Pilgrim Congregational Church, Choir Director
Description of Responsibilities
The music staff at Pilgrim Congregational Church consists of two positions: Choir Director and Organist/Music Director. The responsibilities of the Choir Director are to direct the choir, to hire and supervise soloists, to lead congregational singing, to sing the gathering song and offertory, and to lead other occasional services/events as described below.
Choir Programming:
Pilgrim has a small but mighty chancel choir which rehearses once a week (currently Thursday evenings). The membership fluctuates on a weekly basis, but there are 5 members who consistently attend, and another 5-10 who come occasionally on Thursdays or on Sunday mornings to sing. The choir director programs diverse types of music for anthems in an effort to explore the vast catalogue of worship music available. The music is also at a level which is attainable for the choir. Some members don’t read music, making the selection of appropriate worship music important. Occasionally, the choir will sing a piece that is more difficult, having worked on it in rehearsal for multiple weeks. The choir also bolsters any hymns sung in worship. The choir typically sits with the congregation and moves to the front of the church during the singing of anthems.
Worship:
In addition to directing the anthems, the choir director is responsible for singing the gathering song and the offertory. The choir director also sings the melody of the hymns along with the congregation.
Soloists:
For the past several years Pilgrim has one paid soloist who sings twice a month (when the regular choir sings), lending vocal support for the anthems and, offertories.. Soloists provide a professional sound for the choir and are important for the more challenging pieces the choir may sing. For larger services (Christmas, Music Sunday, Easter), the choir director occasionally brings in additional singers to sing more difficult music. The soloists are paid per call. The choir director is responsible for hiring and supervising soloists as needed.
Schedule:
Thursdays: Rehearsal 7:3-8:30 pm
Sundays: Meeting with other worship staff: 9:15-9:45; Choir rehearsal: 9:45-10:15; Service 10:30-11:30 am. Meetings with the music director, the pastor, and other church staff as needed. The choir director also participates in 5 other services/events over the course of the year:
1) Christmas Eve service takes place from 6-7 pm (choir rehearsal from 5-5:30). For this service, the choir director directs an anthem and also participates in other music during the service.
2) Carols and Cocoa for a Cause, an annual family-friendly gathering to support a community in need, takes place on a Sunday afternoon in early December. For this service, sometimes held outside, weather permitting, the choir director leads singing of Christmas carols by members of the wider Lexington community.
3) Interfaith Thanksgiving service – This service takes place during the week before Thanksgiving at one of the local houses of worship. An anthem is chosen by the hosting house of worship and distributed to choirs throughout the town. During regular rehearsals, the choir director prepares the choir to sing the anthem and then participates with the choir in the service.
4) Interfaith Choir Festival – This event takes place on a Sunday afternoon in the early spring. Choirs throughout the town are invited to each sing 1-2 pieces of music individually. Choirs from all the houses of worship sing an additional piece of music altogether. The choir director prepares the choir to sing these pieces of music during regular rehearsals and directs the Pilgrim choir during the festival.
5) Maundy Thursday – The choir director also directs the choir during the Maundy Thursday service in Easter week. The rehearsal for that service is 6:45-7:15, and the service runs from 7:30-8:30 pm.
Time Off: Two Sundays per year in addition to the Sunday between Christmas and New Year’s Day and the last Sunday of June.
To apply, please contact Jobs@PilgrimCongregational.org.
