Find & Apply For Music Director Jobs in Melrose, Massachusetts

Melrose Highlands Congregational Church (MHCC) is an open and affirming church in Melrose, MA. We are a vibrant and engaged congregation with a great appreciation for a wide variety of musical styles. We actively and enthusiastically support our flourishing music program as an important form of ministry and expression of our faith. We are currently looking for a Music Director with the skills, knowledge, and passion necessary to support the musical and artistic expression of MHCC's vision and values. This is a part-time position requiring approximately 5-10 hours per week between early September and late June. The Music Director collaborates with the Pastor, Worship Team, and our organist/pianist.

Responsibilities:

Worship service: Lead music for weekly Sunday services and the evening service on Christmas Eve. Every other Sunday, direct the choir and accompanist starting at 9:00 am for the 10:00 am service.

Choir:

Schedule and direct monthly rehearsals of the choir from September to June; provide practice materials for choir members; communicate with choir members via email and phone; recruit and train new members; support enjoyment and musical growth of individual members and the group; work with accompanist.

Planning:

Collaborate with the Minister to select congregational hymns and special music that's compatible with the service theme; collaborate with Music Committee to obtain publishers' permissions for the use of copyrighted materials; work in conjunction with the Worship Team in preparing the annual music program budget.

Repertoire:

Review, select, and purchase instrumental and choral music as needed; organize and maintain a choral library and a personal library of piano/organ literature.

Special music:

Arrange for guest musicians from within and outside the congregation, as desired.

Promotion and communication:

In collaboration with the Music Committee, advocate for and publicize the music program through the monthly newsletter, website, and social media. Prepare an Annual Report for Annual Meeting.

Special events:

Consult with other church leaders to plan and coordinate music for special programs such as concerts, fundraisers, and social justice gatherings if desired (not required).

Instrument care:

Supervise the care, tuning, maintenance, and repair of the piano and organ in collaboration with the organist/Music Committee.

Substitutes:

Assist in arranging for a substitute musician when not able to be present.

Professional development:

Attend concerts and church music workshops, classes, conferences, and conventions; develop and maintain relevant skills.

Weddings and funerals:

Have the right of first refusal to provide music for weddings, funerals, and memorial services as requested, for an additional fee paid by the families.

Qualifications:

General Requirements:

Bachelor's degree, preferably in music education or a related field Demonstrated proficiency in choral conducting, ideally in a church, school, or community setting Prefer at least two years' experience as a Music Director in a church or similar setting Must exhibit a high level of professionalism and proficiency in many kinds of music and performance Familiarity with protestant service, worship music, and hymnody Requires passing C.O.R.I. background check

Preferred Qualities:

A passion for engaging people and leading congregational singing, as well as fostering accessible and inclusive musical experiences Willingness to explore different forms of music for use in worship service Strong organizational skills Comfortable leading the congregation in singing Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication with emphasis on listening and problem solving Ability to work cooperatively to meet goals with the church staff and members of other teams and committees

Job Type:

Part-time Pay:

$15,000.00 per year

Work Location:

In person