Jobs

Choir Director

Part time, average 10-15 hours per week

Position open until July 1, 2025


GSLC Welcome Statement

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church invites you to join us on a journey of faith.

 

We welcome the participation of all ages; races; religious backgrounds; sexual orientations; gender identities; socioeconomic, marital and family statuses; abilities; political affiliations and national origins. Ministry is strengthened by diversity and we welcome all to join us in worship, fellowship, learning and service.

 

You are a child of God; you are welcome here.


Job Description

The Choir Director at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church contributes significantly to the overall worship experience and ministry of the church. Good Shepherd’s Worship and Music Ministry, embodied in its traditional and contemporary music programs, enables members of the church and the community to participate in praise, learning, and contemplation through music. Throughout the church and its activities, music is a welcome and appreciated element in the life of the congregation. The Choir Director therefore has a variety of responsibilities related to the Worship and Music Ministry, across service and events.


Specific Responsibilities

Include but are not limited to: 

  • Plan and select choral music and anthems appropriate for each season of the Church year for one traditional service each Sunday (currently at 9:30am).
  • Responsible for music selection and reporting of selected music to appropriate publisher/copyright.
  • Rehearse, prepare, and lead the senior choir for the traditional services, with rehearsal once weekly, and a shorter rehearsal on Sunday mornings before services. (Rehearsal will include anthem(s) and hymns as appropriate.) The regular choir schedule may be suspended between Pentecost and Labor Day.
  • Recruit new choir members and instrumentalists as appropriate.
  • Provide choral music for the following additional services during the year: Christmas, Ash Wednesday and Lenten Services, Holy Week and special Easter Services, and Thanksgiving Eve.
  • Working with the organist, Pastor, and Worship and Music Ministry, explore opportunities for collaboration between the traditional and contemporary music programs and pursue joint programs as artistic requirements and budgetary constraints follow.
  • Provide the organist with choir music no later than two weeks before the first rehearsal of that music.
  • Ensure that by the start of business on Thursday of each week that the church administrative assistant has all the information needed to prepare each week’s bulletin listing the anthem for the traditional service(s).
  • Maintain the system for organizing and maintaining the sheet music library.
  • Planning for the overall music spending plan each year and special events as necessary.
  • Make all arrangements for and with a substitute choir director for scheduled vacation time and other scheduled leave time. This includes notifying the Pastor, Worship and Music Chair, and Staff Support committee of the date he/she will service and of the information needed to properly pay the substitute.
  • Purchase all necessary choral music and other worship supplies, and work with Worship and Music ministry to hire instrumental and vocalists as required. Expenditures for this shall not exceed the amount provided by the church’s spending plan for this time.
  • Abide by the policies of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church as well as any that the Congregational Council may adopt.

Qualifications

  • Experience in directing and rehearsing choirs and other musicians.
  • Proficient at reading music.
  • Possess knowledge of choral music suitable for traditional services from the 16th century to the present.
  • Strong keyboard and vocal skills.
  • Ability to be flexible and creative in meeting the congregation’s need for a vibrant worship service.
  • Understand the legal and licensing requirements for music selection and reporting.
  • Ability to listen, communicate, interact, understand and relate confidently with the Pastor, lay staff, and members of the congregation.
  • Experience in supporting congregations in worship.
  • Pass background checks, as required.

Apply

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church offers competitive compensation. Please email cover letter, resume, salary requirements and three references to GSLC’s office administrator. For more information, contact Pastor Kate Costa.