Holy Spirit Catholic Church (Annandale, VA) has an opening for a bass or bass-baritone section leader. 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 potential opportunities for additional calls for Saturday evening/Sunday morning Masses with cantor and organ. (NOTE: At this time, we expect to resume choral activities in mid-September, but this may be delayed due to Covid-19 case numbers and severity in our area. In the meantime, we are working with a limited number of singers and masking as per current CDC recommendation.)

This position requires participation for Christmas Eve/Day and Holy Week liturgies and rehearsals, as well as occasional weekday Holy Day liturgies throughout the year. Pay is $50 for Thursday rehearsal (7-9 PM) and $75 for Sunday Mass (10:30-11:30 AM; no Sunday rehearsal), with additional pay for longer services. Guaranteed minimum income of $125/week during most weeks of the choral season.

The choir is comprised of a team of dedicated volunteers and professionals; as such, the ability to work with and guide volunteer singers is crucial. While weekly repertory is primarily focused on hymnody, choral repertory for special feasts and seasons spans the range from medieval plainchant/Renaissance polyphony up through 20th/21st century compositions written in a classical idiom.

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 (TUNE: AUSTRIAN HYMN); (2) one verse of Schubert's "Ave Maria" (in G, Ab, or Bb); (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.