Metropolitan New Jersey Chapter

 Membership and Directory

As of November, we have 81 members who have paid their dues.

Certification

Changes have been made to the certification exams. To view the recording of the meeting for “A 21st Century Facelift for the Certification Exams”, please click HERE.
The certification exam information/handouts can be viewed HERE.
Additional information about the how to access the Hymn Booklet will be available on September 1st. Please go to the Certification website page that is located under the Education tab on the AGO website for the full details. Applications for the tests are now accepted online.

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

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.   

1. Select appropriate hymns, anthems and service music for scheduled worship services.
2. 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.)
3. Be available to meet with the Rector for seasonal worship planning.
4. 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

ST PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH  in Chatham seeking a PART-TIME DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

Position: Director of Music – Immediate opening

Job Type: Part Time- 20 hours per week

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chatham, NJ is a loving and inclusive parish with a
great appreciation for music. We are seeking a Director of Music to lead us into
a new chapter in our music ministry.

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

We are beginning a new chapter at St. Paul’s and are looking for a vibrant,
energetic, faithful, experienced person to join our ministry team as Director of
Music. This position will offer the opportunity for candidates to be a part of a
new team with creative input into the planning and vision for future ministry at
St. Paul’s.
Responsibilities include working with the Priest in Charge and staff in
planning/visioning for worship services and special events, one choir rehearsal
and one Sunday service per week, training, leading and direction of the parish
choir including the recruitment of new musicians to grow the program. The
Music Director is also responsible for maintenance of the organ and pianos,
maintenance of the church music library, and the organization of our concert
series including the choir and outside performers.
Candidates must have the experience and skills needed to prepare and
perform music for worship services and special musical events. They must also be
open and flexible about a diversifying our traditional repertoire and be open
and able to work with children.
Candidates must also have excellent skill on the organ and piano and excellent
technical, vocal, and sight-reading skills. Strong experience and proficiency in
hymn playing, choral conducting and accompanying including Anglican and
Episcopal liturgy, and openness to both solo and ensemble work are required.

Contact Information:
If you are interested in this position, email a CV and cover letter to the Rev. Ellen
Kohn-Perry, Priest in Charge, at Ellen@stpaulschatham.org.

Chapter Leadership
Metropolitan NJ Chapter American Guild of Organists
Executive Board