About The Role
To lead, develop and accompany the musical life of St. Michael’s, enabling music of a consistently high standard to serve the liturgy, deepen worship and encourage the participation of choir and congregation.
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.
Principal responsibilities:
• Plan music for the church year in consultation with the Parish Priest, selecting repertoire appropriate to the liturgy, season, choir and available resources.
• Direct and accompany the choir at the weekly Sunday Solemn Mass, including the 9.30 am rehearsal.
• Play the organ to a high standard, providing sensitive accompaniment and appropriate voluntaries, improvisations and liturgical music.
• Prepare and direct music for the agreed additional services, particularly during Holy Week and Easter and for the Christmas services.
• Maintain and develop a diverse repertoire, including plainchant, Anglican and continental choral music, and suitable music from the wider church tradition.
• Build the confidence, blend, musicianship and repertoire of a small amateur choir through clear, efficient and encouraging rehearsal technique.
• Recruit and welcome new singers where appropriate, while fostering a supportive, inclusive and enjoyable choir culture.
• Communicate music lists, rehearsal requirements and service arrangements in good time to the Parish Priest and choir.
• Maintain an orderly music library and advise the church on music purchases, copyright and licensing requirements.
• Arrange suitably qualified deputies when unavailable, in accordance with agreed parish procedures and budget.
• Manage any agreed music budget responsibly and provide information needed for annual planning.
• Work in accordance with the relevant Parish and Church of England Policies, including safeguarding.
• Prepare a report of the musical life of the Parish for the APCM that forms part of the Annual Report.
• An accomplished organist with the technique, musicianship and liturgical awareness to lead the music for worship confidently as the church’s sole regular organist.
• Organ playing at ARCO, or equivalent, standard.
• Experience of directing a choir and achieving high standards through clear, efficient and encouraging conducting.
• Knowledge of Anglican worship, with a particular emphasis on the Catholic tradition, and the musical requirements of the church year.
• Wide knowledge of sacred choral and organ repertoire, including confidence with plainchant in neume notation.
• Able to motivate skilled amateur singers, give constructive feedback and create a welcoming, respectful choir culture.
• Organised and reliable when working individually, with timely and good communication and the ability to plan repertoire, deputies and resources to deadline.
• A commitment to inclusion and to supporting the mission, worship and community life of St. Michael’s.
• Experience of recruiting singers, developing an amateur choir and building a sustainable parish music programme.
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.