Choir Director

Job Description

SJB seeks a choir director to lead and develop the parish choral program. Our choir currently consists of a small number of interested volunteers, but we are a parish with strong congregational singing and great choral potential. In other words, we want someone who is excited about building a choir from the ground up, who can see the beauty of our patrimony and find ways to develop its expression. This can be either a part-time of a full-time position depending on the needs and abilities of the applicant.

The Choir Director should ideally be a practicing Catholic. He or she will report directly to the Pastor but will necessarily work closely with the parish organist.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Recruiting choir members (including potential hired section leaders)
Planning suitable choral repertoire
Running regular choir rehearsals and training amateur singers in choral technique
Directing the choir at Mass on Sundays and Holy Days

OTHER POSSIBLE RESPONSIBILITIES
Developing a children's choir/schola
Developing additional ensembles (e.g. men's or women's schola)
Evensong and other regular offices
Assisting the parish in other areas (as a small parish we are open to creative solutions)

ESSENTIAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
Appreciation for and/or desire to learn the Ordinariate/Anglican/English choral tradition
Ability to sing and cantor with a clean, uncluttered tone
Ability to recruit, train, and direct both volunteer and professional singers with the full range of choral technique
Understanding of the basic principles and norms of sacred music in the Roman Rite; experience with or the desire to learn the specific norms and traditions of Divine Worship

DESIRABLE SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
Experience singing or directing in the English choral tradition
Proficiency with organ accompaniment and improvisation or the willingness to learn

About the Employer

We are a parish of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter serving the greater Philadelphia area.