Congregational Choir Director

Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church; Racine (WI); On-site; USD 41,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church in Mt. Pleasant (Racine), Wisconsin, seeks a part-time Choir Director to lead the Adult Choir in weekly rehearsals and services, September through May, with planning time in June–August.

The role involves repertoire selection, collaboration with the organist and pastors, and active recruitment of volunteers. The position is salaried, based on $30–$40 per hour for roughly 6 hours/week during the academic year and 1 hour/week in summer for planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in music, church music, or related field required.
• Demonstrated experience directing choirs and music programs.
• Knowledge of church year and liturgical music appropriate for worship.
• Ability to work well with volunteers and staff.

Responsibilities

• Direct the Adult Choir in rehearsal and Sunday worship services.
• Prepare and conduct anthems for occasional evening services.
• Select music suitable for liturgical seasons.
• Recruit new choir members and grow the program.

Skills

Leadership

Choral direction

Recruiting

Budget oversight

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in music or related

Job description

Organization Description Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church is a medium-sized congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Mt. Pleasant (Racine), Wisconsin. In addition to singing from a typical church choir repertoire, the choir of 18+ members also rises to the occasion of tackling challenging and diverse music selections. Music excellence is a strength of the congregation, whose stated mission is “Growing relationships with God, each other, and our neighbors in the way of Jesus.”

Role Description The Choir Director provides dynamic leadership of choral/vocal music to the glory of God and in support of the faith community in worship. The congregation’s volunteer Adult Choir rehearses and sings for the Sunday worship service and select midweek evening services during the academic year, September through May.

Compensation Salaried, based on $30 - $40/hr, commensurate with education and experience (6 hours/week Sept-May; 1 hr/wk June-August to plan)

Essential Functions

• Direct the Adult Choir in rehearsal on Wednesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM, and before and during Sunday 9:00 AM services, September - May.
• Prepare and conduct the choir in providing anthems for occasional evening services.
• Select choral music of appropriate difficulty and theme.
• Actively recruit new members to the Adult Choir.
• Utilize and maintain the congregation’s choral music library with volunteer assistance.
• Exercise budget oversight for this ministry area.
• Provide music to the Choir Accompanist and other instrumentalists in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with pastors, staff, and volunteers to align planning and goals.
• Work cooperatively with the Organist to recruit, hire, and rehearse instrumentalists to accompany choir on occasion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in music, music education, church music, or other related degree.
• Demonstrated experience and competency in field.
• Knowledge of the church year, appropriate church music, choral music.
• Ability to work well with others and participate collegially.
• Compliance with the policies of the MPLC Employee Handbook and MPLC Children and Youth Ministry Safety Protocols, required.

Physical Requirements

• Able to move freely in and out of ministry settings (sanctuary, choir room) and occasionally lift up to 10 pounds.
• Able to speak and to conduct choral music in a public forum.

Detailed job description available by request.