Position: Music Director

Start Date: August, 2026

Reports to: Standing Committee, with day-to-day supervision provided by the Minister

Job status: Part-time, 18-20 hours per week Sept 1–June 30; 5 hour per week July 1–Sept 1

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Pay Range: Salary $25,600 - $32,500

About First Parish Chelmsford Unitarian Universalist Church

First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Chelmsford is a vibrant, inclusive and caring spiritual community. We celebrate the diversity of beliefs within our congregation and come together to share our faith and make a positive impact on the world. Music is central to our congregational life. It enriches our worship, expresses the breadth of our spiritual traditions, and helps us honor the fullness of our shared human experience. We seek a dedicated Music Director to nurture and lead our music program into its next chapter.

Learn more at: First Parish UU Chelmsford www.UUChelmsford.org

Job Summary

The Music Director is a key member of the Worship Team, collaborating with the Minister and Director of Lifespan Faith Formation to select and integrate music into meaningful, thematically cohesive worship services.

This role includes planning, rehearsal leadership, choir direction, accompaniment, worship leadership, and administrative responsibilities throughout the program year (September–June).

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide music, direct, and accompany the choir(s) at regularly scheduled Sunday morning services, two Christmas Eve services, and one Tenebrae Service.

• Select and perform a wide variety of musical pieces which support the spiritual tone for each service as planned with the Worship Team.

• Collaborate with the Worship Team to select music aligned with each service theme
• Plan and conduct weekly rehearsals for senior choir, youth choir, and support the handbell choir
• Oversee care of church musical instruments with the Office Administrator
• Arrange substitutes for absences

Additional Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Music Committee at quarterly Music Committee meetings.
• Coordinate music purchases and copyright compliance with the Office Administrator
• Recruit and coordinate guest musicians as desired
• Create intergenerational music opportunities
• Communicate music program updates through newsletters monthly board reports and the Annual Report
• Uphold congregational policies and the AUUMM Code of Professional Practice

Core Competencies

• Ability to cultivate musical participation across ages and skill levels
• Strong collaborative skills in worship planning
• Ability to conduct and accompany simultaneously
• Strong sight-reading skills
• Knowledge of diverse musical genres
• Comfort working in virtual or hybrid worship settings
• Interest in learning UU history, values, and musical traditions

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in music (preferred) or equivalent experience
• Experience in choral conducting and instrumental leadership
• Proficiency in keyboard accompaniment
• Demonstrated ability to support musical growth in alignment with a congregation’s mission