Choir Accompanist

Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 5,500 - 8,200; Part time

Job summary

Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish in Madison, Wisconsin is seeking a part-time Choir Accompanist/Collaborative Pianist & Organist to support our SATB parish choir from September through May, with potential for expanded responsibilities. The role offers compensation of approximately $150 per week for rehearsals and Mass, with additional compensation negotiable based on duties and Mass schedules.

The ideal candidate is a skilled pianist (organ proficiency a plus) who enjoys collaborating with

Qualifications

• Strong piano proficiency including accompanying four-part choir.
• Experience with accompanying choirs, vocalists, or instrumental ensembles.
• Ability to lead rehearsals and warm-ups with confidence.

Responsibilities

• Accompany the parish SATB choir during weekly rehearsals and Sunday Masses.
• Provide accompaniment for a wide liturgical repertoire including traditional hymns and contemporary sacred music.
• Lead choir warm-ups and sectional vocal preparation for Masses.

Skills

Piano proficiency

Vocal accompaniment

Sight-reading

Ensemble collaboration

Leadership of rehearsals

Job description

Choir Accompanist / Collaborative Pianist & Organist

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish | Madison, Wisconsin

Position Type: Part-Time, September-May, with Potential for Expanded Responsibilities

Compensation: Approximately $150 per week (for rehearsal and Mass), with additional compensation negotiable based on responsibilities and Mass schedules

About St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish is a vibrant, multicultural Catholic community serving more than 2,000 registered families in Madison, Wisconsin. Our parish celebrates five weekend Masses, including two in Spanish, as well as daily Mass, holy days, and a full sacramental life.

Our music ministry embraces a rich variety of traditional hymns, sacred choral music, and contemporary liturgical selections appropriate to the liturgical season. We are committed to fostering the full, conscious, and active participation of the faithful through beautiful, prayerful, and engaging music.

As our music ministry continues to grow, we are seeking a talented, collaborative, and enthusiastic Choir Accompanist to support our established SATB parish choir and potentially take on additional leadership opportunities within our broader music ministry.

Position Overview

The Choir Accompanist will work closely with our Director of Liturgy & Worship to provide instrumental accompaniment and musical support for our parish choir, which sings regularly from September through May.

The ideal candidate will be a skilled pianist, preferably with organ proficiency, who enjoys collaborating with singers and instrumentalists, can confidently lead rehearsals and warm-ups when needed, and is excited about contributing to a growing parish music ministry.

We are particularly interested in candidates who may be open to an expanded role supporting our Spanish-language Masses and helping develop our multicultural music ministry. The position's responsibilities and compensation may be tailored to the strengths, interests, and availability of the right candidate.

Primary Responsibilities

• Accompany the parish SATB choir during weekly rehearsals and Sunday Masses.
• Provide musical accompaniment for a wide range of liturgical repertoire, including traditional hymns, contemporary sacred music, and choral arrangements.
• Lead choir warm-ups and assist with vocal preparation before Masses.
• Conduct sectional rehearsals and assist choir members in learning their individual vocal parts.
• Confidently lead rehearsals in the music director's absence.
• Collaborate with the music director, choir members, cantors, and instrumentalists to prepare meaningful and prayerful liturgical music.
• Accompany the choir for major liturgical celebrations, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday.
• Participate in occasional additional liturgies, rehearsals, or special parish events as scheduled.

Regular Schedule

Our SATB choir sings from September through May, with the following regular commitments:

• Thursday Evenings: Choir rehearsals, 6:30-8:30 PM
• Sunday Mornings: Choir warm-ups beginning at 9:15 AM, followed by the 10:00 AM Mass
• Additional Liturgies: Major holy days and special celebrations throughout the liturgical year

Additional opportunities to accompany weekend Masses, including Spanish-language liturgies, may be available based on the candidate's interest and availability.

Qualifications

Required or Strongly Preferred:

• Strong piano proficiency, including the ability to accompany four-part choral music.
• Experience accompanying choirs, vocalists, or instrumental ensembles.
• Ability to lead rehearsals, vocal warm-ups, and sectional practices with confidence.
• Strong sight-reading skills and familiarity with a variety of musical styles.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.
• Reliability, flexibility, and a positive, team-oriented approach.
• Appreciation for Catholic liturgy and a willingness to support the mission of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish.

Additional Qualifications That Would Be Valued:

• Proficiency in playing the organ.
• Experience with Catholic liturgical music and the rhythms of the liturgical year.
• Familiarity with Spanish-language liturgical music.
• Bilingual abilities in English and Spanish, or a willingness to learn basic musical instructions in Spanish.
• Experience directing choirs, leading musical ensembles, or coordinating volunteer musicians.
• Interest in helping recruit, develop, and mentor musicians and vocalists.

Fluency in Spanish is not required. Our parish is blessed with bilingual musicians and singers who can provide support, and we welcome candidates who are enthusiastic about learning and serving our multicultural community.

Opportunities for Growth

We recognize that musicians bring different combinations of experience, talents, and interests. We are open to shaping this position around the right candidate.

For someone interested in additional involvement, opportunities may include:

• Accompanying additional weekend Masses, particularly our Spanish-language liturgies.
• Taking on a larger leadership role in developing and strengthening our Spanish-language music ministry.
• Helping recruit, organize, and mentor additional instrumentalists, cantors, and choir members.
• Providing musical leadership for special liturgies, seasonal celebrations, and parish events.
• Collaborating with parish leadership to expand musical participation and engagement across our diverse community.

We would especially welcome a team player who is excited about the possibility of helping build a stronger, more unified music ministry that serves both our English-speaking and Spanish-speaking parishioners.

Instruments and Facilities

St. Thomas Aquinas is fortunate to have excellent musical instruments and facilities, including:

• A Steinway Model D grand piano in the main church.
• A Johannus organ in the main church.
• Quality pianos and other instruments in our rehearsal spaces.
• An established group of instrumentalists who regularly collaborate with our choir.

Our parish is committed to supporting a vibrant and growing music ministry and providing musicians with the resources needed to serve our community well.

Compensation

Compensation for the regular choir accompanist position is approximately $150 per week, calculated based on rehearsal and liturgical service commitments.

Additional compensation may be negotiated for expanded responsibilities, additional weekend Masses, special liturgies, or a broader music ministry leadership role.

We are open to discussing a schedule and compensation structure that reflects the candidate's experience, abilities, and level of involvement.