About The Role
The Church of the Annunciation is a Church of England parish in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. We are based in a Grade II* building at the heart of the City of Westminster, just off Oxford Street close to Marble Arch.
The Annunciation is a welcoming and international community centred around our devotional life, which is rich in sacramental worship, prayer, and choral music. There is a long tradition of a sung parish Mass each Sunday morning, which is supported by a professional choir. Our musical tradition is very important to us.
The Annunciation is a busy parish church, with lots of our local community attending. We run a very popular Sunday School, with around 100 children coming regularly, with 50-60 young children present on any given Sunday. There is lots of life and noise amidst the beautiful music.
Music is a key element of our mission as a church. We believe its beauty can enable people of all ages to worship God. There is now an opportunity to develop our musical provision to integrate families and young children into our Sung Mass, whilst maintaining our choral tradition. We therefore seek a Director of Music who is excited about the opportunity to share the beauty of music with everyone in our community in ways that will inspire all ages to participate in the liturgy. We want to enhance our current musical offering with our children’s ministry in mind.
We seek someone who is excited about the opportunity to direct our music, using their musical skills and creative imagination to help all our diverse community engage with the liturgical tradition. We want to honour our past and to share our future. This is an exciting time to join us as our new Director of Music.
The Diocese of London is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults through the use of the Safer Recruitment practice guidance. This role is subject to acceptable pre-appointment checks, including a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check.
Expectation of attendance is for Sung Mass on Sunday mornings, and other special services, including (but not limited to) Christmas and Easter.
The Director of Music will oversee the choir, recruiting and rehearsing them to sing on a Sunday morning and possibly other occasions/concerts. The Director of Music will also be responsible for developing our existing musical provision with children and young families in mind, being supported in this task by our Sunday School team.
Responsibilities:
1) Contributing as a key staff member to the vision of the church in how we worship together as a diverse and family-friendly community.
2) Supporting the worship at the Annunciation through well-prepared choral music.
3) Serving as accompanist for the Choir in rehearsals and performances as assigned.
4) Rehearsing the choir each Sunday morning and before other sung services.
5) Working with the Vicar to develop apt and sustainable musical liturgical traditions, holding together different styles of music in a coherent way.
6) Selecting appropriate hymns and anthems for all ages, as well as Mass Settings and Motets, and developing the repertoire of the choir and the congregation, agreeing choices with the Vicar in advance.
7) Playing for weddings and funerals, as requested (being permitted to receive additional compensation from the parties involved).
8) Maintaining an accurate account of organ needs and maintenance, and notify the Vicar of any potential costs.
9) Finding a substitute for services when not available.
Festivals and Holy Week:
The Director of Music will prepare and play suitable music for the following services: Feast of the Annunciation, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Day, Parish Lessons and Carols, BSL Deaf Church Carol Service, Christmas, and a Confirmation Service, plus up to two additional services and events per year for which at least one month’s notice will be given by the Vicar.
Occasional Offices:
The Director of Music will have the right to play for Church Funerals, Marriages and Memorial Services for an agreed fee. For Marriages and other services the Director of Music may be asked to meet with the family prior to the service to advise and guide the family in their choice of music.
The Organ:
The organ, originally built by Rothwell in 1915, underwent a major restoration by Bishop and Son in 1989. The specification covers a wide tonal palette. Combined with the church’s acoustic, this makes for an effective organ sound for many styles of music. The Specification is available on request.
The Piano:
Schiedmayer Baby Grand.
Management of Resources:
The Director of Music will oversee care and maintenance of the organ and piano, in conjunction with and subject to the authorisation of the PCC.
Subject to compliance with all reasonable requests regarding security and care of the church building, the Director of Music may use the organ for private practice when the church is not otherwise in use.
Subject to compliance with church safeguarding policies, the Director of Music will be allowed to use the organ to give private lessons provided the times of those lessons have been previously agreed with the Vicar and the church is not otherwise in use.
Holidays:
The Director of Music will be entitled to six Sundays off per calendar year. Holidays may not usually be taken at Christmas or during Holy Week, unless agreed with the Vicar.
Deputies:
With the agreement of the Vicar, the Director of Music will arrange deputies to cover their duties when on holiday or other occasions if necessary. Such deputies must be fully competent, and apart from holidays will be remunerated by the Director of Music.
Personal qualities:
• An experienced choral director who has worked with professional choirs and amateur choirs of adults and children.
• A broad working knowledge of choral music in a wide range of styles, particularly traditional Anglican liturgical music.
• Ability to inspire and train singers of all ages to develop their confidence, improve their technique and broaden their repertoire.
• An ability to engage with children and young families.
• An understanding of how music can contribute to modern and traditional worship.
• A gifted leader and enthusiastic motivator who is well-organised and able to plan in advance.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Organ/piano/keyboard skills.
Equal Opportunities
The Diocese of London is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce which represents our context and wider community. We are aware that those of Global Majority Heritage/United Kingdom Minority Ethnic (GMH/UKME) and disabled people are currently under-represented among our clergy and workforce, and we particularly encourage applications from those with the relevant skills and experience that will increase this representation.