To serve the mission and ends of the congregation by implementing a high-quality music program at the First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, collaborating with the church staff, choir, volunteers, and Children’s and Youth Religious Exploration (CYRE) team. The position is a part-time, exempt position that reports to the Senior Minister. As a part-time position with flexible hours, including 1 Sunday off/month, the Music Director will be responsible for arranging coverage in their absence.

The description is designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this position. The actual duties and responsibilities may vary based on assignments that are not limited to those listed.
 

Requirements: A degree in Organ/Piano and/or Sacred Music or comparable experience, and training and experience sufficient to carry out the duties listed below. 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Worship

  • Collaborate with the minister and other program staff in the creation of worship services.

  • Choose anthems and hymns for services, in consultation with the minister and other program staff.

  • Provide music for worship services, as well as Rites of Passage, such as weddings and memorial services, including those Sundays/times not in attendance (off 1 Sunday/month). This includes playing piano and/or organ, arranging for guest musicians and hymn leaders, and conducting ensembles.

  • Design and implement special music worship services including Christmas Eve, Easter, All Music Worship as well as other musical events

  • Support and develop the experience of congregational singing.

  • Research copyright and ensure compliance for broadcasts

• Choirs and other ensembles

  • Encourage congregation and community members to take part in First U choirs.

  • Choose repertoire and prepare scores for choir participation in services and other events.

  • Rehearse with Adult Choir once a week, September - June, and lead choir on Sunday mornings. 

  • Recruit and prepare choir for concerts and occasional special services, such as memorial services, installations, ordinations, and other official church occasions.

  • Create and/or work with existing ad-hoc choirs or other musical groups to expand the musical experiences available to adult or youth musicians. These currently include Women’s Trio and Children’s Choir, which is directed by a volunteer, and occasional small instrumental ensembles.

• Rites of Passage

  • Meet with families and minister to plan Memorial Services

  • Meet with families and minster to plan Weddings

  • Play piano or organ, hire and rehearse with soloists, and/or arrange for guest musicians to take part if Music Director is unavailable. 

• Music Program & Administration

  • Recruit, encourage, and coach members of the congregation to provide music for worship services and other events.

  • Arrange for guest musicians for those Sunday services and rites of passage events where the Music Director will not be in attendance (e.g., one Sunday a month, funerals, etc.) 

  • Communicate with guest musicians (e.g., pianist, organist, instrumentalists and singers) about service plans, hymns, organ and choir music.

  • Oversee maintenance of the church’s inventory of musical instruments, including the organ and church pianos, and set policies for their use.

  • Maintain the music library.

  • Oversee spending of the music operating budget and special funds related to music, including music program’s Counterpoint Fund. 

  • Collaborate with church communication team to promote music in the church.

  • Attend staff and program staff meetings. Attend other meetings when needed, including AV Team

  • Establish regular office hours at the beginning of each program year, to be adjusted as needed in consultation with supervisor. 
     

Overall Professional Responsibilities:

• Maintain contact with music colleagues in other churches and with the wider denomination through involvement in the Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries (AUUMM), American Choral Directors Association, American Guild of Organists (AGO) and/or other professional and denominational organizations.

• Create musical activities which will connect First U to the surrounding community.

• Learn and practice new music, music interpretation, maintain keyboard and vocal skills.

• Develop professional and spiritual practice by attending relevant retreats, classes, and conferences.

• Stay current on copyright law as it relates to music used within the church.

COMPENSATION : 

Salary range is $43,000 – 48,000 based on experience and education. We offer part-time benefits (including professional development leave; sick leave; four-weeks of vacation; pro-rated medical; employee-paid dental and life insurance; and participation in our retirement savings plan).

APPLICATION: 

Please submit a cover letter, résumé, and video recordings (mp3 optional) demonstrating organ and piano competence and choral conducting skills to: MusicDirectorSearch@firstuuwilm.org. No phone calls or applications by mail. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, Delaware is a Welcoming Congregation (https://www.uua.org/lgbtq/welcoming) and an equal opportunity employer. People with disabilities, people of color, Hispanic/Latinx, LGBTQ, and immigrant candidates are encouraged to apply.