To apply: 

• Interested candidates should provide a letter of intent, complete resume and link to performance and rehearsal video (5-10 minutes in length) to jobs@fourthchurch.org.
  • Email subject line should read Your name/Organist and Director of Music – Fourth Church
    
• A committee comprised of staff and congregational leaders will review materials that are submitted.
• Finalists for the role will be requested to:
  • Design a worship service around the given scriptures and sermon title.
  • Design a special set of services such as Requiem for All-Saints, Holy Week, Advent, etc.
  • Conduct a rehearsal of mixed group from Chancel and Morning Choirs.
• The interim period will last at least one year with possible three-month extensions.
• The Search Committee will begin reviewing materials as soon as they arrive.

Position Description

The Interim Organist and Director of Music is responsible for overseeing and leading all aspects of the Music Department at Fourth Presbyterian Church. This role is an integral part of planning and leading worship and utilizing the resources of Fourth Church to foster spiritual discipleship through music. This position oversees the Music Department budget and manages the paid staff and unpaid volunteers that comprise the music program. The Interim Organist and Director of Music is responsible for cultivating positive relationships and conducting all
duties in a manner that supports the ministry and mission of Fourth Church.

Schedule

The role is a full-time, 40 hours per week position. Evening, Sunday, and holiday hours will be required. On-site and work remote days may be negotiated with supervisor.

Essential Functions

Oversee all Music Department worship activities including:

• Collaborate with the clergy staff to plan weekly worship including selecting and
  coordinating music.
• Provide organ musical selections before and after worship (prelude and
  postlude).
• Lead the congregation in hymn singing from the organ.
• Audition, manage, rehearse, and conduct the Morning Choir — a professional paid ensemble that sings during the program year (typically September through May).
• Rehearse and conduct the Chancel Choir — a volunteer ensemble of approximately 30 members that sings during the program year (typically September through May).
• Rehearse and conduct both the Men’s Choir and Women’s Choir — a mix of paid and volunteer ensemble that sings during the summer months.
• Rehearse, manage, and coordinate Tower Brass — professional brass octet that plays during worship monthly.
• Conduct and coordinate the Drum Circle — 2-3 players who participate in worship.
• Coordinate the following ensembles which are both led by other Music Department staff:
  • Voices of Light — a volunteer gospel choir of 15 members
  • Handbell Choir — a volunteer ensemble of 12 players
  • Cherub, Children’s, and Youth Choirs
  • Jazz Ensemble — 1 singer and 3 instrumentalists who participate in on-site Sunday afternoon worship as well as support the weekly mid-week video worship service.

• Develop and oversee all aspects of the Music Department budget including revenue and
  expenses.
• Coordinate the organ scholar program and supervise the organ scholar.
• Collaborate with wedding coordinator to select music and play for weddings.
• Collaborate with clergy and families to select music and play for funerals and memorials.
• Oversee the Friday Noon Concert series:
  • Collaborate with Music Manager to plan and oversee 51 concerts each year.
  • Perform at ten of these concerts throughout the year.
    
• Collaborate with Music Manager to plan between 30-50 evening concerts.
• Planning, rehearsing and conducting a variety of church events such as:
  • Choral Society — a mix of paid and volunteer ensemble which sings two concerts per year.
  • Touring ensembles — a mix of paid and volunteer musicians which do bi-annual tours.
  • Taizé Ensemble — volunteer instrumentalists who play as needed.
  • Music provided at Meals Ministry programming.
• Work with volunteer choir librarians to maintain and expand the choir library.
• Work with the Resource Development Department to fundraise for Friends of Music.
• Work with Communications Department to publicize Music Department events.
• Supervise maintenance and tuning of three pipe organs and all pianos.
• Conduct organ tours as scheduled.
• Participate in Worship, Music and Arts Committee meetings and provide monthly reports.
• Please note that some responsibilities may be delegated to the Organ Scholar as appropriate.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Music Department Manager (full-time)
• Organ Scholar (3/4 time)
• Children’s Music Director (1/4 time)
• Voices of Light Director (1/4 time)
• Jazz Ensemble Director (1/4 time)
• Handbell Director
• Morning Choir (4-6 hours/week)

Skills and Abilities:

• Accomplished organist with an extensive and broad repertoire of sacred music that is appropriate for a high worship liturgical church.
• Commitment to anti-racism and drawing from diverse and inclusive breadth of composers and arrangers when selecting music.
• Experience preparing music for worship service and conducting choirs.
• Excellent communicator and adept collaborator with experience in providing guidance to others. Ability to work and communicate with a wide range of external and internal constituents.
• Commitment to the mission of Fourth Presbyterian Church and desire and aptitude for working within a diverse, mission-driven organization.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
  

Education and/or Experience

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in music. Will also consider extensive musical
  experience in place of degree.
• At least 10 years’ experience as an Organist and Director of Music or similar role.
• Demonstrated experience of excellence.
  

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with different abilities to perform essential functions.

• If the current health conditions dictate, one must be able to participate in online virtual communications, including email, video conferencing, and other online tools used to facilitate virtual office culture and work sharing.
• Attend Fourth Church/Chicago Light staff and administrative meetings as required.
• Smoke- and drug (illegal or recreational)-free environment.
• Fourth Church/ Chicago Lights aims for accessibility in any off-site location that we control, but some of them may not be fully accessible.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and scanners. Employees are regularly required to communicate effectively via computer, via phone, and in person.
• Be able to lift 35 pounds.
• This role requires frequent sitting and standing.
• Fourth Presbyterian Church’s/Chicago Lights office is located in downtown Chicago.
  

Application Process

• Interested candidates should provide a letter of intent, complete resume and link to performance and rehearsal video (5-10 minutes in length) to jobs@fourthchurch.org.
  • Email subject line should read Your name/Organist and Director of Music – Fourth Church
  • The video of the organ performance should include 2-3 hymns, a prelude or postlude, a piece of your choice and one improvisation.
    
• A committee comprised of staff and congregational leaders will review materials that are submitted.
• Finalists for the role will be requested to:
  • Design a worship service around the given scriptures and sermon title.
  • Design a special set of services such as Requiem for All-Saints, Holy Week, Advent, etc.
  • Conduct a rehearsal of mixed group from Chancel and Morning Choirs.
• The interim period will last at least one year with possible three-month extensions.
• The Search Committee will begin reviewing materials as soon as they arrive.

EEO Statement
Fourth Presbyterian Church/Chicago Lights is committed to equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, without regard to race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status or familial status, veteran status, military status, source of income, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law. Fourth Church/Chicago Lights seeks to build and retain a diverse staff and is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated as a respected and valued team member. Fourth Church/Chicago Lights is committed to elevating the voices of women, young people, people of color, Native people, immigrants and refugees, low-income people, LGBQ+, and transgender, gender nonconforming, and non-binary people, people with disabilities, and young parents. We encourage people from these communities to apply.

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