Employment Opportunities

Music Director – Aurora United Church

  Aurora United Church, a vibrant community of faith, seeks a Music Director who can immediately become a key component of our growth and vitality.  This Music Director will engage our congregation through developing and evolving our music programs to their fullest potential.  Our vision for music at Aurora United is broad and, we feel, unique – a blend of traditional and contemporary, grounded in the finest musical history and forward-looking in spirit.

  The successful applicant will help us to develop the details of our music program vision, act as church organist/pianist, Chancel Choir Director, and will also work closely with Youthful Spirits (our youth/teen music program) and other musicians, bands, and music groups at AUC to create a vibrant music offering which appeals to our whole congregation.

  The Music Director will work in a collegial team environment with our Ministry Team, Worship Committee, Choirs, Youthful Spirits, Handbells Director, and other music groups as above to create and deliver outstanding Sunday services.

Responsibilities:

·        Work with Ministry Team to develop and evolve Sunday services to integrate a broad spectrum of music into a balanced program.

·         Play organ or piano for two Sunday services (9:00am and 10:30am) from the start of September to mid-May, and one service each Sunday for the balance of the year.  Direct the choir and musical performers for those services, and lead weekly / ad hoc rehearsals.

·         Re-establish and lead a junior choir and integrate it with AUC’s music offering.  Integrate the Youthful Spirits with AUC’s music offering.

·         Coordinate with the Director / Conductor of the Handbells Program to integrate handbells music with AUC’s music offering.

·        Partner with, assist and consult with the Ministry Team and other committees as above, in selecting suitable worship music.  Attend regular meetings with staff and Worship Committee, as well as occasional ad hoc meetings with other music groups.

·        Find the music suitable for AUC needs. Many different selections, selection types and genres are required to suit performances by Choir, Youthful Spirits, soloists, quartets, trios, duets, band(s), women’s and men’s choruses, instrumentalists and seasonal requirements (e.g. Christmas, Easter).

·        Explore new and challenging musical formats / eras / genres for performers. Develop music sharing with other congregations.

·        Arrange for performers (solo, duet, instrumentalists, etc.).  Advise the office of selections for Sunday bulletins.

·         Be available, when possible, for weddings, funeral, and other AUC functions, paid separately.

·        Purchase music, provide copies for performers and avoid photocopying in accordance with our strict policy of compliance with copyright law.

·        Keep choral and other music catalogued and organized, with the assistance of Choir and other groups as noted above.

·        Pass on musical information of interest to the Choir and congregation, as needed.

·        Oversee maintenance and tuning of church instruments.

Qualifications:

·       Detail-oriented, passionate and flexible individual with a strong work ethic and excellent organizational and interpersonal / leadership skills.

·        An integrative, and involvement-based attitude, a person who creates success through working with others, in addition to their own accomplishments and talents.

·        Wide musical interest, grounded in training or experience in selecting liturgically appropriate music.

·        Church music background and experience in a Music Director capacity; ability to play pipe organ and piano (other instruments an asset).

·        Proven track record of success in working with a variety of music formats and genres, as well as proven musical success in working with youth, teens, young adults and seniors in a team environment.

·        Ability to work flexible hours to support rehearsal schedules for a variety of people.

·        Sensitivity to people with diverse musical backgrounds and training, and an ability to draw out the best in them, musically.

·        Understands their role at AUC as a leader and as a role model for behaviour and Christian values.

Position Highlights:

·       2 manual Casavant organ (1930) with full midi capability, 300 new organ pipes, and brand new Yamaha Sound Engine

·        Yamaha grand piano

·        Yamaha digital keyboard

·        Roland electronic drumset

·        Fully modernized 24-channel sound system, multiple amplifiers, subwoofer, ipod connectivity, etc.

·        Digital video system, two screens, two projectors, large screen flat monitors

·        State of the art IT system serving the Chancel for AV / multimedia presentations

·        25-voice Chancel Choir

·        20 to 25-person Youthful Spirits team

·        2 Handbell ensembles and 4 octaves of Schulmerich English handbells

·        3 octaves of handchimes

·        Extensive library of choral, organ and handbell music

·        Dozens of musical performers and bands, across all ages and musical genres

·        Office and teaching facilities for piano, organ, voice, etc.

·       Fully redeveloped Sanctuary with brand new lighting automation system, in-floor monitors (x4) and wireless capability

·       Congregation uses Voices United; Chancel Choir has More Voices and additional licensing through OneLicense.

Interested applicants are asked to submit a resume by September 1, 2010 including references, to: 
Aurora United Church, ATTN: Music Director Search Committee, 15186 Yonge Street, Aurora, ON, L4G 1L9
or email to: musicsearch@auroraunitedchurch.ca.