Description

The DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY is a member of staff who collaborates with the Rector, staff, singers and volunteers; plays the organ and piano; and attends to the program’s administrative needs. The MINISTER OF MUSIC’s two primary responsibilities are: 

        To be organist and pianist at worship services and other events, and

        To lead and conduct the adult choir at worship on Sundays and feast days.

Qualifications: The DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY is a gifted musician with a passion for teaching musicians and singers of all ages, a choral conductor, organist and pianist, a detail-oriented administrator, a kind and caring pastoral presence, an energetic builder of music program, a learner of different kinds of music, and a collegial staff member. The DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY will demonstrate through performance and leadership an appreciation and understanding of the liturgical traditions of the Episcopal Church, while appreciating various styles of music and expanding musical variety.  

Accountability: The DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY reports to the Rector.

Responsibilities: The DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRTY: 

        selects and provides organ and piano music for Sunday worship services (8:00 am and 10:30 am), and additional services during Advent, Lent, Christmas, Holy Week and Easter, including hymns, choral conducting and accompaniment, organ voluntaries and other musical pieces. 

        is responsible for finding a substitute organist and/or pianist when absent from the parish or not available for services. There are several potential supply organists in our area.

        provides organ and piano music for some weddings and funerals.  Funerals and weddings are paid separately outside of salary.

        actively recruits and trains new choir members and choristers year round, and participates in the annual Ministry Fair.  Currently the St. Mark’s choir practices once during the week and between church services on Sundays.

        reviews, evaluates and modifies the music program, in collaboration with the Rector, to match the changing needs of the church and more effectively engage the wider culture, while continuing to value our Anglican musical heritage.

Administration: The DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY is primarily responsible for:

        overseeing the music budget, to include the purchase of all music and music supplies, including submitting detailed annual budget requests to the Rector and Senior Warden, and assuring proper financial procedures are followed for all expenditures, and communicating with the Rector and Treasurer. 

        the hiring of instrumental, vocal soloists and substitute musicians. Expenditures in this area shall not exceed the amount provided in the church budget for the current fiscal year unless there are other sources of funds to cover costs. 

        maintaining the music library in an orderly fashion and obtaining all necessary permissions and authorizations prior to any reproduction of copyrighted materials. It would be possible to train volunteers to help with this task.

        writing articles for publication in the church newsletter and for the annual meeting.

        proofreading the music content in the weekly bulletin and for creating the music inserts for the bulletin. 

        arranging to have scores for the choir and instrumentalists.

The DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY will need to:

        attend the weekly staff meetings. 

        complete the Diocesan Safeguarding God’s People course. 

        be subject to a background check. 

        attend Music & Liturgy Committee meetings monthly.

        have an annual performance review with the Rector.

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The Parish would welcome:

        education on the art of church music.

        prompts for congregational participation.

        children’s participation in worship.

Position and Compensation:

The DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY will be a permanent part-time position for approximately 27 hours per week. This position comes with a private office and three weeks paid vacation per year, including three Sundays. In addition, an annual stipend of $1000 is available to support continuing education, subject to approval.  Other time off can be negotiated. Salary is at $60,000 annually plus pension. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church supports the DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY by allowing the use of the church’s facilities and instruments free of charge for private teaching and rehearsals.

A Few Details About St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

From its founding in 1881, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church has been a cornerstone of the Durango community. Located on Durango’s historic 3rd Avenue, locals and visitors alike are drawn to this Gothic Revival church for the historic architecture, the labyrinth, and the opportunity for worship. The concerts in this beautiful church, with its excellent acoustics, its Schudi tracker organ, and a growing list of organists who have performed there reflect the heart of music in Durango. To accommodate the needs of both worship and concerts, digital voices were added to the organ as well as a Peterson Memory Capture System with 200 levels of memory.  

Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, Durango enjoys about 300 days of sunshine, perfect for the many outdoor activities to be found here: skiing, hiking, biking, fishing, walking the river trail, rafting down the Animas River. You will also find the Arts well represented in the art galleries, the theatre venues, the San Juan Symphony, the Durango Choral Society, and at Fort Lewis College.