Holy Spirit Catholic Church (Annandale, VA) has an opening for a bass/bass-baritone section leader/cantor, with duties commencing in late August/early September. The successful candidate will have strong sight-reading abilities (both standard and plainchant notation) and excellent musicianship skills, and be able to work as a team player and leader for their section. Responsibilities include participation in weekly rehearsals (Thursdays from 7-9 PM) and a weekly choral Mass (Sundays at 10:30 AM), plus opportunities for additional calls for Saturday evening/Sunday morning Masses with cantor and organ. Opportunities for additional compensation include singing for weddings and funerals. The position also requires participation for Christmas and Holy Week liturgies and rehearsals, as well as occasional weekday Holy Day liturgies throughout the year.

The choir is comprised of a team of dedicated volunteers and professionals committed to bringing about a high standard of sacred music within the liturgical setting for which it was conceived. (As such, the ability to work with and guide volunteer singers is crucial.) Repertory eras range from medieval plainchant/Renaissance polyphony up to modern compositions written in a classical idiom. A sampling of the composers in our repertory would include Palestrina, Victoria, Tallis, Byrd, Padilla, Saint-Saëns, Elgar, Rachmaninoff, Vaughan Williams, Stainer, Duruflé, and Latona, among others.

Educational requirement: Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music or Bachelor of Music (BM) in any discipline (vocal performance preferred). Undergraduate students currently completing a course of study in music are welcome to apply so long as they can guarantee routine availability for all choir calls, including Christmas and Holy Week/Easter.

Audition requirements: (1) Prepare Verse 1 of “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken” in Eb major; (2) prepare a solo selection for your voice part from Handel’s Messiah (recit. + aria or aria only); (3) sight reading of plainchant excerpt; (4) sight reading of a segment from a polyphonic work (singer’s own voice part).

To arrange an audition, please send a résumé to Alberto González, Director of Music, at agonzalez@holyspiritchurch.us. (Prospective applicants may freely inquire about compensation rates and other matters of interest by email.)

Applications will be received until Mon., August 6, 2018.