St. Rita Catholic Church | 3815 Russell Road, Alexandria, VA


Description of role: Part-time vocalist (treble preferred) singing for 3 Masses/weekend including a 45 minute or 1 hour pre-Mass rehearsal. Regular Mass schedule is 5PM Saturday, 8:15am and 11:00am Sunday, with occasional weekday Holy Day Masses. Additional rehearsals and liturgy accompaniment during Christmas and Holy Week/Easter Seasons, as well as the possibility for singing weddings and funerals during the week for additional pay.

Tasks: Prompt attendance at scheduled rehearsals and Masses, familiarity with music before the Mass/rehearsal. Singing mass parts, hymns, early polyphony and parts music, and Gregorian chant. The typical Sunday's music includes Richard Rice's English propers, three hymns sung in unison, and a motet, or chant hymn.

Skills and requirements: Good sight reading of modern notation and neumes, understanding of the Catholic Liturgy, ability to take direction, ability to hold one's voice part, to sing well in a variety of circumstances, and work well with other schola members, and their voice types.

Work schedule: Saturdays 4:00-6:00pm; Sundays 7:30-9:15am, 10:00-12:00pm.

Pay: Compensation for regular weekday/weekend parish and school Masses is $75 per call, for a total of $225 per weekend typically. Weekday Masses are each an additional $75. Wedding and funeral compensation $150 per call.

To schedule an audition, please leave a message for Lawrence Bowie, Director of Sacred Music at (443) 472-0788