Reports to: Music Director Start Date: Immediately
Status: 10-12 hours/week
FLSA: Exempt
Location: At church for rehearsals and services
at home or church for additional preparations
Salary: $35/hour
UU Buffalo is a historic church dating back to 1831, and its current building was constructed in 1906. Acclaimed for its charm and beauty, the church was listed on the State Register of Historic Places and the National Registry of Historic Places in 2015. Throughout our two centuries in Buffalo, the Unitarian and Universalist Churches and now the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo (UUCB) have consistently been at the forefront of efforts to bring about social progress, from free public education to the abolition of slavery, from advancing civil rights and welcoming LGBTQ+ persons to improving physical access for individuals with limited mobility.
Job Summary
The Collaborative Keyboardist will:
- Accompany the UUCB choir and vocal soloists at regular weekday rehearsals and on Sunday mornings.
- Choir rehearsals are on Thursday evenings from 7:30-9:45pm. There are also often small group rehearsals from 6-7pm.
- Sunday morning rehearsals start as early as 9am and worship begins at 10:30am and end as late as 11:45am.
- The choir sings on other occasions throughout the year on Christmas Eve, a carol-along on a Saturday in late December, and other special occasions.
- Provide two solo pieces (often a Prelude and Postlude) and accompany the congregational hymn singing each week in worship.
- Attend once a month music staff meetings before choir rehearsal at 6 pm.
- Have comfort in both classical and popular idioms.
- Take direction from and play a supportive role to the Director.
- Communicate with Music Director about musical needs each week.
- Be entitled to one day off a month, if desired. They will arrange for suitable coverage of their responsibilities when on leave or vacation.
- Have the first call/ recommendation to book Weddings and Memorial Services conducted at the church, for additional fees set by the pianist.
- Have access to the church’s pianos for practice.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Facility with piano is required. Facility with organ would be preferred but is not required.
- Be able to read music well. Playing music by ear would be preferred but is not required.
- Ability to manage email communications, text messages, and phone calls.
- Physically capable of performing the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
- The successful candidate will complete required background checks
Core Competencies:
- Integrity and Trust: Is seen as trustworthy by others; practices direct, honest, and transparent communication; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn’t operate with hidden agendas; responds to situations with constancy and reliability.
- Interpersonal Skills: Establishes good working relationships with all others who are relevant for the completion of work; works well with people at all levels of the congregation; builds appropriate rapport; considers the impact of their actions on others; uses diplomacy and tact; is approachable; avoids communication triangles; promotes group skills ahead of personal agendas. Comfortable in a welcoming congregation in an urban setting. Ability to communicate effectively with others both orally and in writing.
- Priority Setting: Evaluates what will help or hinder accomplishing a goal; eliminates roadblocks for self and others; able to work independently.
- Team Orientation: demonstrates interest, skill and success in team environments; promotes group goals ahead of personal agendas; steps up to offer self as a resource to other members of the team; understands and supports the importance of teamwork; shares credit for success with others, takes responsibility for their part in team failures.
- Personal Resilience: Can effectively cope with change and uncertainty; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; isn’t upset when things are undecided; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty; is flexible.
This job description can be revised by the church as needed.
Pay: $35.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
