Description

The Director of Music at First United Methodist Church (FUMC) communicates the Gospel by providing an excellent, worshipful, and appropriate music experience for the church. The Director of Music is responsible for the total music program of the church, organizing, promoting, and maintaining a system of choirs authentic to various age levels designed to enrich the lives of the members and the congregation.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated Christian commitment, maturity, and leadership skills.
• Demonstrated skills in music programming, directing, and administrative coordination with a proven record of growing and developing choirs, musicians, and singers.
• The ability to work harmoniously and creatively with church staff and volunteers.
• The ability and willingness to share talents and gifts to further the musical and spiritual experience for all who experience worship at First United Methodist Church.
• Deep understanding of sacred music, traditional worship, and emerging trends in modern liturgical worship.
• Willingness to perform additional tasks within the church as needed. 

 Responsibilities:

• The Minister of Music works directly under the supervision of the Senior Minister.
• Afford all choir members regardless of age the opportunity to experience great music from every era as a part of their lives.
• Educate choir members and congregation as to the meaning and significance of the service of worship through music, and the importance of their place.
• Provide additional opportunity for Christian Education in the lives of choristers.
• Be a representative of the ministry of the church, directly and indirectly in the lives of those closely connected with the music programs.
• Assist the pastoral staff in the visitation of the sick, both in hospitals and in private homes.
• Be a representative of the ministry of the church in the community through the following:
       -Participating in worthy civic music activities;
       -Assisting smaller churches in the area;
       -Serving as member of planning committee for Horizon Texas Annual Conference events as needed;
       -Soliciting and organizing musical ensembles for special events and services held at First United Methodist Church;
       -Assisting other churches, if solicited, to locate competent musical leadership in the community.
• Work with other FUMC staff to integrate the age-level education and discipleship into the music ministry.
• Work with other FUMC staff to assist when singers and/or musicians are needed.
• Provide groups within the church with music, devotions, and teaching if requested.
• Be available to sing at weddings and funerals if requested, or to arrange for and assist guest musicians and singers for such services.
• Oversee proper maintenance of all musical instruments of the church that all are in good working condition. Coordinate regular tuning of pianos.
• Participate in weekly worship planning meetings by offering ideas for memorable and creative worship and suggesting hymns and anthems for worship based on the week’s Scripture text(s) and sermon theme.
• Work with church staff and music team to set a regular schedule for rehearsals and performances for every choral and musical ensemble.
• Prepare rehearsal rooms (with assistance from volunteers and staff as needed) for every ensemble with chairs, music, instruments, stands, and other equipment as needed.
• Prepare music choir folders for all ensembles (except handbells), selecting, cataloging and filing of music.
• Prepare, size, and keep inventory of robes for all choir participants (except handbell choir members).
• Oversee volunteer worship participants and music assistants and provide instruction.
• Recruit prospective choir and church members.
• Be available to offer counsel to choir members as requested in matters of spiritual and personal concerns.
• Stay connected with music ministry volunteers and participants and informed as to reasons for absences, and assist if needed to alleviate problems.
• Oversee sanctuary décor through the various seasons of the church, including paraments.
• Work with the church’s office manager to coordinate weekly flowers for the sanctuary in addition to special-order flowers for Easter (lilies) and Advent (poinsettias.)
• Coordinate a team to prepare communion elements for services where the sacrament is celebrated.