St.

Thomas' Anglican Church

Description of Position
For
The OrganistJChoir Director

Accountability
The OrganisdChoir Director shall be accountable to the Corporation of the parish of St. Thomas Anglican Church and responsible to the Rector in day-to-day matters concerning the position. The OrganisdChoir Director together with the Rector and the Contemporary Music Leader share responsibility for the provision of suitable musical leadership of the corporate worship of the parish and in working toward the music objectives of the parish. Corporation and Vestry shall represent the people of the parish to the Rector and the OrganistIChoir Director in the general direction and shape of our worship and may appoint a committee of the Vestry for this purpose.

Role and Responsibility

1. The OrganistIChoir Director will provide leadership in the music and to the musicians of the 11AM Sunday service by: a) preparing preludes, interludes and postludes, accompanying the singing of hymns, psalms and choir anthems, and liturgical responses; b) selecting music in cooperation with the Rector and/or the Corporation; c) directing the 11AM choir in the presentation of hymns, psalms, anthems, liturgical responses and special music; d) developing as high a quality of music possible given the parish resources; e) overseeing all musicians and singers participating in 11AM worship; which may include handbells, junior choir and Sunday school music; f) maintaining the rich tradition of Anglican music which we have received over the centuries; g) encouraging a broad range of contemporary hymns, songs and liturgical settings which give expression to current developments in the Anglican Church. h) Encouraging a high level of commitment, motivation and standard of dress for Choir members at Services, weddings and fbnerals.
2. The OrganistIChoir Director will strengthen the music of the parish by: a) exhibiting a standard of organ playing which qualifies for a professional organ certificate or equivalent; b) recruiting members for the 11AM choir from outside and inside the congregation; c) convening, teaching and providing opportunities for choir members to develop their own skills; d) being responsible for the direction of the Choir and preparation of anthems and special music; e) providing opportunities for a wide variety of parishioners to participate in the 11AM service by promoting the choir and encouraging involvement of parishioners with other musical abilities; f) playing at special services such as: Ecumenical Mission, Advent Lessons and Carols, two traditional Christmas Eve services (currently at 9PM and 1lPM), Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Easter Vigil and other services as required and others, when requested
C:Roy's Files\personnel\OrganistChoir Director21.doc Revised: August 25,2004

St. Thomas' Anglican Church

- Position Description

Music Director, Choir Director & Organist

Reporting to the Rector, this part-time position (1 0 hours per week -- 10 months per year) provides the overall leadership for music ministry at St. Thomas' by: support for worship services: A. As the Organist, providing ~nusical Play for the 1 lam Sunday services, hnerals and weddings Play for choir practices and special services (approximately 10 per year)

B. As the Choir Director, providing choral support for worship: Choose and arrange music Lead choir in practices and choral presentations Select appropriate music tbr special festivals throughout the year (e.g. Holy Week and Christmas) Provide leadership to develop the repertoire and vocal abilities of choir members. Administer a budget for the purchase of music
C. As the Music Director, providing overall leadership in Music Ministry: Lead any combined music program of the choir and Tapestry Coordinate music for the various services Liaise with the Rector and the Liturgy Committee Develop music progralns to involve both children and youth in worship (eg. liandbells, junior choir) Self development to keep current with church music and liturgy Have an umbrella responsibility for assisting the 9 o'clock service music gl-oup, 7ir/)~.s/ly. Assistance in this case would be requested by the Tapestry group on an "as required" basis for such matters as sound, expression, breathing, etc.

approved by Vestry May 19, 1998

by the Rector and staff body, and if available; g) playing, in cooperation with the Contemporary Music Leader, at combined services (Sundays at IOAM) such as: Welcome Home, Stewardship, Christmas Pageant, 1"' Sunday after Christmas, Epiphany, Annual General Meeting, Congregational Meeting, and Patronal Festival; h) playing at weddings and knerals and memorial services, when able, or finding a suiiable replacement; i) participating in outreach projects such as playing at extended care facilities and carol smgmg; j) showing initiative in seeking opportunities to enrich our music life. The Organist/Choir Director will provide internal and external communications, reporting and budgeting services by: a) preparing reports for staff meetings, liturgical meetings and other meetings of the parish as required; b) writing reports for parish annual general meetings and congregational meetings as required; c) preparing newsletter and newspaper articles for St. Thomas' Times, The Messenger, Anglican Journal and other media as required; d) maintaining the departmental budget for the choir, choral music purchasing and organ and piano repair; e) reporting music usage for purposes of copyright and licensing.
4. The OrganistIChoir Director will be aware of music developments within the Anglican Church of Canada by: a) establishing collegial relationships with other church Organists; b) participating in church-related workshops and seminars; c) seeking information from the Rector, the Diocese and the National Church.

5. The OrganistIChoir Director may participate in the whole ministry of the Parish as it seeks to be faithfkl to the mission as stated by the parish by: a) attending weekly staff meetings, quarterly liturgical meetings and any other meetings as needed to discuss and plan for the music life of the parish; b) supporting decisions of Vestry and Corporation with respect to directions and objectives for the parish; c) becoming an active member of the staff ministry team of the parish;
6. The OrganistIChoir Director will oversee the use of the parish's traditional music resources

including the organ, piano and choral music libra-ry by: a) ensuring, in consultation with the Rector, that only qualified people have use of the instruments; b) arranging for regularly tuning of the instruments; c) arranging for repairs as necessary; d) maintaining the parish's library of music.
7. The OrganistIChoir Director will be responsible for providing hislher own transportation for rehearsals, staff meetings and Church services.

Revised: August 25,2004

Rights and Privileges

1. Should the OrganistIChoir Director choose to use the facility for lessons, helshe is required to carry hislher own personal liability insurance which indemnifies the parish of St. Thomas'. Proof of this insurance will be provided to the parish before lessons occur. 2. The OrganistIChoir Director has access to budgetary fbnds for the purchase of choral music to be determined in consultation with the Rector and the Vestry. 3. The OrganistIChoir Director has the right to hire outside musicians for special occasions as per the current budget.

Remuneration 1. The position of OrganistIChoir Director is based on a ten month position from September 1 to June 30, of approximately 10 hours per week of on-site work. This work is broken down as follows:
Sunday Services Choir Preparation Choir Rehearsal Meetings Practice Special Programs 2.0 hours 2.0 hours 2.5 hours 1.0 hour 2.0 hours .5 hours 10.0 hours

It is understood that some personal rehearsal time and preparation for the above on-site time will be over and above the stated hourly expectations and may take place off site.
2. Additional fees shall be paid by the families for such services as weddings and fbnerals at the

current RCCO Guideline rates. At the date of this agreement, current fees are as follows: Weddings $150 Additional (Optional) Wedding Rehearsals $50 Funerals $100 Additional (Optional) Funeral Meeting with the Family $20 Additional Soloist Rehearsals for Weddings $50 Should the OrganistIChoir Director wish to be away from the parish, helshe will be responsible for hiring a replacement to serve in hislher stead and will pay the replacement at the current RCCO rate (currently $75 for the service only or $150 for choir rehearsal and service.).

Revised: August 25,2004

EMPLOYMENT OF A CHURCH MUSICIAN

The RCCO is pleased to announce that our flagship resource " The Employment of a Church Musician: A G u i d efor Canadian Churches" is now available in a revised second edition. This 50 page booklet contains thorough listings of the skills required and the work that a church musician does. It also contains chapters on writing a job descrjption and where a church should advertise, interview procedures, starting and maintaining the relationship, exit interviews and ending the relationship. Appendices include the RCCO salary grid (shown below), sample contracts, the RCCO position statement on the use of pre-recorded music in worship and an annotated reading list. While aimed at Canadian churches, most of the material is applicable in the United States and other English-speaking countries. This booklet is available for $7.50 CDN plus $2.50 CDN shipping and handling charges from the national office. The French translation will be available in the early fall 2000.

TABLE OF RECOMMENDED SALARIES (2000)

f

Hours per week

Level

8 hr

10 hr

13hr

17hr

24 hr

29 hr

40 hr

1
2

5400 6287 7019 7750 8626 9213 10090 10821 11697 12431

7458 8418 9504

C!@C
"4"

9652 10965 12284

i

12431 14185 15940 17694 19449 21058 21977 24420 26175 27637

16670 19156 21497 23835 26321 28515 30708 32904 35096 37143

21350 24275 27052 29832 32610 35534 38166 41090 42819 46355

27052 30407 32263 36938 40652 44170 47379 50741 54106 56591

3
4 5

l\*~;5orm-(

10676 11697 12575 13622 14624 15647 16525

13746 14917 16247 17548 18864 20034 21349

6
7

8 9
10

The following levels have been established for educational qualifications (these are specific combinations to illustrate the levels; equivalent diplomas and certificates should be treated appropriately):
Level Qualification 1 no diplomas 2 conservatory diploma (e-g. ARCT) OR CRCCO 3 bachelor s degree OR ARCCO -j 5;4 bachelor's degree with ARCCO OR master's degree OR FRCCO 5 master's degree with ARCCO OR bachelor's degree with FRCCO 6 master's degree with FRCCO OR doctorate 7 doctorate with FRCCO

....

cont'd