Director of Music

About the Role

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church is seeking a versatile, compassionate, and skilled Music Director to lead our music ministry. After seven years of dedicated service, our current director is retiring, leaving behind a legacy of organized administration and meaningful worship. We are a historic, welcoming, and inclusive congregation looking for a leader who can blend traditional roots with the energy needed to guide our music program into its next chapter.

Key Responsibilities

● Worship Leadership: Select and perform music for weekly Sunday services, special holidays, and seasonal events.

● Vocal Support: Provide strong vocal leadership to support and bolster our choir and congregation during hymns and anthems.

● Choir Direction: Lead rehearsals (currently scheduled for Monday evenings and briefly on Sunday mornings), adapting arrangements to fit the vocal ranges and abilities of a small, dedicated choir.

● Instrument Oversight: Coordinate the maintenance, tuning, and repair of the church organ and piano.

● Administration: Manage music licensing and copyright reporting (OneLicense/CCLI) to ensure legal compliance for all services.

● Pastoral Collaboration: Work closely with the Pastor to select music that aligns with lectionary themes and the spiritual life of the community.

Candidate Qualifications

● Musical Versatility: Experience in both Piano and Organ is preferred

● Vocal Ability: A strong, clear singing voice to lead from the bench or the podium.

● Administrative Diligence: Comfortable with detail-oriented tasks, specifically copyright tracking and scheduling technicians.

● Interpersonal Skills: A "heart of compassion" for working with older adults and a welcoming spirit that aligns with our affirming, “Reconciling-in-Christ” values.

● Adaptive Leadership: Ability to be creative with limited rehearsal time and varying skill levels within the volunteer choir.

The Ideal Candidate

You are a "well-rounded" musician who understands that church music is about more than technical perfection—it’s about community and spiritual connection. You are comfortable managing the small details of a music department while fostering a warm, supportive environment for our volunteers.

To Apply

Please submit a resume and a brief cover letter outlining your experience in church music and your approach to leading a volunteer choir to Melissa Dean at admin@stjohnseaston.org. St. John’s will cover the cost of the required background check. Salary level to be negotiated depending on experience.

Pay: $15,000.00 - $25,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person