Open Position: Transitional Director of Music Ministry

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TRANSITIONAL DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY Position Description

Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing

The Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing is a vibrant, growing, multi-platform Unitarian Universalist congregation of approximately 350 adults and 100 children.  We seek a Transitional Director of Music Ministry to help evaluate the entirety of our music program following the retirement of our Director of Music Ministry of thirty years (June 2022). 

Our Vision

We look forward to meeting a candidate who will not only minister with us through music but challenge us to reimagine the music program. This is a 12-month position at 15 hours per week with opportunity to grow the position per week and/or past the transitional period. After one year, and pending a limited search, we welcome the possibility of offering this individual a long-term contract.

Responsibilities

Regular Responsibilities for the Church Year:

  • Provide or arrange for music (instrumental or vocal as needed for appropriate parts of the service including but not limited to: prelude, reflective music, offertory, postlude.
  • Ensure diverse and multicultural musical offerings
  • Utilize and support the many diverse talents of the congregation
  • Recruit singers for the Crossings Chorale and lead weekly rehearsals mid August – June
  • Conduct the Crossings Chorale at least two Sundays per month September – May
  • Lead or arrange others to lead the wider congregation in hymns and congregational singing
  • In addition to Christmas Eve, may be asked to make musical arrangements for special services (eg. memorials)
  • Create opportunities for our children and non-choir members to participate in musical life

Planning Responsibilities

  • Plan, select and perform music that is coordinated with the church service, season and/or message, in consultation with the minister and worship associates
  • Participate in staff meetings, monthly
  • Participate in Worship Associate meetings, semi-annually
  • Maintain the church music library

Budget Related Responsibilities

  • Operate within approved annual music budget for new choral and congregational music, special musicians, personal training, and miscellaneous musically related items
  • Arrange for substitute musician(s) during absences of vacations, including July & August
  • Arrange for the maintenance of all musical instruments

Note: 

  • Must hire and supervise a piano accompanist in August 2022
  • A candidate may also apply to serve as the pianist, in which case the position becomes a year-round

Terms and Conditions

Part-time: 12 month, 15 hours / week  

Salaried; exempt 

Supervisor:  Senior Minister

Time frame Music Director only:  

July 1 start date

Mid-August:  hire pianist; one or two choir rehearsals            

            Mid-September:  First choir performance

            Mid-June:  Last choir performance of the year

            Complete arrangements for music in summer services

Salary:  $20,625 

Time frame Music Director combined with pianist:

July 1 start date

Mid-August:  one or two choir rehearsals        

            Mid-September:  First choir performance

            Mid-June:  Last choir performance of the year

            Complete arrangements for music in summer services

Salary:  $22,968 – $24,143 commensurate with experience

The successful candidate will:

  • Have successful experience leading an amateur choir and music program
  • Be dynamic and proactive
  • Be familiar with a diverse array of musical repertoire
  • Be culturally sensitive; interculturally competent
  • Understand and have experience in culture change and want to be a change agent
  • Have a desire and capacity for collaborating and consensus-building
  • Have strong organizational skills
  • Have the ability to adjust musical instruction to varying skill levels

Our ideal candidate is people-focused and nourishes leadership through music, is spiritually alive in their relationship to music, works well with all ages, strives for both excellence and inclusion, reveres both music and relationship, and thrives on creative collaboration. 

Contact

Applicants should submit a letter of interest and resume by email to the Rev. Kim Wildszewski at minister@uucwc.org  by April 1st.