Director of Music

SUMMARY

The Director of Music facilitates the music for all liturgical celebrations. These responsibilities include directing and planning regularly scheduled liturgies; directing, scheduling, and rehearsing all music assemblies, recruitment and formation of parish cantors and music volunteers, instrumentalists at weekend Masses and on Holy Days; seasonal liturgies; music for Faith Formation program; supervision of audio‑visual equipment; and music for funerals and weddings.

The following duties and functions, as outlined herein, are intended to be representative of the type of tasks performed within this classification. They are not listed in any order of importance. The omission of specific statements of duties or functions does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Commitment to professional development is a mutual responsibility of the musician and the parish. To maintain a competent level of professionalism, the responsibility of the pastoral musician includes:

• Practices to improve or maintain skills in voice, conducting, and the instruments upon which the musician is expected to perform.
• Research and mastery of liturgical music
• Pursues educational advancement in musical skills that relate to the parish’s need (e.g., organ, choral directing, vocal pedagogy)
• Keeps current with official statements and documents on music, liturgy, and developments in the pastoral field
• Studies various liturgical and musical publications
• Member of professional organizations and attendance at national and area conferences and workshops
• Periodic coursework in the field of pastoral liturgy and liturgical music.

The responsibility of the pastoral musician as an administrator involves:

• Makes liturgical music policies in conjunction with the Liturgy Commission and pastoral staff, taking into consideration Diocesan and national guidelines
• Formulates a music budget for the parish worship program.
• Develops and maintains a liturgical music library of various styles and genres for assembly, choir, cantor, and instrumentalists.
• Maintains the parish’s musical instruments.
• Makes recommendations for the purchase of new instruments, sound equipment, hymnals and music supplies.
• Secures other musicians as needed for special celebrations, such as Christmas, Easter, Confirmation, etc.
• Supports cultural diversity of the parish and their liturgies.

The Director of Music Ministry should demonstrate the ability to:

• Select and teach new music to the assembly.
• Develop the musicianship of cantors and other musicians.
• Nurture musicianship of the youth.
• Serve as a resource to the parish as well as persons involved in other parish ministries.
• Provide liturgical guidance in sensitive pastoral situations, such as the preparation of weddings and funerals.
• Lead and animate the community’s sung prayer.
• Administer a multifaceted music program. This includes both short and long‑range planning, budget administration, development and maintenance of a music library, scheduling, and timely communication with other liturgical ministers.
• Work in collaboration with parish staff, the Music Ministry Assistant, the Director of Liturgy, musicians, and other ministers of the parish.
• Ability to sing and play independently, without the help of musicians.
• For more information, visit https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./worship

To perform this job successfully, an individual must satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Practice of the Catholic faith is required. Church employees must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with and supportive of the Church’s mission and purpose. Their public behavior must not violate the Church’s faith, morals, or laws, or…