Elementary Sacred Music Choir Director

Job Description

Elementary Sacred Music Choir Director

Saint Joseph Academy, an independent classical Catholic school (TK-12) in North County San Diego, seeks a passionate Part-Time Elementary Sacred Music Choir Director. This role leads the elementary choir (grades K-8, with primary focus on younger students) in weekly instruction and rehearsals, fostering a love for sacred music, Gregorian chant, and polyphony as integral to Catholic worship and the pursuit of beauty, truth, and goodness in our Christ-centered classical curriculum.
Responsibilities:
• Direct and rehearse the elementary choir, preparing sacred repertoire-including Gregorian chant, simple polyphony, and liturgical hymns-for school Masses, feasts (e.g., Feast of St. Joseph), and special liturgies
• Teach age-appropriate sacred music fundamentals: note reading, vocal technique, solfege, rhythm, and music appreciation rooted in the Church's tradition
• Incorporate methods such as the Ward Method (preferred) or Feierabend-inspired approaches to build tuneful, beautiful, and artful singing through vocal instruction, movement, and joyful engagement
• Guide students in understanding chant modes, neumes, and polyphonic elements to deepen participation in sacred liturgy
• Collaborate with faculty, liturgy team, and administration to align music with weekly Mass, Adoration, and school feasts
• Foster virtues of reverence, discipline, and communal prayer through music
• Assess student progress, attendance, and participation; provide feedback to support spiritual and musical growth
• Supervise students during rehearsals and performances; ensure a safe, prayerful environment
Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree required (preferably in Music, Sacred Music, Music Education, or related field with sacred music focus)
• Strong knowledge of Gregorian chant, Renaissance polyphony, and Catholic sacred music repertoire
• Familiarity with and preference for the Ward Method of Music Instruction (vocal-based pedagogy rooted in chant for Catholic children) or Feierabend methods (First Steps in Music/Conversational Solfege for developing musical literacy and joy)
• Experience directing children's choirs, especially in Catholic or classical settings; elementary teaching experience preferred
• Commitment to authentic Catholic education and the school's mission of forming students intellectually, morally, and spiritually through classical liberal arts and sacred tradition
• Excellent vocal skills, conducting ability, organizational skills, and enthusiasm for mentoring young singers in faith-filled expression
• Ability to collaborate in a mission-driven community; clear background check and fingerprinting required
This part-time position (approximately 8-15 hours/week, primarily during school hours with occasional rehearsals/performances) offers competitive hourly compensation commensurate with experience, plus the opportunity to enrich young lives through sacred music in a vibrant, faith-centered classical school.
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, references, and any relevant recordings or demonstration materials to delatorreb@sjaclassical.org. For more about the school, visit sjaclassical.org.
Saint Joseph Academy is an equal opportunity employer committed to Catholic formation, classical education, sacred liturgy, and preparing students to know, love, and serve God through beauty and truth.

About the Employer

St. Joseph Academy was established in response to the Second Vatican Council's call for greater lay witness in contemporary society. Teaching in accordance with the Magisterium of the Church, our mission is to form young men and women who, committed to live by Catholic principles, will transform and advance human culture. We aim to accomplish this by offering a traditional learning environment that blends faith and reason in educating the whole child.

Man was created by God in His image and likeness and therefore is destined for Him who is infinite perfection. In the spirit of the Divine Master, amidst a world of material possession, the mission of St. Joseph Academy is to prepare the child for what he must be and for what he must do here on earth, in order to gain the sublime end for whi