Employment

Main Street UMC, a 500-member congregation located in downtown Nashua, NH, seeks a dynamic and engaging worship collaborator to be their Director of Music. MSUMC is a reconciling congregation, a theologically progressive and inclusive spiritual community that is centered in the belief that we are all beloved children of God. We seek to joyfully share Christ’s message of hope through creative expression, deepening connections between people, advocating for justice, and serving our community. Whatever your background might be – your race, your nationality, your age, your physical or mental ability, your gender identity or expression, your sexual orientation – whoever you are and wherever you come from, we welcome you into our community of faith. As a reconciling congregation, MSUMC welcomes people of all sexual orientations and all gender identities and expressions. The Director of Music would be expected to share and uphold these values and our approach to faith. (For more information see our website: www.mainstreet-umc.org)

Our church continues to explore what it means to be a community connected on multiple platforms for worship as well as to re-connect members to each other and the church as we recover from the pandemic. Our music ministries are central to our church’s identity and we are interested in expanding how we use these mediums to further deepen people’s sense of belonging, enhance our passion for justice and service, and engage people across generations and cultures.

To learn more about Main Street UMC, please visit: www.mainstreet-umc.org

E-mail resume and cover letter to sprc-chair@mainstreet-umc.org

Contact Mike Brown, SPRC Chair, at the above email address with questions.


Job Title: Director of Music

Supervisor: Lead Pastor and Staff Parish Relations Committee

Position Type: Permanent Part-Time (Approximately 20 Hours a week)

Date posted: May 2022

Anticipated Start: July 2022


JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Director of Music is called to provide leadership in crafting a dynamic, creative music ministry. They are responsible for the overall development, management, and growth of this ministry for children, youth, and adults so as to enhance worship, build community, and offer an extravagant welcome to all. This includes a Bell choir that has its own director.


Due to the nature of this position the Director of Music would be expected to be on site at the church for regular rehearsals and for Sunday morning worship services (in addition to occasional special worship services throughout the year such as Good Friday or Ash Wednesday). However, there is flexibility in terms of remote work and online attendance for regular staff meetings and collaboration with the worship planning team. Job-sharing (i.e., separating accompanist and director duties) is an option with this position.


Ministry Responsibilities

  • Provides leadership to support the mission of the church through music and the arts.

  • Directs, accompanies, supervises, plans, and/or provides all musical elements of worship and special services, including but not limited to the Adult Choir, with the exception of the bell choir.

  • Conducts regular and supplemental (as necessary) rehearsals for the Adult Choir.

  • Provides appropriate musical elements for all activities within the music ministry, including selection of repertoire in consultation with the Lead Pastor in a timely fashion.

  • Enhances the expression of faith by incorporating a broad musical spectrum, from diverse time periods, genres, and cultures.

  • Encourages and fosters the musical and artistic talents of all members and worshipers of MSUMC.

  • Serves as primary accompanist as musical needs of the church dictate.

  • Maintains collegial and productive working relationships with the Pastor, the Worship Team, and groups assigned to plan and participate in worship and special services.

Administrative Responsibilities

  • Coordinates the use and proper maintenance of MSUMC’s musical instruments, including the sanctuary organ and grand piano.

  • Obtains and reports copyright permission to reprint, stream, and record hymns and songs for the congregation.

  • Arranges for a substitute or guest music director, or additional musicians for special worship services, as necessary.

  • Develops, manages, and operates within a yearly budget for MSUMC’s music and arts ministry in consultation with the Pastor and Church Council.

  • Receives direction from the Pastor, collaborates with the worship team, and reports to the Staff Parish Relations Team. This includes monthly Church Staff meetings and monthly worship team meetings.

Qualifications

  • referred experience in choral direction and/or accompaniment.

  • Piano solo/accompanist skills required (organ experience preferred, but not required). The Casavant organ was designed 1949 specifically for the space (a two manual and pedal instrument of 30 ranks and 1768 pipes, some as tall as 16 feet) and Yamaha G1 grand piano.

  • Sight reading skills are preferred.

  • Experience working with volunteer adult choirs with multiple levels of musical knowledge.

  • Skills in audio and/or video production or a willingness to learn how to create recorded tracks and/or videos occasionally as needed for use in hybrid and online worship.

  • Excellent communication and planning skills.

  • Formal musical training preferred.

  • Experience with diverse repertoires from various time periods, genres and cultures.

  • Ability to enhance the faith experience through musical arts.