Long-Term Substitute Organist at St. Peter's, Philadelphia

Diopa; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 17,110,000 - 22,069,000; Part time

Job summary

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Philadelphia seeks a skilled, collaborative part-time organist to support worship services, choir rehearsals, feasts and parish events. The organist accompanies on E.M. Skinner, Opus 862 and coordinates with the music director and clergy.

The candidate should excel in accompanying choirs, sight-reading, and preparing music independently, while engaging with parishioners and guest musicians in a liturgical Episcopal setting.

Qualifications

• Advanced proficiency on organ and piano.
• Experience accompanying choirs and vocalists.
• Strong sight-reading and accompanying skills.
• Ability to prepare music independently and perform at a high level.
• Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills.
• Professional reliability, punctuality and effective communication.
• Ability to work constructively with the music director, clergy, choir members, parishioners and guest musicians.
• Familiarity with organ maintenance and coordination with organ technicians is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Accompany the principal Sunday Choral Eucharist and other worship services.
• Provide accompaniment for designated feast days and special liturgies as needed.
• Prepare, practise and perform all assigned music in advance of services.
• Provide appropriate preludes, postludes, voluntaries and hymn accompaniments.
• Work closely with the music director to ensure continuity of worship music.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to the Episcopal liturgical tradition and the role of music in worship.

Skills

Organ proficiency

Piano proficiency

Accompanying

Sight-reading

Independent preparation

Collaboration

Reliability

Communication

Organ maintenance

Job description

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Philadelphia

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

Society Hill, Philadelphia · Diocese of Pennsylvania

Temporary · Part-Time · Music Ministry

Long-Term Substitute Organist

Organ and piano for the principal Sunday Choral Eucharist, choir rehearsals and the great feasts — at the console of E.M. Skinner’s Opus 862, in a church that has kept this music since 1761.

Type

Temporary, Part-Time

Reports To

Dr. Derrick Thompson
Music Director

Location

313 Pine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106

Compensation

$45.00 / hour

About the Position

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Philadelphia seeks an accomplished, collaborative and committed part-time organist to support the parish’s musical and spiritual life. The organist provides organ and piano accompaniment for worship services, choir rehearsals, feast days and other parish events.

The successful candidate will be a skilled musician comfortable collaborating with a music director, clergy, choir and parish community within the Episcopal liturgical tradition. The role enriches worship, supports the choir and contributes to the ongoing development of the musical life of the parish.

The Instrument

E.M. Skinner, Opus 862

Known to the musicians who have sat at her console as “Margie”

• 2,565 Pipes
• 47 Stops
• 3 Manuals
• 90 Years in service

Built by Boston’s Skinner Organ Company, the instrument has supported worship in this historic church for ninety years. Two-thirds of the pipes stand under expression in louvered enclosures, giving a wide dynamic range — from ethereal whispers and haunting flutes to broad foundation stops and a tutti that is satisfying without being oppressive. The smallest pipes are the size of soda straws; the largest, laid flat, would reach across Pine Street.

The ornate case was built in 1767 by the German craftsman Philip Feyring and decorated by Martin Jugiez. The organ is under the curatorship of the A. Thompson Allen Company.

• 01 Sunday Choral Eucharist Serve as organist for the principal Sunday Choral Eucharist and other assigned parish worship services.
• 02 Feasts & Special Liturgies Provide accompaniment for designated feast days and special liturgical services as needed.
• 03 Preparation Prepare, practise and perform all assigned music in advance of services.
• 04 Service Music Provide appropriate preludes, postludes, voluntaries, hymn accompaniments and other service music.
• 05 Continuity Work closely with the music director to ensure continuity and consistency in the parish’s worship music.
• 06 Liturgical Sensitivity Demonstrate sensitivity to the Episcopal liturgical tradition and the role of music within worship.

The organist works closely with the music director in supporting the parish choir and accompanies regularly scheduled rehearsals:

• Sunday mornings 9:50 – 10:50 a.m.
• First & third Sundays 12:15 – 2:15 p.m.
• Second Thursday monthly 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

In rehearsal, the organist will

• Accompany choir rehearsals under the direction of the music director.
• Support the choir in learning and preparing assigned repertoire.
• Collaborate with the music director on hymns, service music and choral repertoire.
• Provide dependable musical support for rehearsals and worship services.
• Work effectively with volunteer and professional musicians.

Instrument Care

• Assist in maintaining the parish’s musical instruments during the period of the temporary appointment.
• Communicate concerns regarding the condition of the organ, piano and other instruments to the music director.
• Coordinate with the music director on any immediate instrument needs that arise.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will demonstrate

• Advanced proficiency on organ and piano.
• Experience accompanying choirs and vocalists.
• Strong sight-reading and accompanying skills.
• The ability to prepare music independently and perform at a high level.
• Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills.
• Professional reliability, punctuality and effective communication.
• The ability to work constructively with the music director, clergy, choir members, parishioners and guest musicians.
• Familiarity with organ maintenance and coordination with organ technicians is desirable.

The position is temporary and part-time, with an expected commitment of roughly 3 hours per week during the summer and 6 to 8 hours per week during the choral season. The regular schedule covers Sunday worship and choir rehearsals, with additional responsibilities for designated feast days and special liturgies — Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Easter among them.

The specific dates of the long-term substitute appointment will be communicated to the selected candidate during the interview process.

Type Temporary, part-time Hours Approx. 3 hrs/week (summer); 6–8 hrs/week (choral season) Compensation $45.00 per hour — salary range $12,420.00–$16,020.00 Reports To Dr. Derrick Thompson, Music Director Location 313 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 Parish stpetersphila.org · [phone] Full Posting Employment page at St. Peter’s

The successful candidate must abide by the personnel policies of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and the Safe Church requirements of the Diocese of Pennsylvania.

23 E. Airy Street, Norristown, PA 19401 Map