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
