The parish of St. Edward the Confessor is seeking a new Director of Music and organist to lead the parish music program beginning Summer of 2025. This is a full-time position with benefits. The parish is composed of a campus in New Fairfield and a campus in Sherman. Primary responsibilities would be at the New Fairfield.
The Director of Music will facilitate an important liturgical function by serving the parish as principal musician, organist, and choir director, according to the highest of professional standards. The Director of Music will be responsible for the planning and coordinating of the various music requirements of the parish, which include but may not be limited to: serving as the principal organist for four regular weekend Masses, all Holy Day Masses, all Christmas Masses, the Sacred Triduum and all Easter Masses, all funerals and weddings (extra income stipend to be paid by respective families), Confirmation ceremonies, First Communion Masses, other devotional liturgical events throughout the year.
In addition to liturgical activities, the Director of Music will plan and coordinate social music events or concerts, such as introducing a Christmas & Easter concert series and coordinating existing annual celebrations for the various choral groups. The Director of Music will also have the ability to recruit and hire substitutes or additional cantors, choristers, and instrumentalists with approvals from the pastor. The Director of Music will be expected to comply with all safe environment requirements of the Diocese of Bridgeport and will work to ensure that all music ministry members are also in compliance.
Candidates must have a high degree of proficiency in the use of the organ and piano as attested to by formal credentials and working experience. The organ is a Schantz 20-rank pipe-organ, installed in 1986 in our original church space and then re-installed in 2001 in our current main church. In addition to the Schantz pipe-organ, the parish possesses both a Baldwin grand piano and a Steinway baby-grand piano (all of which are available to the Music Director for private tutoring opportunities in addition to parish responsibilities). A master’s degree in music is preferred; a bachelor’s degree in music is required. A practicing Catholic who has a working knowledge and appreciation of the Catholic Church’s liturgical tradition with regard to chant and classical sacred repertoire as well as more recent compositions, liturgical sensibilities and practices established according to the liturgical law of the Church and the local law of the Diocese of Bridgeport is preferred, though not exclusive. Candidate must ultimately be willing to work collaboratively with the pastor’s overall liturgical vision for the parish.
Candidates must be self-motivated, adaptable to changes in routine, able to care for the parish instruments and music library, have excellent written and oral communication skills, have knowledge using computer programs such as Outlook, Word, various music programs, ability to create and edit seasonal worship aids, and demonstrates ability to coordinate and work in choral settings with adults and children.
Salary is 50,000 with the Diocese of Bridgeport’s benefit package. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. For additional information or to submit a letter of interest and a resume to Rev. Robert L. Wolfe, St. Edward the Confessor Church, 21 Brush Hill Road, New Fairfield, CT 06812 or frwolfe@stedwardchurch.org. Phone inquiries will not be accepted.