Overview

Are you a faith-oriented musician with experience directing a choir? Do you want to work in a progressive, queer-affirming church that centers justice in our worship? Will you collaborate with our Worship Architect and Pastor to plan choir anthems? Can you help sustain and recruit members for our active choir of about 10?

This job has two components: one has to do with planning and seasonal work, and one is weekly. Pay will be hourly for 8 hours/week, more when the work exceeds that, for 40 weeks of the year (not including summers). Some of that time is fixed (worship service, choir practice, meetings) and some of the time is flexible. Usually you would be required to be on site 2 days a week (worship and choir practice). Includes vacation and sick leave benefits.

Planning and seasonal work: avg 1 hour

At the top of each new liturgical season or sermon series (about every 4-8 weeks), prepare for and attend a worship planning meeting to discuss themes for upcoming Sundays. (Preparation involves reading several chapters of scripture, and thinking ahead about musical themes.) 4-5 hours every 4-8 weeks
Prepare for our High Holy Days (Ash Wednesday. Holy Week: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunrise, and Easter Sunday. Christmas: Sunday before and Christmas Eve.) Extra hourly pay for some of these services.
Meet regularly, about once a month, for staff development, training, study, and collaboration. 1 hour/month

Weekly Work: 7 hours

Collaborate with the Worship Architect on repertoire and preparation, coordinating rehearsal with the Accompanist to keep weekly planning aligned. Select anthems from a wide variety of sources including hymns, pop songs, and spiritual/Christian music. This could involve selecting 2-3 options or discussing options. 1-2 hours/week
Direct weekly choir practice (typically on Wednesday evenings). Bring a variety of music to the choir including challenging music requiring 2, 3 or 4 parts; participatory music for newer or less experienced members; some new music; some culturally diverse music. The choir will meet weekly but does not have to sing an anthem weekly if more time is necessary for preparation. Recruit new people to sing in the choir. Bring life, excitement, challenge, and invigoration to this important group. Piano accompaniment is provided. 3 hours/week
Direct the choir on Sunday mornings (worship is from 10 - 11) including choral warm-up at 9:15. 2 hours/week

Qualifications:

Minimum 2 years of experience as a choir director
Demonstrated musical ability. Personal voice ability is important. The Director should be able to pick out parts on the piano and accurately demonstrate rhythm, intervals, and full parts as needed.
Ability to develop a choir. This includes artistic insight that can bring music alive. Our choir is eager for teaching and inspiration.
Spirituality. Having a church background is important to pick out appropriate music that illuminates the worship experience. The Director will need to understand our church and be sensitive to the language we use and the tone of our worship.

To Apply: Email to keith@lafayettechristianchurch.org. Please provide:

Your resume
2-4 videos of you directing a choir
3 references

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $30.00 - $35.00 per hour for 40 weeks per year, not including summers

Expected hours: 8 per week

Benefits:

Hybrid flexible schedule
Paid time off

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Lafayette, CA 94549

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $30.00 - $35.00 per hour

Benefits:

Flexible schedule
Paid time off

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Application Question(s):

Do you have demonstrated musical ability? The Director should be able to pick out parts on the piano and accurately demonstrate rhythm, intervals, and full parts as needed.

Experience:

choir directing: 2 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

Lafayette, CA 94549 (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Lafayette, CA 94549

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Choir Director