Christ Church, Skipton Concert: Boys and Adults

Date: 06th June 2016

Reference: Job Descriptions 2016

JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION FOR THE ORGANIST AND DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

Post Details:

REPORTING TOCanon Precentor

KEY COLLEAGUESAssistant Director of Music

Music Department Administrator

Organ Scholar and Choral Scholars

Chorister Tutors

KEY LATERAL RELATIONSHIPSBoys and girls and young men (teens) choir members and their families

Lay Clerks

Members of the Cathedral Consort

The Dean and Canons

Fellow Cathedral staff and in particular the Director of Strategic Development and Operations and the Director of Finance

A J Carter (organ builder)

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Cathedral Choir:

In consultation with the Canon Precentor, to agree the musical liturgy for all Cathedral services, including Sunday choral worship and midweek Evensongs, Easter and Christmas services, Feast Days, weddings and memorial services.

To oversee all aspects of the recruitment, audition, induction and training of the boy and girl choristers, including delivering and arranging for the provision of 1:1 tuition for Full Choristers and probationary chorister instruction.

To oversee the recruitment of new Lay Clerks, Cathedral Consort members and Organ and Choral scholars as well as to ensure adequate cover per voice part at each service.

To publish in advance a diary each term of commitments undertaken by the Cathedral Choir, including rehearsal details, any touring commitments and details of services and events elsewhere.

To direct the Choir in Cathedral services and rehearsals, to act as the point of contact for external engagements involving the Choir, as well as for any radio or television broadcasting, recording and touring the Choir may undertake.

To maintain close liaison with choir boys, girls and their parents and guardians, and with their schools.

To programme music that balances the familiar with the challenging, maintaining the interest of Choir members.

The Cathedral Organ:

To play the organ to an excellent standard for services as required thus enhancing worship.

To contribute to the Wednesday lunchtime recital series as organist, and to play a part in the weekly running of the series, as well as planning ahead and budgeting effectively to maintain the success and reputation of the series.

To maintain and enhance a monthly series of coffee concerts (vocal and instrumental) in support of the Organ Appeal.

To nurture an interest in the organ among the Cathedral choristers and further afield, including the offering of tuition to suitably inclined and able piano players.

Membership of the Cathedral Organists’ Association and participation on study days and conferences where timetabling with Cathedral duties makes this possible.

To pursue active self-development: learning new repertoire, being alive to new techniques and methods, and gaining from colleagues in similar foundations.

To be responsible for all aspects of the upkeep of the Cathedral Organ in conjunction with A J Carter.

To oversee the fundraising for the current Cathedral Organ Appeal, including the raising of funds from individual donations, grant making trusts, and liaising with the Organ Consultant, A J Carter, the Fabric Advisory Committee and Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England regarding proposed work to the instrument.

To be responsible for organising the maintenance and tuning of the Cathedral pianos.

Administration and general duties:

To be sure at all times of children’s safety while in the Cathedral and grounds and to maintain accurate contact records for us in the event of an accident or emergency. To follow the Cathedral’s Safeguarding policy.

To keep records of chorister presence and absence, following up unexplained absences, and to maintain a tick grid for adult members to indicate availability.

To devise and contribute to a Saturday morning teaching timetable for Full Choristers.

To plan Choir tours and visits well in advance, communicating clear plans to the Cathedral Chapter, with all visits fully risk assessed.

To keep records of the progress of fundraising for the Organ Appeal.

With the Choir Librarian, to ensure the availability of sufficient copies of music in satisfactory order, and to work within the Chapter budget to replace worn copies or to acquire new repertoire.

To act as ambassador at all times for the musical life of the Cathedral.

To oversee the work of music department colleagues such that the department operates efficiently and purposefully.

To represent and offer Cathedral resources through membership of the Royal School of Church Music committee, as well as maintaining a general presence in local musical circles wherever possible.

To engage in outreach with local schools and to act on initiative in devising collaborative choral ventures and educational opportunities for young people.

To take a keen interest in the individual musical development of each chorister, as well as the Organ and Choral Scholars, and to organise opportunities for vocal training of the choir adults.

To oversee spending on music, robes, chorister training, choir pay and sundry other expenses within the Chapter budget as agreed each year.

To find means of raising funds for the Choir’s own furtherance, including subsidy of visits and tours, through the Choir Association account, and to authorise reasonable and proportional payments from that account for such purposes.

To keep in touch where possible with Old Choristers, including invitations for them to support events at the Cathedral.

Non-statutory services:

To have first refusal on playing or directing music for weddings, funerals and memorial services for which a fee is paid or to delegate to a colleague to provide music for such services. To arrange for a choral group for such services on request and to advise on suitable music choices where appropriate.

To be the musical point of contact and have first refusal for any broadcasting or recording work that might be offered by the BBC or other parties.

While the post of Director of Music is full-time, and priority must be given to meetings and to rehearsals and services, the post holder is encouraged to pursue other freelance work elsewhere, including choral training and giving of recitals, as long as there is no clash with Cathedral duties. The Cathedral considers that additional musical work in fact complements the Director of Music’s Cathedral work beneficially in terms of gaining wider experience and being visible in the wider community. The extra-mural work of other musical colleagues is also, within these limits, to be encouraged. It is the responsibility of the post holder to combine such duties effectively, such that administrative matters and all aspects of Cathedral work are at all times up to date.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

REQUIREMENTS / ESSENTIAL (E)
DESIRABLE (D) / MEASURED BY:
A – Application form
I – Interview
P – Practical
R - References
Qualifications
A Music Degree or equivalent qualification. / E / A
A Higher Music Degree. / D / A
An organ qualification at Diploma standard. / E / A
Skills
Excellent musical, interpersonal and communication skills. / E / A/I/P/R
A high level of technical proficiency as an organist. / E / A/P
Advanced choral rehearsal and directing skills that result in efficient and engaging rehearsals and enable singers, both child and adult, to achieve the highest standards. / E / A/P
A willingness to prepare music independently to the highest of standards, so as to maintain an excellent level of performance accuracy at all times.
/ E / P
The willingness to develop and maintain a repertoire of liturgically sensitive voluntaries and to contribute to the Organ Recitalseries.
/ E / A/I
Excellent written and oral skills. / E / A/I
Good organisational skills, including the ability to plan, schedule and work to deadlines. / E / A/I/R
Competence in IT, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher and music notation software. / D / A/I
Experience
Leadership experience commensurate with managing a large department of remunerated colleagues and volunteers. / E / A/I/R
Experience of a liturgical choral environment, includingworking with children. / E / A/I/P/R
Experience of recruiting and training choir members and of individual and small group tuition for children. / D / A/I
Experience of forging and developing links with individuals and groups of people in order to develop a sustainable network of support for the musical life of the Cathedral. / E / A/I/P/R
Proven ability of working collaboratively with colleagues. / E / A/I/P/R
Promotion of liturgical and missional opportunities for music making. / E / A/I
Knowledge
Familiarity with a variety of worship styles / E / A/I
A good working knowledge of the Anglican choral repertory as both director and accompanist. / E / A/I
Knowledge of Safeguarding procedures and a commitment to implement the Cathedral’s Safeguarding policies and processes. / E / A/I/R
Attitudes
A willingness to engage and work with the Cathedral’s stated purpose, values, foundations and ambitions as outlined in the Cathedral’s Vision. / E / A/I
A thirst to gain and give much to the music making at Bradford Cathedral. / E / A/I
The willingness to work flexible hours on occasion, with periods of considerable intensity, as dictated by the Cathedral’s musical needs
/ E / A/I
Self-organisation and the ability to balance own work load. / E / A/I
Discretion and sensitivity to others. / E / A/I