The Philadelphia Oratory of St. Philip Neri welcomes applications for the position of Interim Organist and Choirmaster.

The Philadelphia Oratory, which administers the Roman Catholic Parish and Church of St. Francis Xavier, seeks a well-qualified, practicing Roman Catholic to serve as the principal musician of the church, from September 2023 through June 2024. The position works closely with, and reports to, the Prefect of Music, who is a member and representative of the Philadelphia Oratory.

The Interim Organist and Choirmaster will act as principal accompanist for the following Masses and seasonal special services:

- Weekly 5:30pm Saturday evening Mass (with Cantor) and 10:30am Sunday Mass (with Quartet)
- Evening Mass on Holy Days of Obligation (7:30pm)
- 40 Hours Devotion (in early November)
- Christmas Eve and Day (usually at 5pm and 10:30am, respectively)
- Stations of the Cross and other Lenten devotional services (usually 7:30pm on Fridays in Lent)
- Holy Week (including 7:30pm on Holy Thursday; 2pm on Good Friday; and around 7pm
on Holy Saturday)
- First Communion Mass (in early May)
- Graduation Mass (in mid-June)

The Interim Organist and Choirmaster is expected to rehearse with the cantor on Saturday evenings at 4pm, and to warm-up and rehearse the Oratory Quartet on Sunday mornings at 9:15am. There are no weekday rehearsals anticipated at this time.

The Prefect of Music of the Oratory is responsible for selecting the Mass ordinaries and propers, hymns, and choral repertoire, that the Interim Organist and Choirmaster, Cantors, and Quartet are expected to perform. The Interim Organist and Choirmaster is responsible for choosing and performing seasonally-appropriate preludes and postludes, and for playing or improvising incidental music as needed.

The Interim Organist and Choirmaster will organize and prepare wedding and funeral Masses and will receive first option to provide music for weddings and funerals. Opportunities for other special services at the Oratory, including the annual Christmas and Lent concerts, are to be determined in consultation with the Prefect of Music. Compensation for any such events is in addition to salary offered.

This is a quarter-time, salaried position (compensation commensurate with industry standards for time involved), with a duration of ten months from September 2023 through June 2024. The Interim Organist and Choirmaster may choose to apply for the permanent position.

The Interim Organist and Choirmaster is entitled to two Saturdays and two Sundays of paid vacation, the dates of which are subject to approval by the Prefect of Music. The Prefect of Music is responsible for arranging substitute musicians. Compensation for any absences beyond the two weekends are the responsibility of the Interim Organist and Music Director.

Candidates must:
- Have a bachelor’s degree in music or commensurate experience;
- Be a practicing Catholic, have a working knowledge and appreciation of the Catholic Church’s liturgical tradition, current liturgical norms, and be willing to work
collaboratively with Prefect of Music to effect the Oratory’s liturgical vision for the
Parish;
- Have strong musical skills, including sight-reading, familiarity with chant notation, arranging and selecting appropriate organ music for various liturgical seasons and
themes, and a deep knowledge of the various sacred styles of Catholic music: Gregorian chant, early polyphony, English choral, modern sacred, and modern hymnody;
- Have a high degree of proficiency in the use of the organ (The parish organ is a well- maintained, three-manual Hook and Hastings from the early 20 th century); and
- Be self-motivated, adaptable to changes in routine, and have exceptional written and oral communication skills.

Interested candidates should submit cover letter and resume by email to Br. Alexander Mosko, C.O., Prefect of Music, at amosko721@gmail.com. For any questions, please email the same address or call the parish office at (215) 765-4568.