Position Description

Duties

• Provide organ and/or piano musical accompaniment during and 15 minutes prior to regular Sunday morning services and for other special services e.g. Good Friday, Christmas Eve.
• Conduct weekly choir rehearsals and prepare the choir for special services e.g. Easter, Christmas
• Meet regularly with the Minister to co-ordinate and plan worship services.  For example, the Minister usually selects hymns, and the organist usually selects anthems.
• Hire soloists, plan and select music for paid soloists – number and time of soloists presentations based on budget
• Select and purchase choral music, in collaboration with the Choir which is suited to the worship styple of the congregation and the strengths of the choir and/or soloists
• Prepare a music budget proposal annually and an annual report for the Annual General meeting which is reviewed by the session and approved by the Congregation.
• Provide music for weddings, funerals and other special events held at St. John’s, by arrangement with participants.  Payment for these activities will be in addition to the annual salary (personal schedule will be considered)
• Promote, encourage and support the use, during services, of a variety of instruments, music and music groups who may or may not be regular choir members
• Arrange for a competent substitute organist for absences due to vacation, continuing education, leaves of absence and when possible, illness
• Arrange in collaboration with the Minister for others to carry on a ministry of music during periods, when the choir is on holiday e.g. summer months.

Additional information

• Weekly Services: Sunday 11 a.m.
• Choir practices: Sundays from 9:45 to 10:30 prior to the service
• Choir: Approximately 10 volunteers
• There is a budget for a paid soloist, but it is limited (details available through the Treasurer).  Session prefers the soloists be students from a music program like the University of Toronto School of Music.
• Police Check: The Leading with Care Policy of the Presbyterian Church in Canada requires all employees and volunteers to have a clear police check in order to continue working and volunteering at the church
• Vacation: Vacation entitlement is one month after each year of employment to be taken at a mutually agreed time, which normally would be in July or August (5 Sundays).  A substitute organist with appropriate skills will be arranged for by candidate with the agreement of the Minister and the HR Committee.    For any additional Sundays off, the arrangement for a substitute organist with appropriate skills will be made by the candidate with the agreement of the Minster and the HR Committee.  Payment for the substitute organist will be paid by the candidate.
• Professional Development: The cost of tuition or registration for attendance at a professional development or event will be provided up to a maximum of $300 per year.

Start Date: To be negotiated after end of October 2025

Salary – TBD

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit resume or CV to Dr. Elizabeth Speers via email.  Elizabeth.speers59@gmail.com

Applications will be reviewed by the HR committee and candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.  The process will include and interview and an audition.

We thank everyone for their interest.