Appointment
The Choir Director is a subcontract part-time position, approximately 10 hours per week, that reports to the Church Pastor.
Position Description
The Choir Director conducts the Westview Choir, works with musicians, staff members and volunteers to contribute to the congregation’s spiritual development, by providing a meaningful worship experience through the use of diverse music and liturgy.
The Choir Director will routinely interact with the entire Westview team, which consists of the Pastor, Pianist, Church Council, congregation, and affiliated organizations that use the church facilities.
In addition to congregational members, the Westview Choir utilizes the services of paid singers, which we refer to as “Choral Scholars”. The Choir Director is responsible to recruit, audition, hire and manage these singers, in addition to additional musicians that are hired for specific musical events and special services (e.g. Christmas Eve).
Responsibilities
- Conduct the Westview Choir who sing approximately 35-38 Sundays each calendar year
- Schedule and direct rehearsals for the Choir, and other musical events as needed
- Work collaboratively with the Pastor and Pianist/Organist to plan worship services, special musical events, and other services as needed
- Work with the Pastor and Pianist/Organist to develop a comprehensive music program
- Direct, and accompany vocalists and instrumentalists providing special music for services as needed
- Work collaboratively with the Pastor, Church Council, and Congregation in developing a vision for the ministry of Westview and develop measurable annual goals to ensure the vision is realized
- Research and make available new resources and ideas to the Westview team
- Lead planning in hymn selection and special music for Sunday worship services (12 months), which includes special worship services for Advent, Christmas Eve, Lent, Holy Week and Easter day services
- Participate in weekly staff meetings and worship planning meetings as required
- Arrange for and schedule special music for Sunday worship services during the months of June, July and August
- Report progress on goals and objectives to the Pastor and Church Council
- Actively recruit members for the Choir, bell choir, volunteer musicians, and choral scholars. Invite, encourage, and coach the musical gifts and abilities of the members and friends of Westview to be shared in worship
- Invite and encourage music of a wide variety of styles, cultures, and instrumentation
Education and Experience Requirements
- Must be a practicing Christian who will support the vision and mission of Westview Church
- Knowledge of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) doctrine or other denominations in communion with the ELCA is highly desirable
- Bachelor’s degree in music
- Choral conducting experience
- Demonstrated skill and proficiency at the keyboard and/or pipe organ is desirable
- Experience in worship planning with a Lutheran theological framework
- Experience and ability to plan, prepare, coordinate, advertise, and conduct special musical events
- Strong and positive communication skills
- Ability to work closely with the Pastor and Pianist/Organist
- Ability to motivate, encourage, and develop volunteer musicians of varying skill levels
- Ability to recruit, motivate, train and utilize choral scholars hired by Westview to augment the Choir and provide special music
- Ability to recruit, motivate, and integrate additional musicians to be hired by Westview for special events
- Bell choir conducting experience desirable
- Knowledge/experience in the use of traditional, blended, and contemporary liturgy and worship formats
- Appreciation and competency of diverse musical styles
Hourly Rate – From $35/Hr.