Description

Purpose:

Newtown Presbyterian Church in Newtown, PA is seeking a year-round, part-time organist to accompany congregational singing, accompany special music, and support the worship service with appropriate music including hymns, a prelude, offertory, and postlude, as well as other music as necessary. The Organist will collaborate with the Director of Music and clergy in selection, preparation, and presentation of liturgical music.

Between September and the first Sunday in June, the two worship services (9am and 11am) will be held in our Chancellor Street church sanctuary. Through the rest of the summer, the 9am service will be at our 1769 historic church on N. Sycamore St., whereas the 11am service will be held in the Fellowship Hall at our Chancellor Street church.

Responsibilities:

1. Plan, prepare and play appropriate music for the two weekly Sunday worship services (9 and 11am) and approximately seven additional services throughout the year (including three Christmas Eve services, Ash Wednesday service, Maundy Thursday service, Good Friday service, and an Advent Vespers service)
2. Accompany congregational singing and choral anthems as well as occasional other special music
3. Accompany adult choir between September and the first Sunday in June including Thursday night rehearsal – 8pm to 9:30pm (September through May) and two to three large scale music services per year
4. Accompany and rehearse with adult bell choir and children and youth choirs when needed for worship
5. Accompany and rehearse with any special musicians or soloists when needed for worship
6. Attend staff meetings when available
7. If available, play at weddings and funerals with right of first refusal; agreement implies additional compensation to be agreed upon before event (paid by the requestor)

Arrange for substitutes during times of absence, in coordination with the Director of Music

Qualifications:

Essential Qualifications:

1. Formal training and a minimum of five years of experience as a church organist, with experience accompanying choral music
2. Proficiency on both organ and piano (instruments listed below)
3. Ability to work collaboratively as part of the Music Ministry team
4. Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
5. Familiarity and competence with basic computer software (word processing, cloud drives, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Masters Degree in Music and/or Organ Performance
2. Familiarity with the Christian liturgical calendar and the Revised Common Lectionary

Instruments:

Chancellor Street sanctuary:

1972 Keats Organ

2 manual, 36 rank (with floating Bombarde)
Installed 1972, renovated 1995, additional memory added 2010

Petrof baby grand piano

Historic Church building:

c. 1865 Estey pump organ

Yamaha Clavinova

Information on the NPC organs

Compensation and Leave:

• Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience, $25,000-$30,000/year.
• A modest budget for professional expenses each year for additional training or resources
• Four Sundays of paid time off, and two additional calls of paid time off which may not be used on a Sunday. 

Application and Audition

Interested candidates should apply by emailing materials to the Director of Music, Ben Shively, at ben@newtownpres.org. Materials should include the following:

• A resume or CV
• Video(s) (emailable) or video link(s) demonstrating organ proficiency

Candidates may be invited to a live audition, where they will be asked to play:

• 2-3 minutes of a piece appropriate for a prelude/offertory/postlude
• a transition from that piece into the Doxology (OLD HUNDREDTH)
• two verses of a hymn (TBD, prepared beforehand) with the opportunity for an introduction and reharmonization of the final verse. Candidates will have the opportunity to schedule practice time on the organ before their audition.