Michigan Traditional-minded parish seeks music director

[CarrieH]

[moderators, please feel free to delete this if such posts are not permitted]

Part-time Director of Sacred Music
St. Mary Catholic Church
Kalamazoo, MI

St. Mary’s Parish is a small (180 household) but active parish that has enjoyed the use of both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms of the Roman Rite. The parish is under the direction of the Fathers and Brothers of the Kalamazoo Oratory of St. Philip Neri, Community in Formation. Over the past several years the parish has built a strong music program and wishes to continue this work under the principle of “restoration of the sacred through beauty”. They attain this through the use of the Ignatius Pew Missal and the Adoremus hymnal. The parish is seeking someone to work closely with the priests and brothers of the Kalamazoo Oratory in order to develop the music program reflecting the nature of the liturgy of the Church as a sung prayer. The individual will also be responsible (in collaboration with the priests and brothers) for helping to establish and develop a library of sacred music for the parish. While this position will begin as part time, the right candidate will help expand this position into a full time ministry.

Some of the expected time commitments are as follows (estimated to be 10-15 hours weekly):

• weekend masses
  o Saturday vigil – 4:15pm – Ordinary Form
  o Sunday morning – 9:00am – Ordinary Form
  o Sunday afternoon – 12:00pm – Extraordinary Form
• weekly rehearsal with a mixed voice choir which sings at the Ordinary Form masses
• three weekly rehearsals per month with the men’s schola which sings at the Extraordinary Form mass
• one weekly rehearsal per month with the girl’s schola which sings at the Extraordinary Form mass
• various celebrations of feast days, processions, Sunday vespers, and Forty Hours throughout the year

In addition, it is preferred that the candidate possess the following:

• competency in singing and teaching Gregorian Chant and sacred polyphony
• competency in choral directing
• competency in working with instrumentalists for special masses and celebrations
• a working knowledge of the maintenance necessary for the upkeep of the church’s organ
• adequate planning and organizational skills

Those interested in the position should send a resume including salary history to the following address:
Very Rev. James Richardson, Pastor
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
939 Charlotte Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49048
Any questions can be directed to: 269/342-0621 or pastor@stmarykzoo.org

 

[CarrieH]

I asked Fr. Richardson about the expectations re: organ proficiency, and he tells me that he wants to focus on the choral aspect of the position and let the new music director arrange for organ accompaniment as needed.

 

[psalm90]

nice

 

[RomanoAmerio]

This is quite a non-sequitur, but I find the name Kalamazoo quaintly funny.

More on topic, good luck with your parish’s quest! I shall pray that they find someone suitable for the task.

 

[CarrieH]

This is quite a non-sequitur, but I find the name Kalamazoo quaintly funny.

It is, actually – Glenn Miller found it whimsical enough to write a song about it back in the 1940’s. Check this out, or if you want to see an amazing dance sequence, this one. They don’t make entertainment like this anymore!

Thanks for your good wishes and prayers for our search for a music director. God bless.

 

[AnnArbor]

[moderators, please feel free to delete this if such posts are not permitted]

Part-time Director of Sacred Music
St. Mary Catholic Church
Kalamazoo, MI

St. Mary’s Parish is a small (180 household) but active parish that has enjoyed the use of both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms of the Roman Rite. The parish is under the direction of the Fathers and Brothers of the Kalamazoo Oratory of St. Philip Neri, Community in Formation. Over the past several years the parish has built a strong music program and wishes to continue this work under the principle of “restoration of the sacred through beauty”. They attain this through the use of the Ignatius Pew Missal and the Adoremus hymnal. The parish is seeking someone to work closely with the priests and brothers of the Kalamazoo Oratory in order to develop the music program reflecting the nature of the liturgy of the Church as a sung prayer. The individual will also be responsible (in collaboration with the priests and brothers) for helping to establish and develop a library of sacred music for the parish. While this position will begin as part time, the right candidate will help expand this position into a full time ministry.

Some of the expected time commitments are as follows (estimated to be 10-15 hours weekly):

• weekend masses
  o Saturday vigil – 4:15pm – Ordinary Form
  o Sunday morning – 9:00am – Ordinary Form
  o Sunday afternoon – 12:00pm – Extraordinary Form
• weekly rehearsal with a mixed voice choir which sings at the Ordinary Form masses
• three weekly rehearsals per month with the men’s schola which sings at the Extraordinary Form mass
• one weekly rehearsal per month with the girl’s schola which sings at the Extraordinary Form mass
• various celebrations of feast days, processions, Sunday vespers, and Forty Hours throughout the year

In addition, it is preferred that the candidate possess the following:

• competency in singing and teaching Gregorian Chant and sacred polyphony
• competency in choral directing
• competency in working with instrumentalists for special masses and celebrations
• a working knowledge of the maintenance necessary for the upkeep of the church’s organ
• adequate planning and organizational skills

Those interested in the position should send a resume including salary history to the following address:
Very Rev. James Richardson, Pastor
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
939 Charlotte Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49048
Any questions can be directed to: 269/342-0621 or pastor@stmarykzoo.org

This sounds very interesting, but I do wonder about the estimate of time commitment.

 

[JButky]

I wish you well with your search. But that is a real tall order for a part time position…

-JB

 

[CarrieH]

This sounds very interesting, but I do wonder about the estimate of time commitment.

I wish you well with your search. But that is a real tall order for a part time position…

-JB

You do make a valid point here. I was their associate organist for several years and easily put in 6 - 8 hours/wk outside of practice time – and I wasn’t even the music director! But Father is open-minded and willing to negotiate. Hopefully the listed hours in the job posting won’t scare off potential applicants.