Our Search for an Organist/Choir Director.
The Nevil Memorial Church of St. George, an Episcopal church in Ardmore, PA, is seeking an Organist/Choir Director to begin in August 2025. St. George’s congregation is welcoming and friendly, and is deeply involved in local charitable organizations. Our mission statement emphasizes worship, community, and service. The Organist/Choir Director is a salaried half-time position that reports to and works closely with our Rector.
Organist responsibilities include playing the organ and accompanying/conducting the choir during one service each Sunday (10:00 a.m.) from Labor Day through Pentecost (the “program year”). Summer services include playing the organ during one service (10:00 a.m.) each Sunday. Additional services include: Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, All Soul’s Evensong, two Christmas Eve and one Christmas morning. Most services are Eucharistic services (i.e., include communion), and include an organ prelude and postlude, four hymn introductions and accompaniments, liturgical music accompaniments, and (during the program year) chanted psalm settings and choral anthem accompaniments.
Occasionally the Organist will be requested to play for a wedding or funeral in the church, for an additional fee. If the Organist is unavailable, they are responsible for arranging for a substitute. In addition, the Organist must arrange for a substitute when on vacation or otherwise unavailable; this includes providing the substitute with all music and a sample service leaflet, and instructions on how and when to play each piece; arranging for practice time in the church; and arranging for payment through the church’s administrative assistant.
St. George’s has an active choir of 10 adults, including four professional section leaders. The choir sings during the 10:00 a.m. service on most Sundays during the program year, plus all the additional services listed in the preceding paragraph (except Christmas morning). Choir Director responsibilities include 1.5-hour rehearsals on most Thursday evenings during the program year, plus a 1-hour warm-up/rehearsal before each service. Occasionally the choir has an extra rehearsal for especially busy seasons, typically before Advent and Holy Week; this usually occurs after a 10:00 service. Choir Director responsibilities include preparation for choir rehearsals; advertising for and auditioning section leaders whenever there is a vacancy (section leaders are expected to arrange for substitutes). For three Youth Sundays per year, the Choir Director will select a piece for a choir of young children, rehearse with them (usually following a 10:00 a.m. service), and accompany them during the Youth Sunday service.
In addition to rehearsing for and playing during the services mentioned above, the position’s responsibilities include:
- selection of music appropriate for each service’s readings or thematic lessons, in coordination with our Rector
- submitting music information weekly for the service bulletin
- submitting the bi-weekly payroll for the four professional singers;
- preparing a schedule for the choir listing all rehearsals and service dates/times
- monitoring/scheduling tuning of the organ and two pianos
- preparing a yearly budget for music
- maintaining the choir music catalog (spreadsheet)
- encouraging participation by the congregation
The church organ is a 3-manual Austin organ installed in 1931. It has four divisions (Great, Swell, Choir, and Antiphonal) plus Pedal, and 63 ranks of pipes. A new console was installed in 1970, and additions were made to the Great division in 1977. More details are available on our website here.
Additional musical resources include:
- Steinway piano in the choir room
- Schomacker piano in the sanctuary
- An extensive catalogued library of choral music including over 900 titles, plus numerous oratorio scores
- Three-octave set of Schulmerich handbells and two-octave set of Malmark Melody Chimes (our bell choir is directed by a parishioner and coordinates service participation with the Organist/Choir Director)
Compensation will be commensurate with education and experience, and will be between $33,000 and $40,000 annually. We offer four weeks of paid vacation. We also offer the opportunity to participate in a 403(b) savings plan, short- and long-term disability coverage, and life insurance. Funds are available for special vocal/instrumental musicians and music supplies. We will also cover the cost of the annual membership in the Association of Anglican Musicians.
Applicants should have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) and directly applicable experience. Each candidate must demonstrate skill in keyboard playing as well as choral conducting, and be an effective communicator with all ages and talent levels.
For more information or to apply, contact St. George’s at jobs@stgeorgeschurch.org. Applicants should send a cover letter stating their interest, and a current resume that includes three references.