Get new jobs for this search by email

The Music Director is responsible for leading and coordinating all aspects of the music ministry at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine. This role is responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing music for liturgical celebrations and requires the ability to lead and inspire both volunteer and professional musicians. A deep understanding of the Roman Catholic liturgy is required.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Administrative

• Communicate effectively with parishioners, parish musicians, and Cathedral Staff.
• Plan all liturgical music and repertoire for all Sunday Masses, Funerals, and special parish liturgies to be scheduled, with the support of Sacred Scripture, the Revised General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 3^rd Typical Edition, the Liturgical Documents of the Vatican Council, directives of the USCCB, “Sing to the Lord” and other local liturgical music guidelines of the Diocese of St. Augustine.
• Develop a yearly budget to reflect the needs of the music program of the Cathedral Parish, including administrative functions, maintenance of the parish’s piano and two organs, professional development of the Cathedral organist and music director, purchase of new music and hymnals, hiring of substitute organists and instrumentalists, and copyright licenses.
• Plan choral music repertoire for choirs reflecting the weekly Scripture Readings and/or the Seasonal Feast Day suggestions.
• Collaborate with Cathedral organist and cantor(s) in the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours.
• Collaborate with Cathedral Parish School to ensure weekly School Masses have appropriate liturgical music.
• Recruit members of choirs and ensembles.
• Plan effective choral rehearsals to provide the parish with Cathedral Quality choral experiences.
• Organize and maintain rosters of choir members, cantors, and choral/instrumental music library inventories.
• Schedule Cantor Assignments for Sunday Masses and Funerals.
• Represent the Cathedral Parish in daily communication regarding musical advice and direction.
• Work in collaboration with City officials regarding Cathedral facilities and events.
• Oversee maintenance of Choir Gallery, rehearsal room, and music office.
• Organize and recruit artists for the First Friday Art Walk Concerts.
• Advertise and promote events via media.
• Foster organ concerts on the Cathedral’s two organs and promote these events.
• Represent the parish in scheduling concert times in the Cathedral for local entities and schools.
• Keep records of all gifts to the music department and revenue from concert tickets and donations.
• Negotiate and reimburse artists for their contributions to recitals and concerts.
• Attend all staff and Liturgy Committee Meetings scheduled throughout the year.
• Collaborate on Worship Aids and Programs for concerts, liturgies, and events throughout the year.

Performance

• In collaboration with the Cathedral Organist, schedule the musical coverage of all Cathedral’s daily and weekend Masses and special events.
• Teach, rehearse, and direct all choral music for the three Cathedral Choirs, as well as the Cathedral Women’s Schola.
• Demonstrate strong organ skills, especially in improvisation, accompaniment, and service playing.
• Promote authentic liturgical music using Gregorian Chant, Renaissance polyphony, organ music, hymnody, and contemporary song.
• Play the organ and direct ensembles simultaneously when needed.

Diocesan Liturgies

• This position is a parish music director position. However, since the Diocese of St. Augustine does not have a director of music nor a diocesan choir, responsibilities for diocesan liturgies at the Cathedral currently fall on the Director of Music for Cathedral Parish and the Cathedral Organist.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in music or a related field with excellent organ/piano skills, vocal technique, and choral conducting skills.
• Five years of work experience as a Director of Music in a Catholic Parish preferred.
• Experience with musical instrumentation, preferably with music writing and composition.
• Familiarity with music technology, including sound systems and digital scores.
• Broad musical knowledge of styles including standard and modern Catholic music, traditional hymns, and Praise and Worship style of music.
• A prayerful person of faith committed to personal and professional growth, with extensive knowledge in and love for Catholic liturgy.
• Faithfully adheres to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with clergy, staff, and volunteers.
• Able to direct/supervise the music ministry team: assistants, cantors, choirs, and accompanists.
• Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office, Publisher, Music writing/editing software).

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, vendors, employees, and the public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, climb stairs, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Our Choir Gallery/Loft, where the Music Director directs the choir, is on the second floor and is only accessible by a steep staircase.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Flexibility to work evenings and weekends, when necessary, and ability to travel and drive one’s own vehicle to various diocesan locations.