St. John’s seeks Organist and Director of Music

Overview

The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist seeks a permanent Organist and Director of Music (DOM hereafter). This will be a half- to three-quarter time position, commencing on July 1, 2025. The DOM will be required to play for our weekly Sunday services as well as special services and festivals, funerals, and weddings throughout the year, as well as taking on essential administrative and other duties. The DOM will also have particular responsibility in rehearsing our dedicated Adult Choir who perform each Sunday, and teaching and inspiring our young Choristers. Indeed, music is considered a vital ministry in our Parish to all ages. St. John’s has entered an exciting new chapter in its life and ministry, with the arrival of their Ninth Rector in July 2024, a growing outreach ministry and active congregation, and a desire to develop a range of new programming, including that in music and the arts. This vibrant and engaged community provides an incredible opportunity for an ambitious, skilled, compassionate, pastoral and collaborative musician, who has particular gifts in empowering congregational choirs and young people.

The Organist and Director of Music (DOM) will have the following duties and responsibilities:

Standard Practices

  1. Provide organ and choral music and direct the choir(s) at the principal Sunday morning service (currently held at 10:00 am) and select appropriate hymns, organ, and choral music for each service.

  2. Provide organ and choral music for the following additional services during the year including but not limited to Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Easter Day, seasonal Evensongs, and Advent Lessons and Carols.

  3. Have responsibility for the leadership of the following choirs: Adult Choir and Children’s/Youth choir (Choristers).

  4. During the Choir Year, rehearse weekly with each of the choirs. Choristers traditionally rehearse on Tuesday afternoons, and Adults on Thursday evenings. There is also a rehearsal for the Adult Choir (and Choristers, when appropriate) during the hour prior to the Sunday Eucharist. The Choir Year shall be from the Sunday after Labor Day through (generally) the second Sunday in June. During the summer months (which shall be the Sundays outside of the Choir Year), the DOM will rehearse any members of the choir prior to the principal Sunday service.

  5. The DOM should be present on campus during the week for individual practice time, as needed, as well as for any necessary administrative activities alongside rehearsals and services.

Administration

  1. Cooperate with the Rector in general planning and leadership of the Parish’s music program. The DOM will report directly to the Rector.

  2. Be responsible for the purchase of all necessary music and music supplies and the recruitment of instrumental and vocal soloists. Expenditures in this area shall not exceed the amount provided in the church budget.

  3. Report to the Rector the condition and needs for the maintenance of the organ and piano. Arrange for regular maintenance of the organ and piano.

  4. Proofread the weekly bulletin and provide or arrange for music that needs to be printed in the bulletin (psalms/hymns/service music), in collaboration with the volunteer Choir Librarian.

  5. Regularly communicate with constituencies of involvement (choir/choir parents) via electronic media and other means as appropriate.

  6. Manage recruitment and dismissal of section leaders as appropriate; evaluate performance of section leaders.

  7. Oversee and implement Choir section leader payroll, in collaboration with the Accountant and Parish Administrator.

  8. Implement One License reporting for copyright and streaming permission.

  9. The DOM will comply with the diocesan and Parish Safe Church policies. This position is contingent upon a successful CORI search conducted by the Parish.

Pastoral and Occasional Offices

  1. The DOM shall perform at all weddings requiring organ music held in the church, which they shall be compensated for in addition to their regular salary. If another musician is requested to play in lieu of the DOM permission by the DOM should not be unreasonably withheld and the DOM shall be entitled to their regular fee. Extra remuneration for additional rehearsals with instrumentalists or soloists (paid for by the couple) may be required. The amount of any such “extra remuneration” shall be as mutually agreed by the DOM and the couple, after consultation with the Rector.

  2. The DOM, if available, shall provide music for funeral and memorial services held within the church, which they shall be compensated for in addition to their regular salary. If the family requests another musician to play in lieu of the DOM permission by the DOM should not be unreasonably withheld and the DOM shall be entitled to their regular fee. Extra remuneration for additional rehearsals with instrumentalists or soloists (paid for by the family of the deceased) may be required. The amount of any such “extra remuneration” shall be as mutually agreed by the DOM and the family of the deceased, after consultation with the Rector.

Essential Qualifications

  1. A bachelor’s degree in organ, sacred music, music education, or equivalent.

  2. Competence and comfort in choral conducting while playing the organ.

  3. A love of music as a means of ministry, with a heart for leading congregational singing and encouraging parish musicianship among both older and younger generations.

  4. Experience in liturgical worship.

  5. Self-organization, a sense of humor, flexibility, and the ability to work collegially with clergy and a worship and music committee.

Application Information

All interested applicants are invited to submit the following application materials:

  1. A cover letter outlining one’s interest in the position, addressed to the Rev. Edward Thornley, Rector.

  2. A full CV or resume.

  3. Online links to a selection of performance examples.

Please send application materials in PDF form via email to: office@stjohns-hingham.org

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. A first round of interviews is anticipated by late April.