Organist, Choirmaster, and Director of Sacred Music

Position Summary: St. Martin's is seeking a full-time organist and choirmaster to lead our music ministries. We seek someone who sees as much beauty in the people creating the music as the music itself. The ideal candidate is a collaborative musician and leader who will be an ambassador for St. Martin’s. The Director of Sacred Music takes a strategic role in our ministry by energizing and evangelizing our whole congregation and all who visit using the beauty of music.

About St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields: St. Martin’s is a moderately large and growing Episcopal Church, founded in 1950. We are located in Forest Acres, a suburb of Columbia minutes from downtown. St. Martin’s is a liturgically-grounded parish full of generous and God-loving people. Here you find young and old worshiping with serious intent in a parish atmosphere that is open and affirming, genuine, relaxed, and come-as-you-are. St. Martin’s is a church with a rich and diverse musical history, formed by our Anglican traditions and liturgy. St. Martin’s also enjoys a tradition of hosting special services. We have celebrated jazz, Celtic, folk, and Caribbean masses, as well as lessons and carols and solemn evensongs. Our staff culture is vibrant, flexible, and fast-paced in a casual and laughter-filled environment. We are a small staff that relies on an atmosphere of teamwork and congeniality to do God’s work and be responsive to God’s call among our people. St. Martin’s has a moderate-sized endowment consisting of four funds invested in a socially responsible manner. 

+ About Our Musical Assets

• 1972 Schantz Organ, Opus 1104 - We are blessed weekly by the sounds of our 3-manual, 36-rank, Schantz organ. We plan to expand its capabilities, adding ranks and Trompettes en Chamade.
• The St. Martin's Choir - Professional and volunteer singers who sing year-round at the 10:30 AM service on Sunday Mornings. The choir currently rehearses on Wednesday evenings.
• The Requiem Choir - a volunteer choir that sings for funeral services at the church.
• Cantors - Choir members who sing at the 8 AM service.
• Royal School of Church Music - A children and youth choir that has sung at military retirements and worship services, and has participated in youth choir events around the region.
• 5 PM Praise Band - Our newest musical offering. These volunteers currently play one Sunday of the month at the 5 PM service. The Praise Band includes guitar, keyboard, four vocalists, and other instruments.

+ Responsibilities

Team Member - Two are better than one because they have a good return for their hard work – Ecclesiastes 4:9

• Develop a dynamic vision for worship with our Rector.
• Collaborate with staff, lay leaders, and community stakeholders.
• Be an integral part of the worship planning team to create holy Christ-centered worship celebrations.
• Join and add to a healthy church ecosystem.
• Share your gifts.
• Grow to love this church as much as we all do.

Worship - Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD, let us exalt his Name together.– Psalm 34

Support the worshipful life of our congregation by:

• Planning Sunday service music for all services (8 AM, 10:30 AM, and 5 PM). Rehearse and direct our St. Martin’s choir and cantors.
• Accompanying congregational singing on the organ and/or piano
• Creating meaningful worship at the 5 PM service every week, either through accompaniment or with the Worship Band, and exploring alternative eras and genres of worship music to appeal to a variety of worshippers (Taizé, Praise & Worship, paperless music, alternative instrumental voicings, etc.)
• Planning music, rehearsals, and conducting and managing special musical offerings for high holy seasons like Holy Week/Easter and Christmas, as well as community concerts and offerings.
• Accompany weddings and funerals for church members.

Leadership - I will walk with sincerity of heart within my house. – Psalm 101

• Care for, pray for, and support the pastoral needs of those in your area of supervision.
• Participate in staff meetings in addition to the meetings of the Worship Planning Team.
• Design, develop, implement, direct, and oversee choirs, teams, ensembles, soloists, and others in the musical arts to support the corporate worship life of the congregation.

Education - We will recount to generations to come the praiseworthy deeds and power of the LORD – Psalm 74

• Support, encourage, and equip our children’s choir and its leadership.
• Recruit, develop, resource, and manage a team of volunteers and contracted musicians in the area of worship. Help and encourage all to grow in love of music and skillfulness.
• Contribute to parish communications to educate the congregation about our musical traditions and the beauty of musical worship.

Planning - Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God - Psalm 92

• Collaborate with rector and lay leaders to envision and plan music program, in the short term and with long-term visioning.
• Manage payment and expenditures regarding music-related items (i.e. paid supply singers, organ/piano tuning, etc.)
• Collaborate with parish leadership to develop an annual music ministry budget.
• Oversee maintenance and care of our Schantz organ, pianos, handbells, and other instruments used in worship.

+ Requirements, Skills, and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Music, Music Education, or Sacred Music (or equivalent)
• Skilled accompanist and performer on organ and piano
• Skilled in improvisational playing to provide musical fill between transitions in liturgy
• Skilled choral director
• Strong understanding of scripture and Christian theology within the Episcopal tradition
• Knowledge of the Anglican music tradition
• Strong relationship skills to optimize connection with diverse members
• Pray for the people of this parish and come to know them by name
• Experience working with volunteers at various levels

+ Benefits

• This position is full-time.
• Salary commensurate with experience and local cost of living, ranging from $ 65,000 - $70,000 with opportunity for growth
• Health insurance and retirement benefits offered through The Episcopal Church
• Continuing education expenses and time supported by an endowment fund
• Director is provided with a computer and discrete office space attached to rehearsal room