Help Wanted: Accompanist / Choirmaster, Part-Time
Christ the King Anglican Church in Grover Beach, California, is seeking a part-time accompanist / choirmaster. This is an entry level position intended for a college graduate who is proficient in piano and voice, and would enjoy the opportunity to be involved in building a parish’s music program from the ground up. We are a traditional parish, singing hymns, chants, and canticles from the extensive repertoire of the English church.
Immediate duties include supporting the vicar in selecting hymns for upcoming services, accompanying on piano for congregational singing for our Sunday morning worship and feast days, and participating at our weekday morning prayer worship. On-the job-training will be provided, as well as the opportunity to travel to other parishes to observe and learn from churches with well-established music programs.
Applicants can expect their duties to evolve as our parish grows. These may include teaching music at our nascent parish school, developing a choral program at parish and/or school, and finding other local musicians to assist us in worship for special occasions. To this end, applicants would be encouraged to pursue further musical studies at our local university, not only for continued personal growth, but also with an eye towards networking with other musicians in the area.
Salary Considerations:
Given that California is a very expensive place to live, housing assistance will be provided. Salary beyond housing will be $15,000 per year, and employee would be free to find additional part-time work as desired.
About Grover Beach:
Grover Beach is located approximately half-way between San Francisco and Los Angeles in a region known as the Central Coast of California. The area in which we are located has wonderful weather, and is known for its vineyards and wine culture. The county seat, San Luis Obispo, has an extremely well-regarded university for a broad range of disciplines, as well as a small regional airport which is easy to fly into. Economically, there is a good mix of agriculture, technology, and the service industries. This is truly one of the most desirable areas of California!
About Christ the King Anglican Church:
Christ the King (CTK) is a parish of the Diocese of Mid-America (Reformed Episcopal Church). It was established in the north part of San Luis Obispo county in 1995. Since then various leaders have come and gone, and the parish has relocated several times. The current vicar began serving toward the end of the covid pandemic when the parish was near closing. Due to a determined core of worshipers, CTK survived, and is now headed on a positive trajectory. Our current average Sunday attendance is 30. God is doing great things in our parish, and we invite you to join us in this exciting work.
Job details
Salary: $15,000 per year plus housing as needed
Hours per week: 15
Requirements
The candidate must:
- Have an active relationship with Jesus, or a desire to be baptized with all that entails
- Be supportive of Anglican liturgical forms and musical tradition
- Be passionate about teaching and about musical excellence at all levels of ability
- Possess proficiency at piano accompaniment, preferably while singing along with the congregation
- Be interested in developing a future organ program
- Commit to being present during the high holidays (Christmas, Easter, and Ascension)
- Have a degree in music or have commensurate experience
- Seek further growth in musical knowledge and skill through attendance at conferences and symposia or through further academic pursuits
- Be able to connect with other musicians in the area who might be willing to perform at special worship services
Interested individuals should email a resume or curriculum vitae to:
Please include professional, personal, and academic references (outside of immediate family).