Director of Music
Director of Music and Organist
Reports to: Senior Pastor
Supervises: Organ Scholar, Director of Children’s Music, Director of Choral Scholars, Staff Singers, and volunteers
Salary and Benefits: Full-time position, $70,000 to $100,000 commensurate with experience. Position includes health, pension, and vacation benefits
Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to Rev. Dr. Jeff McDonald at pastor@stpaulshouston.org. Applications preferred by March 15.
Position Summary:
The Director of Music and Organist at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church provides leadership and direction for a comprehensive music program primarily grounded in the Anglican and classical tradition and maintains the highest standard of excellence and integrity for the worship of Christ at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, throughout Houston, and beyond the region, consistent with St. Paul’s Vision Statement.
Responsibilities:
• Serves as Director of Music and lead Organist.
• Prepares St. Paul’s Choir on a weekly basis and St. Paul’s choruses and ensembles as required.
• Utilizes the Revised Common Lectionary as a foundation and works with staff and laity to plan choral, congregational, and instrumental music for the church year, including regular Sunday services and special services.
• Develops a comprehensive music program that includes opportunities for children, youthand adults to participate in worship through music.
• Plans and executes special projects, concerts, workshops and trips to promote the musical and spiritual growth of the choir and St. Paul’s as an ambassador of St. Paul’s.
• Provides leadership and direction for the music staff and their professional growth and development.
• Manages administrative responsibilities including oversight of music budget and participation in regularly scheduled meetings of staff, committees, and overall music ministry.
• Contracts professional musicians, clinicians or guest conductors, as appropriate.
• Provides consultation for weddings, funerals and other special services, including arrangements for vocal, choral and organ music as requested.
• Upholds and pursues the highest level of skill in choral conducting and organ performance through regular practice, continuing education and active membership in professional organizations.
• Serves as curator for instruments, including the acquisition of new instruments and the regular and long-range maintenance of current instruments.
• Serves as an artistic director with the St. Paul’s Chamber Music Society which sponsors concerts, recitals and special events and contributes to the vibrant Houston music and arts community.
Qualifications:
• A musician who views this position as an expression of both ministry and vocation, whose love for and joy in sacred music is evident, and who desires to exercise this ministry as part of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.
• Proven skills and excellence in choral conducting, organ performance, leadership, and business management.
• Mature and growing in Christian faith and discipleship.
• Ability to treat all persons with respect and to establish an environment that contributes to the spiritual and musical growth of choir members and their ability to lead meaningful worship.
• Ability to partner with Senior Pastor and lay leadership to accomplish the vision of the church, to independently analyze needs, identify new places for growth and respond with appropriate programming, prioritization, and leadership.
• Effective written, verbal, and technological communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively as either a team leader or member in support of the church’s vision.
• Advanced leadership skills and willingness to build relationships and create seamless integration between multiple choruses and church leadership.
Experience Required: 5+ years Church Choral Conducting with accomplished Organ Performance in Anglican-influenced Worship
Preferred: Substantial experience in senior leadership, ideally within a sacred music program
Education Required: Bachelors in Music (choral conducting, organ, or sacred music)
Preferred: Masters or Doctorate in Music (choral conducting, organ, or sacred music)
Preferred: Membership in ACDA, AGO, AAM, or other relevant professional organizations.
About St. Paul’s UMC:
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church’s mission is to serve Houston and beyond as it embodies the city’s diversity, inspires faith, and leads change for the common good of all peoples and communities.
Founded in 1906 and located at its current site in Houston’s vibrant museum district since 1930, St. Paul’s is an urban, welcoming, and progressive church of almost 4,000 members with a weekly worship attendance averaging 500. The congregation strives to continue connecting with a growing and ethnically diverse city. St. Paul’s encourages and promotes excellence to the glory of God in worship, theology, ministry, and mission.
Music at St. Paul’s:
The community of St. Paul’s highly regards music and the arts as integral parts of its worship heritage. A Schantz organ and traditional neo-Gothic architecture support a vast array of vocal, choral, and instrumental music in worship and performance. The church enjoys a rich tradition of excellence in choral singing in its multiple choirs as well as its congregation. Opportunities to participate in choral music are available for young children through adults and are supplemented by instrumental soloists and ensembles.
St. Paul’s Choir – The St. Paul’s Choir has earned recognition for its commitment to quality traditional sacred music offered in authentic, liturgical Anglican-influenced worship. In addition to singing weekly Sunday services at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., the Choir of 50-plus voices performs services of Choral Evensong several times annually, offers music for special liturgical services and has served as chorus in residence at several cathedrals. In addition to a wide array of traditional music ranging from the Renaissance and Baroque eras to the Anglican anthems of Stanford and Howells, the choir regularly performs Anglican Psalter and plainchant. See Appendix.
St. Paul’s Choral Scholars – Advanced, auditioned high school choral musicians from throughout Houston sing classical and Anglican choral music and share musical leadership responsibilities in Sunday services at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Treble Choir – Selected choristers aged 10 to 18 advance their musical skills individually and as an ensemble. The Treble Choir sings with the St. Paul’s Choir and the Choral Scholars for special services throughout the year. The Treble Choir uses the Royal School of Church Music Voice for Life curriculum.
Children’s Choirs – Three children’s choirs provide opportunities for about 75 children aged 3 through 12 years to participate in periodic Sunday worship and special services. Concepts of ensemble singing and music in worship are introduced and developed throughout the program.
• Joyful Noise - for children ages 3 years to Kindergarten
• Wesley Singers – for 1st and 2nd graders
• Choristers – for 3rd thru 8th graders. Voice for Life curriculum used with this chorus. Royal School of Church Music membership.
St. Paul’s Instrumental Ensemble – A chamber group for young instrumental players, aged 5 to 18 years performs for services and in addition provides accompaniment for choirs.
Change Ringing Bells – An octave of eight bells is located in the St. Paul’s Bell Tower. Ringers utilize both method and called change ringing for special services.
Handbells – recently created in 2024, this ensemble performed for the first time at the Sights, Sounds, and Smells of Christmas event
For more information on St. Paul’s instruments, choral repertoire, and past residencies at cathedrals and churches, visit stpaulshouston.org/jobs.