Director of Sacred Music

“Liturgical musicians are first of all disciples, and only then are they ministers” (USCCB: Sing to the Lord,49). St. Gabriel the Archangel Roman Catholic Church and Annunciation School (K-8) in Cave Creek, AZ are seeking a dynamic full-time Director of Sacred Music who deeply loves our Lord and His Church to join a team to help make missionary disciples through evangelization, catechesis, and worthy encounters of our Lord in the Sacraments. The new Director of Sacred Music will help bring the parish into our brand new Church building this Fall, help select the purchase of an organ when it can be afforded, and will direct and build a parish program that is in harmonious accord with the Catholic Church’s great tradition of sacred music as it is understood and shown forth by the mind of the Church.

Therefore, the Director of Sacred Music at St. Gabriel Parish will direct the activity of all sacred music at the parish, as well as work with the part-time Music Teacher of the school in forming the students and school choir. The Director will recruit, schedule, musically train, and provide ongoing liturgical catechesis for adult cantors and choir members, help forming in them and the students of the school a loving commitment to the Church and her sacred liturgy, and drawing them and all of the faithful into profound encounters of our Lord through a deeper actual participation in the sacred liturgy.

Professional and Personal Representation:
• Practicing Roman Catholic who models fidelity to Church teaching on faith and morals in their personal life.
• Works collaboratively with parish and diocesan staff and personnel, under the direction of the pastor, toward a gradual and pastorally sensitive renewal of sacred music practice according to the mind of the Church.
• Represents the pastor at all meetings of choirs, cantors, advisory committees. Communicates in a professional and positive manner at all levels.
• Possesses a deep personal love and respect for the Liturgy as the source and summit of the Church’s life and missionary activity, and a desire to share this with others.
• Has a degree in the field of Sacred Music or equivalent experience.
• Has a thorough knowledge of the various liturgical books, documents and current rubrics.
• Has a working knowledge of Gregorian chant, sacred polyphony and choral music, proper antiphons in English and Latin, and of hymnody appropriate to Catholic liturgy.
• Has proficiency and experience in choir and cantor training, working musically with children, liturgical catechesis, recruiting and managing volunteers, and proper organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work cooperatively with priests, parish staff and parishioners.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, especially in all conversations with staff and pastor.

Job Duties:
• Provide/oversee/plan music for three (four) weekend Masses (4:30 PM Vigil, 7:00 AM, 8:30 AM, and 10:30 AM. Weddings, Funerals, Confirmations, Holy Days of Obligation, and first Friday of the month 6:30 PM Encounter night through Adoration. And any other parish related events.
• Ability to serve as director/conductor for liturgies and provide piano or organ accompaniment, as well as work with Music Teacher to enhance/expand music program in the school.
• Ability to foster the authentic and fruitful, active participation of all members of the parish and students, through congregational singing of antiphons, hymns, and Mass settings.
• Collaborating with the pastor in catechesis of the faithful on the role of music in the liturgy, and on any changes in liturgical/musical practices in the liturgy over time.
• Manage volunteers of the parish Sacred Music Department.
• Recruit members for the various choirs and instrument ensembles of the parish and school; and provide ongoing continuing education and formation in Sacred Music for all members of these groups.
• Additional responsibilities as directed by the pastor.

Please email resumes and cover letters to: Fr. Chad King- frchad@stgacc.org