Organist/Music Director--Church

Immanuel Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, 3000 West Main Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan, currently has a vacancy for an Organist/Music Director. Immanuel’s organ is an eleven-rank Kilgen tracker organ that has been rebuilt by Jim Lauck. For additional information and/or job description please email: ilckalamazoo@gmail.com. If interested send cover letter and resume to: ilckalamazoo@gmail.com. Resume should include: formal education, music training, work experience and professional references.

Duties and Responsibilities

Worship Services: Provide organ music at all worship services. Worship services include: Sundays, mid-week services (Advent and Lent) two Christmas Eve services, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, two Easter Sunday services and a Thanksgiving Eve service. Additionally, provide regular organ solo works (Prelude, Postlude and Offertory and other supporting selections) for the worship service, in addition to the liturgy.

a. The organist will play each Sunday during the year as well as special services. Position includes 4 vacation and/or sick days.b. Schedule and orient substitute organists for the four (4) Sundays off each year.

c. Schedule pianist for any alternative scheduled worship service i.e. Sunday evening.

Service Planning: Consult resources of Lutheran liturgy used by this congregation, select hymns, choose choral anthems, preludes, offertory and postludes and develop a music plan consistent with season and scripture text. Review music plan with the Pastor and Director of Worship Committee. Distribute music plan to church secretary for bulletin and audio/visual specialists at a timespecified by the Church Secretary. Evaluate, select and purchase new music to be used in worship services within the approved budget. Secure permission to use licensed or copyrighted material.

Choir: Direct, rehearse and accompany the Church Choir. Develop choir rehearsal plans, organizing materials and conduct rehearsal prep. Recruit new members and enhance members’ skills. Work with Children’s Choir Director on music and scheduling.

Soloists and Instrumentalists: Identify, rehearse and accompany any soloist or instrumentalists who may be used to enhance the worship service. Rehearsals and accompaniments may include piano literature in addition to organ literature.

Weddings and Funerals: Provide organ music for all weddings and funerals held at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Weddings and funerals are outside of Immanuel’s Ministry Plan. Organist needs to develop a fee schedule and meet with brides and bereaved families to plan services. The Organist has the right of refusal to play for weddings and funerals at Immanuel, but will be responsible for identifying an alternative organist.

Musical Instrument Maintenance: Contact and meet with instrument maintenance personnel as needed to ensure the quality of the instruments and their sound. Report all maintenance to Pastor and Director of Worship.

Budget: Develop a music budget that anticipates annual expenses.

Professionalism: Demonstrate professional behavior in all activities and maintain organ skills through practice, attending conferences, researching music literature, concerts, etc.

Qualifications and Skills

Church Worship Experience: Familiarity with both organ and other music and hymnody with knowledge of Lutheran worship tradition.

Music Knowledge: Knowledge of basic music theory, including simple transpositions or harmonizing a melody.

Music Ability: Knowledge of the instrument, tracker organ, and keyboard ability sufficient to play hymns, liturgy, and anthem accompaniments.

Music Competence: High degree of competence on organ, piano, and the ability to accompany groups and individuals, with a degree in organ performance preferred.

Interpersonal Skills: Sensitivity and the ability to interact with a variety of people.

Salary

Consistent with candidate education, experience, skill level and responsibilities

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $12,000.00 - $24,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 20 per week

Work Location: In person

Salary : $12,000 - $24,000