Parish Accompanist

CatholicJobs.com; Georgetown (DE); On-site; USD 35,000 - 50,000; Part time

Job summary

St. Michael the Archangel and Mary Mother of Peace Catholic Parish in Georgetown, Delaware, seeks a Parish Choir Accompanist to provide Sunday and Saturday liturgical accompaniment and rehearsal support.

The role focuses on collaborative music ministry within a vibrant parish, requiring strong keyboard skills and liturgical understanding. The position is part-time, with regular weekend liturgies and additional seasonal services.

Qualifications

• Strong piano/keyboard skills and excellent sight-reading ability.
• Experience accompanying choirs, vocalists, or ensembles.
• Ability to follow a conductor and respond to singers and liturgy needs.
• Familiarity with Catholic liturgy and sacred music preferred; church music experience welcomed.

Responsibilities

• Accompany one Saturday choir rehearsal each week.
• Provide accompaniment for one Saturday and one Sunday Mass each weekend.
• Collaborate with the Director of Liturgical Music to prepare weekly repertoire.
• Accompany the parish choir, cantors, soloists, and other musicians as assigned.
• Prepare and perform music from Catholic repertoire including traditional and contemporary pieces.
• Provide keyboard music for preludes, postludes, processions, and liturgy portions.
• Attend occasional additional rehearsals for major celebrations.
• Maintain high standards of preparation, reliability, professionalism, and collaboration.

Skills

Piano/keyboard

Sight-reading

Accompaniment

Liturgy familiarity

Diverse repertoire

Interpersonal skills

Reliability

Organ proficiency

Education

Undergraduate Degree

Job description

Job Description

Parish Choir Accompanist

St. Michael the Archangel Mary Mother of Peace

Georgetown, DE

Terms

Part-Time Employee

Experience

2-5 Years

Education

Undergraduate Degree

Base Pay

$100.00+ Hourly

Primary Responsibilities

• Accompany one Saturday choir rehearsal each week.
• Provide accompaniment for one Saturday and one Sunday Mass each weekend.
• Collaborate with the Director of Liturgical Music in preparing weekly repertoire and seasonal music.
• Accompany the parish choir, cantors, soloists, and other musicians as assigned.
• Prepare and perform music from a broad range of Catholic liturgical repertoire, including traditional hymnody, contemporary Catholic music, choral octavos, and seasonal repertoire.
• Provide appropriate keyboard music for preludes, postludes, processions, and other portions of the liturgy.
• Participate in significant celebrations during the liturgical year, particularly Christmas, Holy Week, Easter, and other major parish liturgies as scheduled.
• Attend occasional additional rehearsals when necessary for major celebrations.
• Maintain a high standard of musical preparation, reliability, professionalism, and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Strong piano/keyboard skills and excellent sight-reading ability.
• Experience accompanying choirs, vocalists, or ensembles.
• Ability to follow a conductor and respond sensitively to singers and the needs of the liturgy.
• Familiarity with Catholic liturgy and Catholic sacred music is strongly preferred, although candidates with substantial church-music experience from other traditions are encouraged to apply.
• Ability to perform music in a variety of styles, from traditional sacred and classical repertoire to contemporary Catholic liturgical music.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills.
• Dependability and the ability to prepare repertoire independently between rehearsals.
• Organ proficiency is desirable but not required.

A degree in music, church music, piano performance, or a related discipline is welcomed, but equivalent professional experience will be fully considered.

Typical Weekly Commitment

Saturday: One choir rehearsal and one weekend liturgy

Sunday: One weekend liturgy

Additional services and rehearsals may occur periodically for major liturgical celebrations and special parish events. The annual schedule will be coordinated in advance with the Director of Liturgical Music.

Compensation

Annual compensation: $35,000+ commensurate with experience, education, keyboard proficiency, and demonstrated church-music experience.

The annual compensation covers the regular weekly rehearsal and Saturday/Sunday liturgy schedule, as well as the professional preparation and collaboration associated with those responsibilities.

Funerals, concerts, weddings, and other additional services are compensated separately and are not included in the annual salary. This provides the accompanist with opportunities for additional compensation throughout the year.

Music Ministry

The parish maintains an active music program serving the communities of St. Michael the Archangel and Mary Mother of Peace. The ministry includes a Liturgical Choir, Contemporary Ensemble, Handbell Choir, cantors, and other ensembles and musicians, with repertoire encompassing the breadth of the Catholic musical tradition.

We are seeking an accompanist who sees the position as more than simply playing notes: someone who enjoys collaborating with singers, understands the importance of music in the prayer of the Church, and wants to become a valued member of a vibrant parish music ministry.

Position

Parish Choir Accompanist

Compensation

$35,000+ annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience

Additional Compensation

Funerals, concerts, weddings, and other additional services paid separately

Location

St. Michael the Archangel / Mary Mother of Peace Catholic Parish - Georgetown & Millsboro, Delaware

About The Employer

St. Michael the Archangel and Mary Mother of Peace is a welcoming Catholic community called to celebrate our faith through vibrant worship, prayer, service, and fellowship. Rooted in the Eucharist and guided by the Gospel, we seek to grow as disciples of Christ and share His love with one another and the communities we serve.