THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

Position Available - Director of Music

The Church of St John the Divine, Victoria, B.C.

The Church of St John the Divine is seeking applications for the full-time position of organist and choir director.

1. General Advertisement
2. Position Description
3. Qualities Sought

General Advertisement

The Church of St. John the Divine is looking for a Director of Music with good leadership skills and able to work well in a multi-staff environment, who has a vision for strong musical development in a progressive congregation. If the successful applicant so wishes, we are open to their delegating some duties of the position to a second person working under their direction. The position will be available September 1, 2009. Remuneration will be related to the RCCO standards.

St. John's has about 200 members in the congregation on a Sunday morning, a 4-manual 1965 pneumatic Casavant organ with separate antiphonal chamber, a Yamaha grand piano, a 24-voice parish choir and excellent acoustics which are a draw for the wider musical community. We have scholarship funds for an organ scholar as well as for sectional leaders in the choir and have a long tradition of year-round concerts and recitals.

St. John’s has a reputation as a centre for excellence in music in the City of Victoria and we want to become known for excellence in contemporary liturgical music as well as maintaining the “classical” Anglican repertoire. We are looking for energy and focus in our music program with a choir director and organist who has familiarity with Anglican liturgy, who will develop both the singing ability of the congregation as well as continue the classical repertoire. We want to develop a music program for children and youth. We value our connection with the wider musical and arts community in Victoria - St. John's houses the offices of the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra and provides rehearsal space for Pacific Opera, and occasionally the Victoria Symphony, and a number of our members provide leadership for the Victoria Children's Choir.

The Position Description is available at http://www.stjohnthedivine.bc.ca/staff/director_of_music/ (this page)

Deadline for applications is August 31, 2009.

Please send a resume and letter of application to:

Other contact information:

The rector of St. John's is the chair of the selection committee.

To contact the rector directly

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Position Description

Goals of the Position

• To support and contribute to worship at St. John's, upholding the spiritual life of the congregation through leadership in service music and hymns, together with anthems, solos, organ and other instruments in festival services and other gatherings.
• To make choirs a religious, artistic, educational and recreational factor in the lives of their members, and to develop and train members of the parish for individual participation in worship.
• To provide a wide range of church music, and organize concerts for the community as outreach.

Typical Duties And Responsibilities (including but not limited to)

In consultation with the Rector, the Director of Music is responsible for ensuring:

1. The planning and provision of all the usual liturgical music (service music, hymns, anthems, solos, organ music and music of other instruments) for the main Sunday service, occasional evensongs, major festivals, and pastoral occasions,
2. The recruitment, training and direction of an adult choir
3. The development of a children's and youth music program,
4. Integrating members of the congregation who have musical ability into the musical life of the church,
5. The recruitment, supervising and training of an organ scholar and choral scholars,
6. The planning and provision of regular concerts,
7. Oversight of the choir library, and care and maintenance (or supervision of professional maintenance) of all parish musical instruments,
8. The planning and expenditure of the non-salary music budget in consultation with the parish administrator,
9. Provision of resources to other parishes and to the diocese as requested,
10. The enhancement of St. John's musical leadership in Victoria,
11. Participation in a closely integrated staff team following the staff values and guidelines (at http://www.stjohnthedivine.bc.ca/staff/2001staffvalues.asp)

Accountability

The Director of Music reports to, and is supervised by the Rector.

The Director of Music is accountable for adhering to the staff guidelines and the values which uphold them.

The performance appraisal of the Director of Music is the responsibility of the Rector, with input from the staff.

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Qualities Sought in a Director of Music for St. John the Divine Anglican Church

The Church of St. John the Divine is a forward-looking community, theologically, socially and liturgically, led by a team ministry. We are seeking a Director of Music

• whose theological and liturgical understanding is consistent with this ethos of St. John's.
• who demonstrates enthusiasm and ability to develop and oversee a wide range of musical styles from various periods, medieval to modern, which will assist St. John’s to express this ethos.

The Director of Music may, at their discretion, delegate some responsibilities of the position to a person of their choice who will work under their direction.

The Director of Music will ensure St. John's is served by the following resources:

• highly competent skills in a service organist, recitalist and pianist who is a a sensitive accompanist
• the ability to move comfortably with styles ranging from Merbecke to "She flies on" (although not necessarily in the same service)
• competency in directing choirs of different skill levels
• ability to teach and supervise individuals and groups with appropriate balance between discipline and pastoral sensitivity
• provision of focus and energy to the role of musical leadership in congregational worship
• ability to work with young people in developing a children's and youth musical program
• commitment to teamwork with staff and volunteers
• excellence in communication and administrative skills
• familiarity with Anglican tradition and liturgy
• development of St. John's musical leadership in the city of Victoria (e.g. in relation to the University of Victoria School of Music, the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra whose offices are on the church premises, the Victoria Conservatory of Music which is located in the immediate vicinity, and other musical bodies in the wider community)

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