Position Title: Section Leader (Soprano or Alto)
Position Type: Employee/W-4
Organization: St. Lawrence Church - Mater Dei Latin Mass Community Location: 110 State Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Reports To: Paul Thomas May, Director of Music
Contact: music@stlawrence.cc

Job Description
The Section Leader supports the Sacred Music Program in achieving high quality choral sacred music by providing leadership and direction to their respective Section, and applying their vocal skills to the Gregorian Chant, Renaissance Polyphony, traditional hymnody, and classical repertoire sung in the Saint Lawrence Choir for the Traditional Latin Mass.
Responsibilities
● Prepare all music for upcoming Sunday/other scheduled Mass, and have respective part for all hymns and polyphony learned and prepared prior to rehearsals.
● Provide leadership and guidance to their respective section during rehearsals, including directing sectionals when indicated by the Director, assisting volunteer singers learn their parts and improve their overall singing ability.
● Occasionally prepare more challenging repertoire to be sung in a small group (soli) setting.
● Serve as soloist/chorister for Orchestral Masses (average of three per year; Christmas, Easter, St. Lawrence’s Feast in August)
● Support Music Director in carrying out the future vision of the choral program at St. Lawrence.
Commitments
● Thursday evening rehearsals, 6:30pm-9:00pm. (usually 7:15pm for soprano and altos)
● Sunday morning warmup and Mass (9:30am warmup, 10:30am Mass)
● Christmas Midnight Mass and warmup, (call time 11:00pm Christmas Eve)
● Christmas Day, 9:30am call.
● Holy Week
o Holy Thursday 4/17/25, 5pm call
o Good Friday 4/18/25, 1pm call
o Easter Vigil Mass 4/19/25, 6pm call o Easter Sunday 4/20/25, 9:30am call
● Additional special Masses/events as notified (average of two or three additional calls per month)
Requirements
● Previous choral singing experience and familiarity with Polyphony and Traditional Hymnody, Classical/Baroque style is a plus.
● Familiarity with Gregorian Chant a plus, but can be taught on the job
● Ability to sing with accurate intonation and flexible tone (i.e. minimal vibrato when
needed)
● Sight-reading competency
● Ability to provide direction and leadership to 2-4 additional singers
● Passion for traditional sacred music and respect for the guidelines and music legislation
of the Catholic Church
● Desire for ongoing growth and learning
Compensation
● $50/call with a baseline of 2 calls per week (one rehearsal + one Mass)
o Rehearsals are suspended during most Summer weeks.
● Position is classified as an employee.
● First right of refusal for all funerals and weddings average of 8 per year ($150 each)