaborates with the Pastor, Church Organist and Choir Accompanist to plan music for the congregation’s worship. The responsibilities for this position are as follows:
1. Choir Director
- Direct and select anthems/music for:
Sunday morning services each week, beginning the Sunday after Labor Day in September through Father’s Day in June, at 10:00am for an offertory. Depending on the need and ability of the choir, soloists or instrumentalists may be used to fill the 10:00am offertory during this time. The expectation is that the choir will sing approximately 32-35 Sundays during this time.
Services on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and/or Good Friday, All Saints, and Christmas Eve; funerals 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 salary will be renegotiated with the Consistory through the Personnel Committee.
- Rehearse the choir one weekday evening per week (currently Thursday evenings at 7:00pm to between 8:00pm and 8:30pm, or another day or 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. Rehearsals will include vocal warm-ups, review of hymns, practice of anthems for the upcoming weeks and any pertinent communication.
- Warm up and rehearse the choir prior to 10:00am every Sunday they are performing beginning between 9:15am and 9:30am.
- Communicate regularly with the choir by various means, providing links to anthem recordings, when able, and information about any upcoming rehearsals or services.
- Regularly consult with the Pastor, Organist and Accompanist about anthem selection and other music to support congregational worship.
- Select diverse anthems/music that utilizes and highlights the skills of the choir, welcomes input from the choir and congregation, as well as seeks to include the choir and congregation’s instrumental musicians.
2. Music Coordinator
- Organize the Extended Christmas Eve Prelude
This extended prelude is approximately 30 minutes of music before our main Christmas Eve Service. This service is composed of solo or group vocalists and/or instrumentalists from the membership and friends of the church. The choir may also sing during this time.
- Organize the Summer Music Program
Identify and recruit musicians from the membership and friends of the church to perform for every offertory at the 10:00am worship service from the 4th Sunday of June through the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.
3. Other Responsibilities
- Attend Worship Council meetings.
- Recruit new choir members and instrumentalists.
- Utilize our expansive music library as frequently as possible and keep it organized.
- Purchase needed music as necessary and keep records of all expenses.
- Ensure copyright compliance for all offertory music at the 10am worship service.
- Submit weekly copyright information and other bulletin notes to the church office for publication in a timely manner (no later than Thursday morning).
- Assist the Worship Council in preparing the annual music budget.
Hours and Compensation:
- The Director of Music is a salaried position based on approximately 10 hours a week for 42 weeks a year. Salary will be based on experience.
- The Director of Music will have leave time the week between Christmas and New Years as well as the months of July and August.
- Paid Time Off will be negotiated.
- The Director of Music will be responsible for securing their own substitute, when and if necessary.