Job Description Director of Choral Music · · 2017-06-12The position of Director of Choral Music...
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1 DIRECTOR OF CHORAL MUSIC ST MARY’S PARISH CHURCH, HADDINGTON The position of Director of Choral Music is part of the ministry of music at St Mary’s, which plays a long-established and central part in the life of the congregation. It is also an important dimension of the congregation’s outreach to the community of Haddington and East Lothian, offering opportunities for children and adults of all ages to participate in high quality music-making in the spectacular setting of one of Scotland’s largest medieval parish churches. St Mary’s Life St Mary’s is a congregation of the Church of Scotland, which is part of the worldwide family of Reformed Christians, including the Presbyterian Church USA, and the United Reformed
Transcript of Job Description Director of Choral Music · · 2017-06-12The position of Director of Choral Music...
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DIRECTOROFCHORALMUSICSTMARY’SPARISHCHURCH,HADDINGTON
ThepositionofDirectorofChoralMusicispartoftheministryofmusicatStMary’s,whichplaysalong-establishedandcentralpartinthelifeofthecongregation.Itisalsoanimportantdimensionofthecongregation’soutreachtothecommunityofHaddingtonandEastLothian,offeringopportunitiesforchildrenandadultsofallagestoparticipateinhighqualitymusic-makinginthespectacularsettingofoneofScotland’slargestmedievalparishchurches.
StMary’sLifeStMary’sisacongregationoftheChurchofScotland,whichispartoftheworldwidefamilyofReformedChristians,includingthePresbyterianChurchUSA,andtheUnitedReformed
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Church.Withintheparish,therearewarmecumenicalrelationswithHolyTrinityEpiscopalChurch,StMary’sRomanCatholicChurchandHaddingtonWestParishChurch.
Lookingeastinthenave
WeeklyWorshipTherearetwoSundaymorningservicesat9.30amand11am.The9.30amserviceisashortandparticipativeservice,especiallyappealingforfamilies,butwithanallageattendance.Themusicisledbyagroupofvolunteermusicianswhoformalyricalmusicgroupcurrentlycomprisingpiano,clarinet,recorder,guitarandpercussion.ThisgroupreportdirectlytotheMinister,butoncertainoccasionssuchasHarvestThanksgiving,EasterSunday,theNativityserviceinDecemberandonChristianAidSunday,the9.30amand11amservicesarecombinedintoajointserviceatwhichthemusicgroupcollaboratewiththechoirandorganisttoleadthemusic.
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ChurchChoirStMary’shasanenthusiasticmixed-abilityparishchoirnumberingaround25singers,someofwhomalsocontributetothemusicgroup.Choirmembersvalueitscommunitydimension,withrelationshipsformedthroughsingingtogether.ManymembersareengagedinotheraspectsofthelifeofStMary’scongregation.Therearechoralscholarshipsavailablefortalentedyoungsingers,whichincludetheopportunityforfurthervocalcoachingfromtheDirectorofChoralMusic.Thechoirsingsastimulatingrangeofmusic,withanintroitandanthemeachSunday,includingmuchfromtheAnglicanchoraltraditionaswellasmorecontemporarychoralwork.ThechoirmeetstorehearseeachThursdayfrom7.30-9.30pmandthenat10.30ameachSundaypriortoparticipationinthetraditional11amSundayservice.StMary’sChoristersInadditiontotheparishchoir,StMary’sChoristersareasmallgroupofyoungsingersrangingfrom7to16yearsofage.Thegroupwasfoundedabouttwentyyearsago,andisdrawnbothfromcongregationalfamiliesandthewidercommunity.TheChoristersrehearseinthechurcheachThursdayintermtimefrom6.30-7.30pm.Theyarecurrentlysingingonanoccasionalbasiswiththeadultchurchchoir.Arotaofchoristerparentsassistswithsupervisionandhelpstofulfiloursafeguardingobligations.MusicalResourcesStMary’sisblessedwithaveryfinepipeorgan(LammermuirPipeOrgans,1990),achoirrobing/rehearsalroom,andrichresourcesofsheetmusicinalong-establishedchoirlibrary.Thechurchhasaverygoodacoustic,beingmuchsoughtafterasavenueformusiceventssuchastheannualLammermuirFestival.ThemusicstaffteamcurrentlyconsistsofanorganistwhoplaysonSundays(inpost),andtheDirectorofChoralMusic.TermsofEmploymentTheannualsalaryis£4,050Thisincludes:
• PlanningaprogrammeofchoralmusicforSundayworshipincollaborationwiththeministerandorganist,takingintoaccountliturgicalprioritiesandtheabilitiesandpotentialofthechoirs.
• Planningastimulatingandwide-rangingprogrammeofchoralmusicfortheStMary’sChoristergroup.
• LeadingThursdayrehearsalsinthechurchfrom6.30-7.30pmfortheChoristersand7.30-9.30pmwiththeChurchChoir.
• RehearsinganddirectingtheChurchChoirfrom10.30amonSundaymorningsuntilaround12noon.
• InvolvementatservicesonChristmasEveat6.30pmand11.30pm(noinvolvementonChristmasDay).
• Veryoccasionalinvolvementindirectingthechoirsatspecialoccasions(suchasweddings)issubjecttoadditionalpayments.
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AnnualleaveThechoirdoesnotsingatworshipduringJulyandAugust,andtherearenomidweekrehearsals.ThechoirisalsooffdutyonthefirstSundaysafterChristmasDayandEasterDay.ShouldfurtherSundaysoffberequiredwhenthechoirisscheduledtosing,theprovisionofsuitabledeputycoveristheresponsibilityofthepost-holder.Requirementsofthepost-holder
• Demonstrableabilityasachoraldirector.• Anabilitytoengageandenthusechildren,youngpeopleandadultsinchoralsinging.• Keyboardskillstofacilitaterehearsalwiththechoirs(organ-playingskillsare
preferablebutnotessential).• AnabilitytoforwardplanandawillingnesstoworkwiththeMinister,KirkSession
andmusicianstodevelopmusicoutreachatStMary’s.• Anopennesstoawiderangeofchoralmusic,ancientandmodern.
Commencementinthepostissubjectto:
• AsatisfactoryDisclosureScotlandcheckorupdatebeingreceived.• Tworeferencesfromformeremployers/musiceducators.
LineManagementThepostsofOrganistandDirectorofChoralMusicbothreporttotheMinisterandKirkSession(EldersandTrusteesoftheCongregation).InterviewInterviewswillbeheldandwillincludeatrialrehearsalwiththechurchchoirandthechoristers.Closingdate:Friday16thJune,2017Aletterofapplicationmarked“DirectorofChoralMusicApplication”(includingacurriculumvitae)shouldbesentto:AlisonMeikleSessionClerkSt.Mary’sParishChurchOfficeTheTrinityCentre5ChurchStreetHaddingtonEH413EX
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Foraninformationaldiscussionregardingthepost,pleasecontactMartinRitchie,AssistantMinister,on07984466855oremail:[email protected]’sParishChurchSidegateHaddingtonEastLothianwww.stmaryskirk.co.uk
