Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Pete is hiring: Music Coordinator and Piani
Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Pete, Saint Petersburg, FL, United States, 33739
Job Description
Summary
The Music Coordinator and Pianist works under the general direction of their supervisor (currently the Minister) and in coordination with the Worship Services Music Team. The primary goal of the position of the Music Coordinator and Pianist is to provide spiritually enriching and inviting worship service music for all ages, tastes, and abilities. Please note that all elements of Worship Services are typically recorded and streamed live – and then cataloged online (e. g., on YouTube) by staff or volunteers assigned by UUSP.
Candidate Requirements
1. Excellence in music presentation, piano accompaniment, and piano solo playing in front of audiences of up to 300
2. Enthusiasm for progressive religious values and the creative ways Unitarian Universalist theology comes alive through music
3. Excitement and flexibility for programming music year-round in highly organized coordination with the Worship Services Music Team and two choirs (vocal and bells)
4. Dedication to inclusion of seasoned and new musicians of all genres and types of music 5. Interest in and dedication to quality vocal and instrumental music production
6. Knack for organization and reliability, especially since outside of service times and staff meetings, the position’s schedule may not often align with other staff members’ schedules
Not Required but Desirable
1. Excellence in vocal solo music presentation in front of audiences
2. Expertise in playing the organ and organ maintenance
3. Experience with and deep understanding of A/V systems
4. Degrees or certifications in music and/or theological studies
5. Track record of conducting bell choirs
6. Familiarity with UU hymnals and other UU music
Requirements: Schedule
1. Ensures worship service music programming and presentation for 52 (both Present and Coordinated) services:
a. Present as pianist and accompanist for 47 of 52 Sundays, and
b. Present as pianist and accompanist for Christmas Eve; if Christmas Eve service overlaps with a Sunday Service the Minister may reduce the number of required (Present) services in a given year to 47 rather than 48.
c. With Worship Services Music Team, ensures 5 Sundays of fill-in pianist and programmatic requirements coverage, volunteer or paid, in accordance with budget
2. Is present on scheduled Sundays between 9:30 and 11:45am; and at agreed-upon and reasonable amount of time for Christmas Eve
3. Conducts rehearsals and acts as the lead organizer and recruiter for at least 2 choirs (vocal and bells); rehearsals occur with participation in mind, such that they are scheduled at times convenient to singers and with supplemental rehearsals scheduled for Sunday mornings prior to services
4. Liaises with Office Manager to ensure rehearsal spaces are reserved
5. Attends staff meetings as requested by the supervisor
Requirements: Programming & Presentation
1. Ensures all parts of a service are musically programmed – such as prelude, opening hymn, children’s exit, Spirit of Life reflection, anthem, offertory, closing hymn, and postlude
2. Meets and works with Worship Services Music Team to:
a. honor the assets of members of the team as related to hymn-leading, fill-in accompaniment, soloing, and music selection
b. ensure proper music theology, such that music selection follows UU theology, including music being forward-thinking, inclusive, and singable
c. encourage congregational participation in music while establishing guidelines for quality music presentation for hymn leaders and other presenting musicians, such that all who wish to sing or perform are included and provided the proper support to be ready to represent UUSP in music presentation
d. honor and build upon UUSP traditions (such as caroling service in December)
e. fully document 52-week music fiscal year in planning calendar document (included in
Google Drive or other approved document/location), to ensure choirs have clarity of
year-round schedules of presentations and rehearsals
f. recruit / ensure weekly hymn leaders, volunteer or paid, in accordance with budget g. recruit / ensure anthem vocalists, choir conductors as needed, and instrumentalists as, volunteer or paid, in accordance with budget
h. consider creative ways to present all parts of a service, such as sometimes having a singer for the prelude, a new children’s choir for Spirit of Life, or ASL inclusion i. ensure programming expectations match capacity, including during summer when the church may have fewer people in attendance
3. Leads hymn and other singing from piano (mic’d) if a hymn leader is not available for a scheduled Sunday
4. Liaises with both Worship Team and Religious Education (the teams that program worship services or youth educational times) to ensure:
j. music programming is in alignment with service content
k. setup and rehearsal times on Sunday mornings are not in conflict with other needed service preparations
l. those who create print and online programs receive titles of songs and names of presenters timely, per required production schedules
m. those under 18 are appropriately included
6. As able, utilizes the organ when appropriate
Requirements: Administration
1. Ensures maintenance of all church instruments; sheet music and folders; bell equipment (including gloves); and other music storage and properties
2. Evaluates the present music library of UUSP and makes recommendations for acquisitions 3. Keeps applicable music memberships and licenses up to date
4. Liaises with current UUSP staff or volunteers or vendors to collaboratively ensure quality audio (mics, speakers, video recording) for music presentation
5. Liaises with current UUSP staff or volunteers and/or Communications Team to inform the congregation and wider community about the music program through periodic articles, announcements, and ads
6. Represents UUSP well in the community, though paid staff are not members of UUSP 7. Follows all UUSP security policies, including regarding key use and locking of doors 8. Maintains, monitors, and proposes the designated music budget
9. Submits invoices as needed through the church office and via proper procedures 10. As requested, assists the board in envisioning and planning the future of music at UUSP
11. Maintains contact with musical colleagues in the community and in other churches, including the wider denomination, such as through involvement in the Unitarian Universalist Musiscian’s Network (UUMN) and other professional and denominational organizations
12. Monitors assigned email address and physical in-box timely and professionally Benefits
A. As desired, and with approval of the supervisor, a portion of the approved music budget may be used to pay for annual membership in the UU Musicians Network
B. To achieve the 47 Sunday services + 1 Christmas Eve service requirement as noted above, the Music Coordinator and Pianist schedules paid time off for the remaining 5 services.
This paid time off equals 30 hours, allowing for 6 paid time-off hours for each of 5 weeks off. Scheduling is done with the supervisor and appropriate church parties. The position includes no other paid time off, vacation, or sick time. The paid time-off becomes active on July 1, 2025. Prior to this date, any weeks not worked are unpaid time off.
C. May consider additional paid opportunities through association with the church, such as playing for weddings, memorials, cabarets, and special events; parties requesting Music Coordinator and Pianist for such additional services make arrangements for those services and their compensation independently with Music Coordinator and Pianist
D. Free use of church space for personal practice, pending availability and scheduling with church office
E. Additional continuing education opportunities as they arise, such as the opportunity to attend General Assembly, the annual countrywide meeting of UUs
F. This position does not include benefits of personal insurances, retirement account, mobile phone, or home Internet