Choir Director

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (ELCA, gslc-cu.org) in Champaign, Illinois, is seeking an enthusiastic and inclusive Choir Director for a small volunteer choir that rehearses on Wednesday evenings and sings Sunday mornings September‑May at the 9 AM worship service. Successful candidates will have directing and vocal music experience and basic familiarity with the Christian liturgical calendar. Salary negotiable based on experience and additional proficiencies which could include leading a children’s choir and/or guitar playing.

• Plan, attend and direct all choir rehearsals and worship services at which the choir assists in leading worship. Rehearsals are scheduled Wednesdays from 7:00–8:00 pm, except during Lent when the schedule is altered due to Wednesday worship service. The choir meets 30 minutes before worship service on Sundays for warm‑ups and Psalm rehearsal.
• Provide musical leadership for worship and ensure that the cantor is familiar with the liturgy and the choir is familiar with the hymns selected for the worship service.
• Assist the assembly in learning new hymns, new liturgical settings and varied worship styles.
• Select choir anthems for presentation as part of worship each week. Anthems selected should be appropriate for the skills of the choir and the Three‑year Revised Common Lectionary and Calendar of Sundays and Principal Festivals.
• Actively encourage choir members to grow in their skills, teach new techniques, and invite congregation and community members to join the choir.
• Oversee and maintain the choir music library and ensure that the needed musical supplies are purchased and available in the choir room.
• Serve on the Worship and Music Committee and attend meetings of the Committee.

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in music or related area with demonstrated experience in conducting a choir and musical rehearsals.

• Experience in working with church choirs and familiarity with Christian liturgical worship, especially that of the Lutheran church.

• The Choir Director is expected to attend all choir rehearsals and scheduled worship performances, including Sunday worship services and holiday worship services.
• The choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7–8 p.m. and performs on Sunday at the 9:00 a.m. service.
• The choir does not perform during the summer months of June, July, and August.