Open positions are listed simply as a service to our members and do not represent an endorsement of any position or its benefits by the United Church of Christ Musicians Association, Inc. We post the information when we receive it, but we cannot guarantee that any position still remains open. It is the responsibility of the job seeker to determine the legitimacy and appropriateness of a position.

To submit a job listing contact Linda Ricketts.

Job Listing – March 7, 2019

• Director of Music Ministry

First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown, 2880 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 

Who We Are:

Located in Yorktown, New York, just one hour north of New York City, the First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown is the second oldest church in Westchester County. Our church was organized in 1730 by the initial settlers of the area — people whose names are remembered on the gravestones in our cemetery, and on the streets and localities of our community. Our first meeting house was built in 1738, and was burned by the British during the American Revolution because the church was storing munitions for the rebels in the basement. (We were rebels for justice even back then!)  The second building was constructed in 1783, and was replaced by our current sanctuary in 1838. 

We are an active intergenerational congregation of 400 members. We are committed to compelling worship, life-long faith formation, intentional fellowship, inspirational stewardship and transformational mission under the umbrella of radical hospitality. While we cherish our past, we are fully focused on God’s call to be the church in the 21st century that connects with God, with one another, and the world. Our ministry welcomes all who are searching for their spiritual path, as well as those established in their faith. We are an inclusive church family that invites all, regardless of their faith background, race, gender, sexual orientation, or financial status. We currently offer two Sunday morning worship services from September to June, and one service during the summer, and occasional special services.

Our music ministry is supported by a 22-member volunteer adult choir, two handbell choirs, a 2 manual Austin pipe organ, a Steinway model ‘B’ grand piano, three rehearsal pianos, Roland Classic digital harpsichord, and various percussion instruments. Our congregation includes a variety of instrumentalists, both amateur and professional. We enthusiastically embrace a variety of musical styles, from traditional classical European to World Music, from Gospel to Jazz, and from much-loved hymns to contemporary Christian music. We value diversity in excellent music that supports an experiential, relevant, and connectional worship. To learn more about us, please visit our website at https://fpcyorktown.org/.

But enough about us…

Here’s what we know about our next Director of Music Ministry:

Our next Director of Music Ministry will provide collaborative leadership in the music and worship life of our church. Our DMM will view the church and the church’s music as a true calling, cherish music makers of all ages and abilities, foster congregational participation, and not least, be an accomplished church musician, teacher, and practitioner. While we believe we are looking for the traditional skilled organist, keyboardist, and choral director combo working between 30 – 40 hours weekly, we are open to discussing other models with you. Our Director of Music Ministry will bring a passion to music in the service of worship, and will be an approachable, flexible, and creative member of our worship design team.

Our Director of Music Ministry will be a familiar face around the church to members of our congregation—at worship services, fellowship time, and special events and activities throughout the week—and a partner with church staff and leadership. The DMM will work closely with and report directly to the co-pastors. The DMM will also be a member of the Worship Design Commission, which meets regularly to vision, design, and coordinate worship themes and programs. The DMM will work with professionals and volunteers (children, youth and adults), serving as an encouraging resource to support, inspire, and coordinate the worship life of the church through congregational, choral, and instrumental music.

We expect that the Director of Music Ministry will:

• Be a trained musician with a minimum of Bachelors in Music or equivalent
• Have expertise in vocal technique and choral conducting
• Have experience conducting handbells (or willingness to learn)
• Direct choirs, provide music at worship services, and schedule and conduct rehearsals
• Identify and encourage persons who play musical instruments to participate in worship services, and mentor congregational participation in the church’s musical life
•  Explore new and expanded musical ensembles and offer musical enrichment opportunities to the congregation
• Develop relationships with the surrounding musical community, and extend the musical ministry of our church into the community
• Hold regular office hours
• Purchase music and maintain an organized music library
• Administer the music budget
• Oversee the use, care, and maintenance of the church’s musical instruments
• Recruit, hire, and supervise outside musicians as needed

Most of all, we look forward to welcoming a dynamic Director of Music Ministry who will share our joy of music, and help us become a more faithful worshiping community. Please send letter of interest, resume and media samples (if available) to the Director of Music Ministry Search Committee at: DMMsearch@fpcyorktown.org

Job Listing - March 6, 2019

• Director of Music

First Church in Hartland, CT

The First Church in Hartland is a loving, intergenerational rural, small but vibrant community seeking a creative music leader to lead and accompany our choir and work with the Pastor and others in the church to inspire worship through music on Sunday and special occasions.

The successful candidate will recruit choir members, work with congregants and acoustic musicians, and may arrange for musical guests during certain worship services. A wide variety of music is encouraged. The Director of Music recommends, selects and prepares worship service music, including hymns, anthems, offertories, preludes, and postludes; rehearses with the choir one evening per week; conducts music during worship; and attends Deacons meetings.

If you have a spiritual calling to make music for worship, strong keyboard experience and a heart that helps the congregation enter into worship, please apply.  Organ skills a plus but not required.

Position is part-time (approximately 8-10 hours/week). Pay is commensurate with experience and education.
We are a warm and welcoming congregation committed to spiritual principles where all are valued in God’s sight and all are welcomed in worship and other activities of the church.  To be considered for the position, please email your résumé and cover letter to: pastorfirsthartland@gmail.com
 
For more information contact: Marilyn Collins, Pastor or Bill Murphy (Human Resources)
Phone: 860-653-6495
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 155 E. Hartland, CT 06027
Church Physical Address:  2 Hartland Blvd. E. Hartland, CT 06027
Church Office Physical Address: 5 Hartland Blvd. E. Hartland, CT 06027
Website: www.firstchurchinhartland.com

Contact: Marilyn Collins
Address: P.O. Box 155 2 Hartland Blvd. E. Hartland 06027
Phone: 959-888-1237
Email: pastorfirsthartland@gmail.com

Website: www.firstchurchinhartland.com

Job Listing - March 4, 2019

• Music Director

First Church Somerville UCC, 89 College Ave., Somerville MA 02144

First Church Somerville UCC is a thriving community in the heart of Davis Square, Somerville, MA. We are seeking a dynamic and creative music leader who will work with our pastors, choir, musicians, and congregation to create inspiring and beautiful music for worship each Sunday, on holy days, and on special occasions.

As the congregation grows, so do our opportunities to make music. In addition to our adult and children’s choirs, we have several amateur, volunteer-led ensembles, including a bell choir and soul/jazz and marching bands. You should plan to cultivate continued volunteer leadership for groups that you don’t feel called to direct. A number of congregants are acoustic musicians and come together in various configurations to serve as musical guests during worship services and play folk-oriented music at Annual Retreat. We love a wide variety of music in our services, and we welcome experiments, surprises, and challenges.

You will meet regularly with the Worship Team to plan worship services together. You will select and prepare worship service music, including hymns, anthems, offertories, preludes, and postludes. You will rehearse many of the aforementioned musical ensembles and conduct them during worship.

You will discover new music for us to sing and play; if you compose music, we would love to bring it to life! You will lead the congregation in song for our hymns and service music. You will act as a teacher and facilitator, helping to bring new people into the music program, teach and guide those who participate to make music together, and facilitate congregants sharing their musical gifts. You will bring us to tears and to our feet.

You have a spiritual calling to make music for worship, experience leading musical ensembles, and strong keyboard experience. Preexisting organ skills a plus but not required. You will have a strong worship presence and an infectious love of music.
 
Position is part-time (20 hours/week); pay commensurate with experience and education.

We are an Open & Affirming congregation committed to racial justice. People of color, women, and LGBTQ people are particularly encouraged to apply.

To be considered for the position, please email your résumé and cover letter to: musicsearch@firstchurchsomerville.org

Contact: Gianna Marzilli Ericson (search committee chair)
Address: 89 College Ave. Somerville MA 02144
Phone: 617-625-6485
Email: musicsearch@firstchurchsomerville.org
Website: www.firstchurchsomerville.org

Job Listing – February 25, 2019

• Music Director/Organist

West Parish Church UCC, 129 Reservation Road, Andover, MA 01810

West Parish Church is seeking a Music Director/Organist to lead our energetic and loving congregation with a musical ministry that enriches and deepens our worship services. Our next Music Director will be an accomplished organist and choir director who will seek out music that will add diversity of culture and style to our worship. The Music Director will also bring spirituality, creativity, and enthusiasm while closely collaborating with our Senior Pastor in crafting worship services. We are seeking a person who will continue to cultivate our Christian Spirit through acceptance and openness as well as share a warm and welcoming sense of fellowship and hospitality.
Primary Responsibilities: To oversee the music program of the church, and to serve as organist and adult choir director.
Hours: Part-time position, 15 hours/week.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Work with the senior pastor and other church staff to plan and prepare meaningful worship services which will deepen the worship experience for the congregation.
• Lead, rehearse, and direct the volunteer adult choir for weekly Sunday worship, rehearsing one hour prior to worship and one evening during the week (currently Wednesday at 7:30 PM), September through June.
• Provide hymn and choral accompaniments for all Sunday services and other special services (e.g. Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, etc.).
• Encourage and engage congregational participation in all aspects of the church music program.
• Maintain choral library and order new music as needed.
• Engage additional professional musicians as needed in collaboration with the Ministry of Worship.
• Keep Music Committee apprised of conditions of the organ and pianos, and work with the Music Committee to schedule repairs and tuning.
• Additional compensation opportunities with the right of first refusal in regard to providing organ music at all weddings and funerals within the sanctuary. The services of other organists may be used with the permission of the Music Director.
• Reports to Senior Pastor
• Meet with the Music Committee and Ministry of Worship regularly.
• Function as a member of the church staff, attending church staff meetings, and communicating service music to the church administrator on a weekly basis.

Attributes and Talents:

• Creativity in various genres of music, including traditional/classic and contemporary music.
• Skilled in instruments beyond organ/piano.
• Excellent communication and collaborative skills.
• Experience with the flow of a church service and familiarity with the liturgical calendar.

Overview of West Parish Church:

• A progressive, Open & Affirming church.
• Weekly attendance around 85 people. Membership around 200 people.
• Johnson rebuild, 2 manual and pedal tracker organ, acknowledged as one of the gems of the North Shore of Massachusetts.
• Baldwin concert grand piano.
• The music program is vital and highly valued by out enthusiastic congregation.

To apply please contact: westparishchurch@verizon.net

Contact: West Parish Church Music Director Search Committee
Address: 129 Reservation Rd., Andover, MA 01810
Phone: 978-475-3528
Email: westparishchurch@verizon.net
Website: www.westparishchurch.org

Job Listing – February 19, 2019

• Director of Music - Part Time

First Church of Christ UCC, 27 East Street, Pittsfield MA

Open Position: Part time Music Director
First Church of Christ Pittsfield, Congregational UCC (MA)
Salary $22,000
Education: Bachelor’s Degree, minimum
Proficiency in Organ Skills and Piano ability
Part-time: 15-20 hours per week (variable)
Sunday Worship Service plus Maundy Thursday & Christmas Eve
Choir rehearsals:  One per week and Sunday Warm Up – September through May.
Instruments: Austin Organ, Four Manual (1952 &1959), Steinway piano
 
Send Resume to:
Music Director Search Committee
First Church of Christ, Congregational
27 East Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201

Contact: Becky Jankowski, Secretary
Address: 27 East Street Pittsfield MA 01201
Phone: 413 447-7351
Email: firstchurch27@gmail.com