Open Positions
Director of Music (Part-Time)
Pilgrim United Church of Christ, Durham, North Carolina, a congregation that is open and affirming, centers race equity, and lives into creation justice, seeks an experienced musician to serve as Director of Music. Pilgrim is a diverse, inclusive congregation that deeply values the power of music as a means of expression, meditation, and connection with each other and with God.
Pilgrim’s Music Director will know how to find theology within the expanse of music. They are knowledgeable of and comfortable with a broad range of repertoire, such as Medieval and Renaissance motets, high Romantic-period choral works, spirituals, protest songs of the 1960s, and popular music of today. For example, past Christmas Cantata programs have adventurously spanned Handel and Mozart, indy rock, Broadway musicals, and traditional carols. Pilgrim’s Music Director must be familiar with liturgy and welcoming of music from all faith traditions, recognizing the teaching aspect of this ministry.
While the choir is a backbone of Pilgrim’s music programming, there are many congregants and friends of Pilgrim willing to share their musical gifts. In this regard, and in general, our director will be open, collaborative, flexible, and innovative. It is important that our Music Director recognize and be responsive to the needs of the Pastor, the congregation, and the choir, being able to balance these roles and relationships with patience, compassion, and positivity. Our desire is for our Music Director to enhance our spiritual experience, and reciprocally, for this position to be life-giving to the one who fills it.
We seek a Music Director who can potentially lead from the organ and/or piano for weekly Sunday morning worship, as well as mid-week rehearsals. Additional opportunities arise to direct (and play with) a variety of instrumentalists and soloists.
Keyboard instruments available at PUCC: 1967 Aeolian-Skinner organ, 1920’s Steinway parlor grand piano, Kawai baby grand piano, Single-manual harpsichord
The Director of Music is a part-time, salaried integral member of staff of Pilgrim United Church of Christ and assumes the following responsibilities to the PUCC congregation:
Be present, have music planned and prepared for regularly scheduled worship services (single Sunday service), including hymns, choral arrangements, and incidental music as requested.
Provide organ and other keyboard music for Pilgrim’s Sunday worship service, as well as extraordinary services during Advent, Christmas, Lent and Holy Week.
Be present and prepared for all rehearsals, in support of usual or special worship events.
Work in partnership with pastor and other relevant persons involved to plan, rehearse for, and execute special services around the liturgical calendar, as well as weddings, funerals, and other events on a case by case basis.
Work in partnership with the very dedicated choir (adult choir) to execute music weekly that is of interest to, challenging, and fun for musicians involved, while also being satisfactory to congregation.
When necessary, find a substitute accompanist, if the program so dictates and/or when not available because of PTO.
Oversee care and maintenance of the organ and other church instruments within budgetary limits.
Include all who wish to participate in the music program, respecting the time commitment of those who attend choir practice on a weekly basis.
Include those from the congregation who feel led to share musical gifts, but do not feel led to be an ongoing part of the choir or other formal musical arrangements.
Foster the inclusion of all Pilgrims in music, to whatever extent they feel comfortable, recognizing that music is valued as an integral part of worship. Even those who don’t sing may be worshiping through music.
We anticipate the time commitment for this position of about 20 hours per week, recognizing the ebb and flow of the Christian calendar. We welcome applications for the full Music Director position (providing both music direction and accompaniment) and/or applicants who wish to apply for just one of the position components
Members of the PUCC congregation assume the following responsibilities to the Music Director:
Provide reasonable salary support commensurate with professional training, work activities, and achievement of job responsibilities.
Maintain an environment of artistic freedom for the Director and for all musicians performing in the church.
Participate in the church music program.
Provide material support to the church music program, including resources for music and additional musicians, within budgetary limits.
Ensure that the Music Director is paid for professional services, such as weddings at a rate consistent with the PUCC wedding policy.
Offer but not require membership in PUCC.
Generous PTO in accordance with Pilgrim’s Personnel Policy.
Ensure that PUCC is open to and affirming of all individuals, not discriminating on the basis of race, gender, disability, or sexual orientation/identity.
Provide timely and appropriate feedback and support among the Music Committee, Music Director, and any other involved persons as appropriate and necessary.
Offer opportunities for the Music Director to interact with and get to know members of church.
Process of Application:
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and other information demonstrating music leadership and/or performance by December 15, 2022.
Questions and application material can be sent via email to: puccdurham@gmail.com
To learn more about Pilgrim United Church of Christ, please visit our website (https://www.pilgrimucc-durham.org/) and join us for a worship service on Sunday at 10:30 am.