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FU
First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights
Choir Director and Music Strategist
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What they do
A Music Director leads music ensembles in a variety of different settings. Conducts orchestras or choral groups, church choirs, or pit orchestras in a music theatre production. Chooses music for performances, or composes or arranges music for ensembles to perform; runs rehearsals and directs soloists or guest performers.
$57,908 / year median in Illinois
+13% projected growth
Job Description
Starting date: September 1, 2026
Overview:
FUMCAH is a growing and progressive church that values inclusion, community, and faith in action. The church has a Chancel choir with a core group of approximately 30 singers along with a subset ensemble of 20 singers (Exaltation!) that sing twice a month. Soloists are featured on an ad hoc basis. The choir and congregation enjoy wide-ranging genres from traditional spiritual, contemporary, musical theatre, world music, and are open to exploring other genres. Additionally, there are multiple children's choirs and bell choirs (under separate conductors). The ideal candidate shall have the primary responsibility to plan, coordinate and direct the programming of all musical activities which are a part of all Worship Services of the Congregation in addition to conducting the Chancel Choir and Exaltation.Responsibilities:
The Choir Director and Music Strategist responsibilities include:- Prepare music for Sunday worship services aligned with the related themes, sermon and/or season.
The preparation includes:
- Selecting pieces for the Chancel choir and Exaltation!
- Providing supplemental music and instrumentalists as warranted.
- Rehearse and prepare the choirs for worship service. Current rehearsals are weekly after worship on Sunday morning, once monthly on Thursday evening, and once a month on Saturday for Exaltation!.
- Collaborate with Pastor and staff on selection of music and coordinate with the church office as all music is to be included in the Sunday bulletin. This includes an in-person Tuesday morning staff meeting.
- Organize and coordinate with accompanist and instrumentalists on an ongoing basis (e.g. keyboards, drums, guitar, etc.) and on ad hoc basis with guest performers.
- Recruit new members for Chancel choir and Exaltation! (by audition).
- Coordinate with Bell and children's choir directors.
- Develop and manage music budget as approved by the Finance Committee.
- Maintain music library.
- Arrange for substitute during time of absence.
Preferred Skills, Talents, and Qualifications:
- Successful experience as music director required, church experience preferred.
- Conducting skills.
- Ability to provide insightful and constructive guidance on musical interpretation to singers.
- Proficiency in piano a plus.
- Knowledge of church music from traditional to contemporary preferred
- Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate with the staff.
- Ability to work with volunteer musicians of varying degrees of accomplishment
- Ability to inspire and build a sense of community within the music ministry program.