St Paul’s K Street is a downtown Anglo-Catholic parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington (EDOW). We seek a full-time Director of Music responsible for all aspects of our parish music ministry.
The Director of Music should excel in organ, choral conducting, and the Anglican choral tradition. Applicants should appreciate and respect our Anglo-Catholic faith and traditions, and demonstrate an understanding of the integral supporting role of organ and voice in the liturgy and mission of our parish. Working with and reporting to the Rector, the Director of Music will take leadership in setting the direction of the music program as we continue to move out of disruptions from the pandemic, both rebuilding and exploring unique new opportunities.
The focal point of our common life is Sunday mornings and Holy Days, and as such must be the focus of the work and enthusiasm of the Director of Music. Our Sunday Masses are currently celebrated at 9 & 10:30 am. A choral Mass setting is offered at 10:30 am, with settings ranging from the early Renaissance to commissions from contemporary and local composers. Choral Masses are also offered during Holy Week and other weekday feasts throughout the year.
Sunday 4:00 p.m. Evensong & Benediction is offered at various times throughout the year, as well as Advent & Epiphany Lessons & Carols. Additionally, Nuptial and Requiem Choral Masses are offered as circumstances present.
Our parish choir, which sings every Sunday throughout the year, comprises dedicated auditioned volunteers supported by six paid section leaders. Outside of summer, weekly rehearsal is held Thursday evenings. The Director of Music will be responsible for continuing to recruit both paid and volunteer singers to build up the choir and foster a sense of community and integration with the parish. The Director of Music is responsible for managing choir compensation within the parish budget and consistent with the parish choral Mass schedule.
We also have a small youth chorister program. Choristers are currently drawn from outside the parish, rehearse during the week, and sing on some Sunday evenings and mornings and other occasions during the year. Their training is in the style of RSCM. The Director of Music will be closely involved in the ongoing assessment of the program’s role in our ministry and its potential to be more integrated in the life of the parish.
The Music Director has primary responsibility for service bulletins and works closely with our Parish Coordinator in parish communications.
We are one of 12 parishes participating in EDOW’s Tending Our Soil program. TOS encourages study and development of new connections with our local geographic community – in our case, heavily populated by young adults and retired professionals. We seek a Director of Music with this same mindset. In particular, there is strong interest in the life of the parish including new opportunities for non-auditioned volunteers and community members to sing.
We seek a congenial colleague who will work in partnership with the Rector and strive in all things for the flourishing of this parish and the deepening of spiritual lives. Above all, applicants should see their role and our entire music program as an integral facet of the living of our Mission Statement: We seek to restore all people to God and to each other through sacramental worship and Christ-like living.
This is a full-time position with a salary range of $72,000-$80,000 and benefits package. Letters of interest and resumes, together with any supporting materials and examples of recordings (particularly of hymn playing, liturgical improvisations and repertoire), should be sent to musicsearch@stpauls-kst.com. Applicants should also feel free to arrange an informal call with the Rector, Fr. Richard Wall, to discuss the position. To be considered, applications must be received by April 28, 2023. We anticipate an August 15 (Feast of the Assumption) start date for employment.
