St. Luke United Methodist Church | 1400 Clayton Ave, Tupelo, MS
Chancel Choir Director Job Description
Reports to: Pastor
Personnel oversight: Leadership Board
Job status: Part-time
Compensation Range: $13K - $15K
Purpose
The Chancel Choir Director provides musical and spiritual leadership for the chancel choir and works collaboratively with the Pastor, organist, Praise Band Director, and other worship leaders to help create meaningful, cohesive worship at St. Luke United Methodist Church.
Major Responsibilities
1. Lead weekly chancel choir rehearsals and direct the choir for Sunday worship and occasional special services, including Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, Easter, and other special services.
- Collaborate with the Praise Band Director and other worship leaders to help create one cohesive blended worship service.
- Select choral anthems appropriate to the scripture, worship series, liturgical season, themes of worship, and abilities of the choir.
- Attend weekly staff and worship-planning meetings prepared with musical suggestions and work closely with the organist in planning worship music, rehearsals, and accompaniment.
- Cultivate a welcoming, encouraging, and spiritually grounded choir community.
- Recruit and encourage choir members and help them understand their role as worship leaders.
- Communicate schedules, music selections, and changes clearly and promptly.
- Maintain the choral music library and work within the approved music budget.
- Attend church-wide Town Hall meetings and other significant congregational gatherings.
- Participate in an annual performance review with the Pastor and Leadership Board.
Required Qualifications
- A growing relationship with Jesus Christ and an understanding of music leadership as Christian ministry.
- Experience directing or leading a choir or vocal ensemble.
- Ability to read music, teach vocal parts, and select appropriate music for worship.
- Ability to work effectively with volunteer singers of varying musical abilities and experience.
- Strong preparation, communication, organization, and follow-through.
- A collaborative and team-oriented approach.
- Ability to work well with the Pastor, church staff, and volunteers.
- Willingness to receive feedback, consider new ideas, and adapt plans when appropriate.
- Appreciation for both traditional and contemporary worship music.
- Ability to prepare musical suggestions based on scripture, worship themes, and the liturgical season.
Preferred Qualifications
- A degree or formal training in music, choral conducting, music education, church music, or a related field.
- Previous experience directing a church choir.
- Basic piano proficiency sufficient to teach vocal parts or support choir rehearsals.
- Familiarity with United Methodist worship, hymnody, theology, and the liturgical year.
- Experience working collaboratively with organists, accompanists, instrumentalists, and contemporary worship musicians.
Work Schedule
This is a part-time salaried ministry position with a flexible schedule that varies according to the church calendar.
Regular responsibilities include weekly staff and worship-planning meetings, music research and preparation, one weekly choir rehearsal, Sunday worship leadership, communication with choir members and other worship leaders, and occasional seasonal services.
Some responsibilities may be completed away from the church. Performance is evaluated according to preparation, leadership, collaboration, communication, and fulfillment of the responsibilities of the position.
Pay: $13,000.00 - $15,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
