Position: Director of Music Ministry
Average Hours: (Part-time) 10 hours per week
(including weekend Masses: Saturday @ 4 pm and Sunday @ 10 am.)
Location: St. Matthias the Apostle Catholic Church, Parma, OH
Employment Type: Part-Time
Application Deadline: Open until fi lled
If interested, please contact Chris Walter at 440-888-8220 or chris.walter@stmatthiaschurch.org.
Position Overview:
As the Part-Time Music Director, you will be the pastoral leader of our parish’s music ministry tasked with transforming a dedicated choir with various levels of experience into a confi dent, cohesive group capable of enriching parish liturgies and inspiring all to sing God’s praises.
You will select music, plan rehearsals, and lead worship for weekend liturgies and special events, in collaboration with the pastor and parish staff . Moreover, you will coach volunteers in basic vocal techniques, e.g. breathing and pitch training, and foster their sense of ensemble singing. You will also assess their needs and address them through the planning of repertoire and through instruction. If you’re excited by the challenge of developing a strong choir through helping singers recognize their potential, we’d love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Liturgy & Worship
- Select and plan suitable music (traditional hymns, contemporary Catholic songs, simple choral works) for weekend Masses, Holy Days, and special liturgies (weddings, funerals, etc.).
- Collaborate with the pastor and liturgy committee to ensure all musical choices uphold Catholic liturgical guidelines and reflect seasonal themes.
- Integrate moments of sung prayer and musical reflection throughout the liturgy, fostering deeper congregational participation.
2. Choir Development & Training
- Recruit members to the Choir and engage volunteers to use their gifts to help you and share duties.
- Provide regular vocal coaching, introducing basic and intermediate techniques (e.g., posture, breathing, diction, and harmonization).
- Develop and conduct engaging rehearsals that build confi dence, unify the group, and cultivate a joyful, prayerful attitude.
- Identify and nurture strong vocal leaders from within the choir, empowering them to mentor newer members.
- Maintain clear, consistent expectations for practice and offer constructive feedback to facilitate growth.
3. Administration & Coordination
- Schedule rehearsals and liturgies with sensitivity to volunteer availability, while ensuring sufficient practice time for real progress.
- Manage music resources—hymnals, sheet music, licensing—and ensure instruments are tuned and maintained.
- Coordinate with parish staff regarding liturgical planning, budget, and event scheduling.
- Encourage parish-wide activities that celebrate music, such as community sing-alongs, mini-recitals, or special seasonal programs.
Qualifications:
- Proficiency in vocal coaching and conducting, plus keyboard skills (digital piano) to accompany rehearsals and liturgies.
- Familiarity with Catholic liturgical structure, guidelines, and documents.
- Strong communication skills and an uplifting, “coach-like” mentality.
- Experience in teaching or leading a choir with limited vocal training is preferred (formal training/certifi cations in music education are a plus).
- Passion for reigniting the musical spirit of volunteers, helping them feel confident and joyful in worship.
Personal Attributes:
- Strong organizational skills, patience, perseverance, and the capacity to transform challenges into opportunities.
- An empathetic, encouraging personality that creates a safe space for singers to grow and make mistakes.
- Creativity in designing rehearsals that are both rigorous and engaging.
- A genuine desire to serve God and the Church through the ministry of music.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Part-Time Salary commensurate with experience.
- Flexible schedule for rehearsals and liturgical planning.
- Potential for professional development (music workshops, retreats, and liturgical conferences).
- Extra compensation/hours/salary available with other gifts and talents. We are a smaller parish so there may be other opportunities depending on skill set.
Application Process:
Interested candidates are invited to submit:
1. Cover Letter stating why your experience and/or desire makes you an ideal candidate, an overview of your area specifi c qualifi cations, and your philosophy of how liturgical music is unique and/or how music serves as ministry.
2. Résumé highlighting relevant vocal coaching and choral directing experience alongside any pertinent educational and/or teaching credentials.
3. Three References (professional and pastoral).
4. Optional: Links to audio/video recordings that showcase your conducting or instructional style.
This position will take skill, dedication, humor, and faith. If you feel called to further develop our parish’s music ministry and shape our humble voices into a harmonious choir of praise, we’d love to hear from you. Help us truly bring to life St. Augustine’s reminder: “He who sings well prays twice.”
Letter from the Pastor:
Dear Potential Music Director,
What truly sets St. Matthias the Apostle apart is our exceptional spirit of hospitality. From the moment you step through our doors, you'll experience something special - every single person is warmly greeted, genuinely welcomed, and made to feel like they belong. This isn't just superfi cial friendliness; our parishioners take a sincere interest in each visitor, learning their names, their stories, and welcoming them into our parish family.
Our parish family embodies Christ's call to radical hospitality. Here, you won't fi nd people hurrying out after Mass - instead, you'll see parishioners engaging in genuine conversation, checking in on one another, and making sure newcomers are personally introduced to others in the community.
As our music director, you would be joining a community where:
- Every new face is noticed and welcomed with authentic warmth
- Parishioners actively seek to include visitors in parish life
- Fellowship and community building are natural extensions of our worship
- People take genuine interest in each other's lives and journeys
- Our welcoming spirit creates an environment where music and participation can fl ourish
- The congregation supports and encourages our music ministry
Our pastor's deep appreciation for liturgical music, enthusiasm, and creativity, combined with our parishioners' warm and engaging nature, creates an ideal environment for building a vibrant music program. You'll fi nd enthusiastic participants ready to join choirs, eager congregational singing, and a community that values your contribution to our worship.
In our intimate parish setting, you'll have the opportunity to know your choir members and congregants personally, creating music that resonates with our close-knit community.
The genuine relationships formed here make our music ministry more than just a program - it becomes a vital part of our parish family's expression of faith.
We're looking for someone who will appreciate this special dynamic and help us continue to grow as a welcoming, music-fi lled community of faith. If you value both musical excellence and genuine human connection, St. Matthias could be your perfect spiritual and professional home.
Would you like to experience our welcoming spirit fi rsthand? We'd love to have you visit and see how our parish family could become your family too.
May you know the Father's love for you,
Fr. Michael Denk
