Metropolitan New Jersey Chapter

 Membership and Directory

Congratulations to Evan Cogswell on receiving his PhD in Organ Performance from Indiana University! He completed his doctorate back in November defending his dissertation titled Méditations sur le Mystère de la Sainte Trinité – Messiaen’s Cosmic Musikdrama and attended commencement in May.

Certification

The coronavirus outbreak has had quite an adverse effect on the AGO certification exam process, leading to either delays or outright cancellation of last spring’s exams. Now that we have begun a new exam cycle, for the safety of all involved the following regulations need to be carefully observed.
Click here to learn more. Anyone having difficulty finding an appropriate venue for a Service Playing test or Colleague exam due to restrictions in place caused by the pandemic should contact the director of the Committee on Professional Certification, André Lash, FAGO, in order to explore possibilities.

Placement
The Placement Chairperson is Chris Hatcher. To submit a position listing, please contact him via e-mail at  chris.hatcher01@verizon.net.

Job Postings

SAINT JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, SUMMIT, NJ

Seeks applications for the full-time position of  Director of Music beginning no later than September 2022. Vibrant worship and music by the  whole assembly is central to our identity. We are committed to the rich Lutheran liturgical  tradition and embrace the wide diversity of worship expressions of the Church catholic. Our  purpose is to: “Hear God’s Word. Reflect God’s Grace. Share Christ’s Love.” 

Summary of Director of Music Position 

Music of high quality—organ, piano, choral, and instrumental—is essential to the life and  liturgy of Saint John’s Church. The Director of Music will: 

• Lead the assembly in song using the whole range of musical gifts and possibilities, • Be an accomplished organist and keyboardist, playing for weekly Sunday (2 services per  week), festival services, seasonal midweek worship, and other worship services, • Develop and direct all choirs and ensembles, building community through music, • Prepare all instrumental and choral music for worship services, 
• Set an example of ministry, collegiality, professionalism, and care towards others, • Empower people in the congregation and wider community to share their musical gifts. The Director of Music is a vital part of the ministry of the parish as a whole.  

Musical Resources 

• 2 manual 1971 Holtkamp tracker-action organ, restored and expanded in 2008  • Kawai and Steinway grand pianos, Kawai digital piano, harpsichord, and portative organ • 5 octaves of Malmark handbells and 3 octaves of Malmark handchimes  • Varied collection of percussion instruments  

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in church music or organ (Master’s preferred). 3-5 year’s experience. • Exceptional ability as an organist and pianist, playing a wide repertoire and sufficient  improvisational skills. 
• Experience and high proficiency in choral and ensemble conducting; ability to include  and engage musicians of a wide range of ages and skill levels. 
• Facility in a broad range of music traditions, styles, and accompaniments. • Familiarity with liturgical worship, preferably with the Lutheran Church or a similar  context. Commitment to upholding the Lutheran musical heritage. 
• Commitment to Saint John’s progressive Christian mission, vision, and values. • Superior oral, written, and interpersonal skills.  

Terms of Employment 

• Full-time. 
• Compensation: $55,000-65,000 per year, depending on experience, with benefits. • Four weeks of paid vacation per calendar year, including four Sundays. • Two weeks of professional development per year. 

To apply, please email a cover letter, a resume with references, and if available a digital sample of your work to pastorbscalet@stjohnssummit.org.

Detailed Job Description 

Music Ministry 

• Direct and develop all choirs and ensembles. Current musical ensembles: Adult Choir,  Handbell Choir, Saint John’s Brass Ensemble (professional quintet and percussion for  Christmas and Easter), Recorder Ensemble, and Drumming Ensemble. Desire to restart  Children’s Choir post-COVID. Occasional volunteer vocal or instrumental ensembles. 
• Provide music for all Sunday services, solo literature and liturgical accompaniment. • Provide organ and choral music for additional services, including but not limited to Ash  Wednesday, Lenten Midweek, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Blue Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, occasional Summit Interfaith or Synodical worship events, and other feast days and special parish celebrations. 
• Musical support for Christian Education and congregational gatherings, as needed. • Play music at all weddings and funerals, with additional compensation. 

Administration 

• Prepare a robust, diversified, and balanced plan of music for all choirs and ensembles.  Schedule ensembles and musicians throughout the year.  
• Research, arrange, typeset, or compose music as needed. 
• Collaborate with the Pastor. Meet with the Pastor regularly to review the music program  and coordinate worship. Select appropriate instrumental and choral music, consulting the  Pastor in all respects of the music and worship life of the congregation. 
• Collaborate with the whole church staff. Provide all musical and copyright information for  printing in the worship bulletin and for the livestream. Provide digital copies or typeset  hymns, psalms, and service music as needed for the bulletin. Proofreading of print  materials. Manage all copyright licensing and reporting. Prepare any music announcements,  rehearsal schedules, and music information for inclusion in Saint John’s communications. Assist in technology, livestream, and AV work as relates to music ministry and ability. 
• Be responsible for the purchase of all necessary music and supplies, the maintenance of the  church’s musical instruments, the hiring of paid musicians, maintaining the music budget  and submitting financial matters to the Treasurer.  
• Supervise paid soloists/section leaders, paid guest musicians, or any additional music staff. • Secure substitute musicians for all continuing education, vacation time, and family or medical leave when the Director of Music will be away. 
• Participate ex officio in the work of the Worship and Music Committee. 

Education and Support 

• Devote time to educating both the wider parish and those involved in the music program. • Practice organ and keyboard skills, and undertake regular Continuing Education in order to  provide music and maintain professional standards of performance. 
• Participation in professional organizations, including but not limited to the Association of  Lutheran Church Musicians and the American Guild of Organists. 
• Become educated in Saint John’s, New Jersey Synod, and ELCA policies and procedures; maintain clear professional boundaries; uphold the mission of the Church in word and deed.

MORRIS PLAINS EPISCOPAL CHURCH seeking a PART-TIME ORGANIST/CHOIR DIRECTOR

Organist and Choir Director — Position Description –
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Morris Plains is looking for a part-time Organist/Choir Director who has the training/ability to play the organ and piano and direct a small choir, and the liturgical knowledge to lead the choir and play for the Principal Service each Sunday at 10 a.m. and for Principal and Major Feasts, working in collaboration with the priest-in-charge. This person will have the expertise to offer a musical variety that ranges from Traditional/Sacred to Spirituals/Contemporary music. If interested, contact the church office at stpaulsmp@optonline.net 

•   Job Type:  Part-time (8-10 hours)
•   Pay:  $14,625.00 per year
•   Benefits:  Paid time off  (3 weeks paid vacation time per year)
•   COVID-19 considerations:  Parishioners are required to wear masks and sit in designated pews at all church services; liturgical personnel are required to wear masks at all services.
•   Education:  Associate degree (Preferred)
•   Experience:  Religious Music Directors (at least 1 year preferred)                      

General Expectations:

         The Organist and Choir Director is a permanent part-time employee of St. Paul’s and:

1. Meets with and reports to the clergy 4-5 times a year for seasonal planning of liturgy and music.
2. Plans the music and plays the organ for regular and occasional worship services.
3. Recruits, rehearses and leads other musicians and the choir within St. Paul’s worship program.
4. Oversees any monies budgeted for the music program.
5. Maintains a library of parish owned music and orders additional music as budget permits.

Specific Responsibilities:
 The Organist-Choir Director will:

1. Play the hymns and service music for the principal worship service each Sunday at 10 a.m.
2. Play the hymns and service music for worship services on the following days that do not fall on Sunday:

Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve (2 services), Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.   

3. Select appropriate hymns, anthems and service music for scheduled worship services.
4. Rehearse with the choir weekly from September through Trinity Sunday in addition to warm-ups before the 10am service. Warm-ups will continue through the summer. Also, rehearse with other musicians when scheduled.  (Rehearsal days from the September-June season are flexible.)
5. Be available to meet with the Rector for seasonal worship planning.
6. If the budget allows, schedule a sub musician to play for regularly scheduled services when time off is taken.

       The Organist-Choir Director may:

1. Elect to be the musician for weddings and funerals when organ or piano music is planned. An additional honorarium will be provided for these services.
2. Provide a list of persons who may use the organ without specific permission.
3. Act as the Rector’s agent in approving music to be used at weddings and funerals.

Time Requirements:

       One weekly choir rehearsal from September through June. (The timing of choir rehearsals are negotiable based on the candidate’s and choir’s availability.)

       Sunday mornings and major feast days as outlined above.

       Personal rehearsal time.

 St. Paul’s will provide:
       Competitive compensation for this 8-10 hour/week position paid semi-monthly.

       The employer’s share of Social Security taxes.

       Workmen’s Compensation insurance.

       Use of parish owned musical instruments/facilities for giving lessons on site.

       Three (3) weeks of paid vacation time per year.

The Choir and its Music

The choir is small with most members age 60+. There is good familiarity with both hymns and the service music in the Hymnal 1982 and Lift Every Voice and Sing (LEVAS). There is a moderate-sized library of anthems suitable for the various seasons of the church year. It reflects a variety of music styles and is in need of updating.

The choir sings hymns, service music and generally one anthem at the principal service at 10 am each Sunday from September through mid-June. Currently, they rehearse on Thursday evenings from 7:30-9 pm and warm up at 9:30 am on Sunday mornings. (Rehearsals can be flexible.) During the summer individual choir members arrive early and sing as a “pick up” choir to assist the congregational singing and responses. Parishioners are invited to join and choir members do not vest during the summer.

 The Organ

Designer & Builder: Schlicker Organ Company, Inc.

                                   Buffalo, New York

Installed:                   1967

Specifications:          7 registers

                                    9 ranks

                                    545 pipes

                        2 manuals, pedal, 30 stop tablets, rendered expressive by swell shutters

Pipes:  16’   Untersatz       12 pipes         8’  Salicional (stopped bass)      73  pipes

           8’    Principal       12   “             2’   Rohrfloete                        61  pipes

           8’ Gedeckt         61   “            II-III  Mixture                       143  pipes

           8’ Voix celeste  49   “            16’  Basson-Schalmai             73  pipes

           4’ Octave          61   “

Chapter Leadership
Metropolitan NJ Chapter American Guild of Organists
Executive Board