The Assistant Director of Sacred Music is a qualified, competent vocalist with skills in playing the organ or with some keyboard skills and a willingness to learn. The successful candidate should be an active, practicing Catholic in good standing, with a strong familiarity with the primary forms of Catholic sacred music (chant and polyphony), and have a desire to execute this music consistently at a high level on a near-daily basis. The candidate will need to be bilingual, or at least be able to sing in Spanish. Exceptional candidates with no Spanish proficiency will be considered, but they will need to immerse themselves in the study of Spanish before beginning the position.

• The Assistant Director of Music assists the Director of Sacred Music in executing the vision of our music program in line with Bishop Olmsted's letters on sacred music and Church documents

• The Assistant Director of Music chants the propers, ordinary, and Marian antiphon or other hymns/chants at the daily Masses of the Cathedral Monday - Thursday.

• The Assistant Director of Music works together with the Director of Sacred Music with the auditioned 34 member Children's Choir (grades 3 - 8) twice per week, teaching them proper vocal technique, chant, hymns, descants, and the soprano part of polyphony.

• The Assistant Director of Music is a member of the Cathedral Choir and Cathedral Schola, singing as a section leader in their voice part.

• Occasionally the Assistant Director will be called upon to lead sectional rehearsals or entire Cathedral Choir rehearsals when the Director is away.

• The Assistant Director of Music sings/plays at the Sunday Spanish Masses, leading chant in Spanish and Latin and other hymns as are necessary. Presently there are few Spanish resources for sacred music - part of this job will be creating such resources with the Director of Music.

• As the leader of the Cathedral Youth Schola, the Assistant Director should recruit high school and college age singers to execute chant, hymnody, polyphony, and occasionally high quality modern liturgical compositions at Youth Schola Masses.

• The Assistant Director of Music is in charge of keeping the music office and music library tidy and organized. He or she should have strong organizational skills and be able to work efficiently without constant instruction.

• The Assistant Director prepares worship aids for daily Masses (weekly or seasonally), Spanish Masses (weekly or biweekly), and the Youth Schola Mass (when/if necessary).

Full time salaried position with a competitive benefits package. Additional income is available for Funerals (first right of refusal as vocalist), Weddings (second right of refusal as vocalist), Diocesan events with the Director of Music, and other events throughout the Valley. Friday and Saturdays are the Assistant Director's "weekend."

Last season's Choral Repertoire List is available here.
A sample worship aid is available here.
A recent review by the "Mystery Worshipper" can be found here.

About the Cathedral:
As the Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, SS. Simon and Jude prides itself on liturgical and musical excellence, promoting sacred music as instructed in Sacrosanctum Concilium. The primary forms of Catholic music (Gregorian chant, polyphony, organ music) are used almost exclusively. The Cathedral will have a new pipe organ installed in its choir loft in 2016.

Resumes or CVs with an appropriate cover letter indicating your reasons for interest and qualifications for the position, as well as examples of your playing/singing should be sent to Matthew J. Meloche - mmeloche@simonjude.org or via mail to the Cathedral.