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DIRECTOROFCHORALMUSICSTMARY’SPARISHCHURCH,HADDINGTON
ThepositionofDirectorofChoralMusicispartoftheministryofmusicatStMary’s,whichplaysalong-establishedandcentralpartinthelifeofthecongregation.Itisalsoanimportantdimensionofthecongregation’soutreachtothecommunityofHaddingtonandEastLothian,offeringopportunitiesforchildrenandadultsofallagestoparticipateinhighqualitymusic-makinginthespectacularsettingofoneofScotland’slargestmedievalparishchurches.
StMary’sLifeStMary’sisacongregationoftheChurchofScotland,whichispartoftheworldwidefamilyofReformedChristians,includingthePresbyterianChurchUSA,andtheUnitedReformed
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Church.Withintheparish,therearewarmecumenicalrelationswithHolyTrinityEpiscopalChurch,StMary’sRomanCatholicChurchandHaddingtonWestParishChurch.
Lookingeastinthenave
WeeklyWorshipTherearetwoSundaymorningservicesat9.30amand11am.The9.30amserviceisashortandparticipativeservice,especiallyappealingforfamilies,butwithanallageattendance.Themusicisledbyagroupofvolunteermusicianswhoformalyricalmusicgroupcurrentlycomprisingpiano,clarinet,recorder,guitarandpercussion.ThisgroupreportdirectlytotheMinister,butoncertainoccasionssuchasHarvestThanksgiving,EasterSunday,theNativityserviceinDecemberandonChristianAidSunday,the9.30amand11amservicesarecombinedintoajointserviceatwhichthemusicgroupcollaboratewiththechoirandorganisttoleadthemusic.
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ChurchChoirStMary’shasanenthusiasticmixed-abilityparishchoirnumberingaround25singers,someofwhomalsocontributetothemusicgroup.Choirmembersvalueitscommunitydimension,withrelationshipsformedthroughsingingtogether.ManymembersareengagedinotheraspectsofthelifeofStMary’scongregation.Therearechoralscholarshipsavailablefortalentedyoungsingers,whichincludetheopportunityforfurthervocalcoachingfromtheDirectorofChoralMusic.Thechoirsingsastimulatingrangeofmusic,withanintroitandanthemeachSunday,includingmuchfromtheAnglicanchoraltraditionaswellasmorecontemporarychoralwork.ThechoirmeetstorehearseeachThursdayfrom7.30-9.30pmandthenat10.30ameachSundaypriortoparticipationinthetraditional11amSundayservice.StMary’sChoristersInadditiontotheparishchoir,StMary’sChoristersareasmallgroupofyoungsingersrangingfrom7to16yearsofage.Thegroupwasfoundedabouttwentyyearsago,andisdrawnbothfromcongregationalfamiliesandthewidercommunity.TheChoristersrehearseinthechurcheachThursdayintermtimefrom6.30-7.30pm.Theyarecurrentlysingingonanoccasionalbasiswiththeadultchurchchoir.Arotaofchoristerparentsassistswithsupervisionandhelpstofulfiloursafeguardingobligations.MusicalResourcesStMary’sisblessedwithaveryfinepipeorgan(LammermuirPipeOrgans,1990),achoirrobing/rehearsalroom,andrichresourcesofsheetmusicinalong-establishedchoirlibrary.Thechurchhasaverygoodacoustic,beingmuchsoughtafterasavenueformusiceventssuchastheannualLammermuirFestival.ThemusicstaffteamcurrentlyconsistsofanorganistwhoplaysonSundays(inpost),andtheDirectorofChoralMusic.TermsofEmploymentTheannualsalaryis£4,050Thisincludes:
• PlanningaprogrammeofchoralmusicforSundayworshipincollaborationwiththeministerandorganist,takingintoaccountliturgicalprioritiesandtheabilitiesandpotentialofthechoirs.
• Planningastimulatingandwide-rangingprogrammeofchoralmusicfortheStMary’sChoristergroup.
• LeadingThursdayrehearsalsinthechurchfrom6.30-7.30pmfortheChoristersand7.30-9.30pmwiththeChurchChoir.
• RehearsinganddirectingtheChurchChoirfrom10.30amonSundaymorningsuntilaround12noon.
• InvolvementatservicesonChristmasEveat6.30pmand11.30pm(noinvolvementonChristmasDay).
• Veryoccasionalinvolvementindirectingthechoirsatspecialoccasions(suchasweddings)issubjecttoadditionalpayments.
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AnnualleaveThechoirdoesnotsingatworshipduringJulyandAugust,andtherearenomidweekrehearsals.ThechoirisalsooffdutyonthefirstSundaysafterChristmasDayandEasterDay.ShouldfurtherSundaysoffberequiredwhenthechoirisscheduledtosing,theprovisionofsuitabledeputycoveristheresponsibilityofthepost-holder.Requirementsofthepost-holder
• Demonstrableabilityasachoraldirector.• Anabilitytoengageandenthusechildren,youngpeopleandadultsinchoralsinging.• Keyboardskillstofacilitaterehearsalwiththechoirs(organ-playingskillsare
preferablebutnotessential).• AnabilitytoforwardplanandawillingnesstoworkwiththeMinister,KirkSession
andmusicianstodevelopmusicoutreachatStMary’s.• Anopennesstoawiderangeofchoralmusic,ancientandmodern.
Commencementinthepostissubjectto:
• AsatisfactoryDisclosureScotlandcheckorupdatebeingreceived.• Tworeferencesfromformeremployers/musiceducators.
LineManagementThepostsofOrganistandDirectorofChoralMusicbothreporttotheMinisterandKirkSession(EldersandTrusteesoftheCongregation).InterviewInterviewswillbeheldandwillincludeatrialrehearsalwiththechurchchoirandthechoristers.Closingdate:Friday16thJune,2017Aletterofapplicationmarked“DirectorofChoralMusicApplication”(includingacurriculumvitae)shouldbesentto:AlisonMeikleSessionClerkSt.Mary’sParishChurchOfficeTheTrinityCentre5ChurchStreetHaddingtonEH413EX
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Foraninformationaldiscussionregardingthepost,pleasecontactMartinRitchie,AssistantMinister,on07984466855oremail:[email protected]’sParishChurchSidegateHaddingtonEastLothianwww.stmaryskirk.co.uk
