Organist & Director of Music

Christ Church of Hamilton & Wenham (CCHW) is seeking a collaborative, creative musician to serve as our next Organist & Director of Music to begin by January 1, 2025. This half-time position will be filled by a person who is committed to enriching the spiritual life of parishioners through music.

Our campus includes a chapel and a church. The contemporary architecture of the church features brilliant stained glass by the renowned French artist, Gabriel Loire, as well as excellent acoustics for singing by the choir and the congregation. CCHW has two very good pipe organs. In the church there is a mid-century three-manual electro-pneumatic instrument designed by M. P. Moeller and installed when the church was built in 1961, although there have been numerous tonal revisions since then. The chapel has a two-manual, 14-stop mechanical-action instrument crafted by Schudi in 1986.

CCHW has a strong history of excellent congregational singing supported by a loyal and conscientious Parish Choir made up of volunteers and Choral Scholars.

The Organist & Director of Music is responsible for:

Choosing the hymns, service music, choir anthems, and organ voluntaries that are appropriate for the liturgical Church Year. Services include the weekly Sunday celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 8:00 a.m. (Rite I) in the Chapel and at 10:00 or 10:30 a. m. (Rite II) in the Church, as well as the liturgies that occur on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Ash Wednesday, and during Holy Week.

Planning and directing occasional services of Choral Evensong, Advent Lessons & Carols, and a Requiem for All Souls.

Providing accompaniment, customarily at the organ, for all of these services.

Working with the Parish Administrator to include the liturgical music in the weekly service leaflet.

Conducting and rehearsing the adult choir at their weekly rehearsals during the program year (September thru May).

Auditioning, hiring and supervising Choral Scholars.

Arranging and scheduling maintenance and repairs for the pianos and organs.

Attending weekly staff meetings and occasional ad-hoc meetings with the Rector.

Scheduling coverage for vacations and planned absences as needed.

Requirements

Has a passion to establish, through their leadership, a wholesome and winsome environment of mutual encouragement and respect.

Has an ability to work collaboratively, creatively, and flexibly with others.

Is knowledgeable and respectful of the liturgy and worship of The Episcopal Church.

Holds an undergraduate degree in organ performance or commensurate degree.

Application Process

Applicants are asked to submit the following by email to be received by the Parish Administrator and reviewed by the Rector, The Rev. Patrick Gray. Applications will be accepted thru October 15, 2024, or until the position is filled.

Introductory cover letter that includes a paragraph summarizing your philosophy of music as an element of worship

Resumé

Names and phone contact numbers of three references

Link or recording of a service, performance, or rehearsal