Description
The Director of Music facilitates the music for all liturgical celebrations. These responsibilities include directing and planning regularly scheduled weekend liturgies; directing, scheduling, and rehearsing adult choirs, rehearsals, recruitment and formation of parish cantors and music volunteers; organist/pianist at weekend Masses and on Holy Days; seasonal liturgies; music for faith formation program; supervision of audio-visual equipment; and music for funerals and weddings.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Pastoral Musician as Person of Faith
- As a pastoral minister, the musician has the responsibility to nurture his or her own faith in order to nurture the faith of others.
Pastoral Musician as Professional Person: Commitment to professional development is a mutual responsibility of the musician and the parish. In order to maintain a competent level of professionalism, the responsibility of the pastoral musician includes:
- Practicing to improve or maintain skills in voice, conducting, and the instruments upon which the musician is expected to perform.
- Researching and mastering liturgical music.
- Pursuing educational advancement in musical skills that relate to the parish's need (e.g., organ, choral directing, vocal pedagogy).
- Keeping current with official statements and documents on music, liturgy, and developments in the pastoral field.
- Studying various liturgical and musical publications.
- Membership in professional organizations and attendance at national and area conferences and workshops.
- Periodic coursework in the field of pastoral liturgy and liturgical music.
Pastoral Musician as Liturgical Minister: Under the leadership of the vicar, the responsibility of the pastoral musician as a liturgical minister involves:
- Coordinating the music ministry for all parish liturgies.
- Assuming the role of leading musician (accompanist or choral director).
- Recruiting, scheduling, and rehearsing various music ministries (e.g., choirs, cantors, instrumentalists).
- Securing proper copyrights for all worship participation aids.
- Coordinating with the Faith Formation Coordinator in the preparation of 1st Communion and Confirmation.
- Meeting with engaged couples for the preparation of wedding liturgies and preparing music for funeral liturgies.
Pastoral Musician as Administrator: The responsibility of the pastoral musician as an administrator involves:
- Making liturgical music policies in conjunction with the Liturgy Commission and pastoral staff, taking into consideration Diocesan and national guidelines.
- Formulating a music budget for the parish worship program.
- Developing and maintaining a liturgical music library of various styles and genres for assembly, choir, cantor and instrumentalists.
- Maintaining the parish's musical instruments.
- Making recommendations for the purchase of new instruments, sound equipment, hymnals and music supplies.
- Securing other musicians as needed for special celebrations, such as Christmas, Easter, Confirmation, etc.
Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelors or Master's degree in music or its equivalent.
- Musical leadership requires skills in the following areas: keyboard, voice and conducting. Skills and experience may be required in other areas such as contemporary instrumental ensembles, orchestration, hand bells, children's choirs, composition and familiarity with musical styles of various cultures within the community.
- A thorough understanding of Roman Catholic liturgical Theology and praxis. Knowledge of the history and repertoire of sacred music.
Organizational/Interpersonal Skills:
- A high level of organizational and interpersonal skill is required. Attention to detail and working well with others is also required.
Language/Communication Skills:
- Must possess the ability to read and analyze routine correspondence and compose appropriate responses; ability to respond effectively to common inquiries from internal and external sources; ability to effectively present reports and information to constituents.
Mathematical Skills:
- Must have the ability to apply appropriate mathematical concepts and operations to establish and maintain budgets.
Reasoning Ability:
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establishes facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Personal Qualities:
- A practicing Catholic knowledgeable of Catholic liturgy whose music selections appropriately reflect Catholic doctrine.
- Personal qualities should include a willingness to keep informed of liturgical pastoral developments and to participate in continuing education to maintain and further musical expertise.
- A sense of prudent balance of enthusiasm and patience, and an ability to work in collaboration with others.
Knowledge/Skills and Abilities: The Director of Music should demonstrate the ability to:
- Cooperate with and implement directives from supervisor.
- Proficient in organ and piano.
- Develop the musicianship of cantors and other musicians.
- Nurture musicianship of the youth.
- Lead and animate the community's sung prayer.
- Work in collaboration with other ministers of the parish.
Physical Requirements:
- The ability to sit and stand for long periods of time. Must be able to reach, grasp, feel, hear, and see up close and from afar.
- Must be able to use basic office computer hardware and peripherals, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Must be able to communicate verbally and in written form.
