Organist-Choirmaster for St. Mary’s Catholic Church; Greenville, South Carolina
Position Available on or after 15 June 2010

St. Mary’s Catholic Church was founded in 1852 and is the oldest Catholic parish in Upstate South Carolina, with a congregation of over 7,000 souls and a parochial school of 300 children. We are searching for a full-time organist-choirmaster to begin work in summer 2010 and fulfill the following duties:

+train and conduct one adult choir and one youth choir, with one rehearsal and one performance each week for both choirs
+play three weekend Masses each week (5 pm Saturday and 9 and 11 am Sunday)
+play all funerals and weddings (about 25 of both each year with stipends for all)
+play all holy days of obligation
+play one school Mass each week during term
+play various other liturgies as indicated by the pastor (e.g. Solemn Sunday Vespers in Advent and Lent)
+train and supervise all cantors, psalmists, etc.
+coordinate all liturgy programs and produce weekly hymn sheets


Requirements for the position

+at least an undergraduate degree in music; master’s degree preferred
+extensive experience in choral conducting, including plainchant and polyphony
+detailed knowledge of the Catholic liturgy
+mastery of organ literature and improvisation


Benefits

+competitive salary based on education and experience
+full benefits (health insurance, retirement, etc.)
+time away for vacation, recitals, continuing education


St. Mary’s Church

Our parish has a national reputation in the Catholic liturgical movement usually called “The Reform of the Reform,” meaning that we do not celebrate the Tridentine Mass but are deeply committed to the solemn and devout celebration of the modern Roman Rite in fidelity to the best liturgical and musical traditions of Catholicism. In our common prayer, we seek to keep together in organic unity the truth of the Gospel, the beauty of sacred music, the dignity of ritual form, the solemnity of divine worship, and the fellowship of the baptized. The wide and regular use of Latin plainchant and polyphony and the vigorous congregational singing of traditional hymnody within the vernacular celebration of the Missal of 1970 are essential features of our program of sacred music, and the new organist-choirmaster must be someone who is perfectly in agreement with this approach to worship and able to provide leadership for musical excellence under the pastor’s detailed direction.

Our church building was constructed in 1904 in a simple Gothic style with Arts & Crafts influences, and the structure was completely restored in 2002. The parish campus is situated on 10 acres of land in downtown Greenville and includes six buildings and open green spaces. The organ was built in 1990 by Reuter, opus 2131, and it has electro-pneumatic action with two manuals and 19 ranks. Our organ is not a concert quality instrument, but it is excellent for the space and easily fulfills its mission in our church. The organ is located in a loft at the rear of the church, and our two choirs sing from that loft, which can accommodate up to 35 people. On all solemnities we seek to provide brass, strings, and tympani to accompany the organ and choir at the Solemn Mass, and the console and choristers are so arranged that the organist can conduct from the bench as needed. A large practice room with piano and music library is located in a modern building next to the church, and the office of the organist-choirmaster is next to the practice room.


Greenville, South Carolina

Greenville is a very pleasant and surprisingly cosmopolitan town, located on Interstate 85 about half way between Charlotte and Atlanta. In recent years, the downtown of Greenville has experienced an extraordinary renaissance and is now home to parks, restaurants, art galleries, a splendid center for the performing arts, a new baseball park, abundant condominiums, two small theater companies, shops of many kinds, and a thriving culture of outdoor music and street festivals. The climate and cost of living here are both quite moderate, and the quality of life is very high. Greenville County is now home to more than 400,000 people and is the largest urban center in South Carolina, and while the community is increasingly diverse, it still has a very traditional culture with a strong emphasis on Christian discipleship and family life. Greenville is served by several major airlines at the Greenville/Spartanburg Airport (GSP) and is about one hour by car from Asheville, NC, two hours from Charlotte and Atlanta, and three hours from Charleston.


Contact Information

If you are interested in this position, please contact Father Jay Scott Newman, the pastor of St. Mary’s, at jayscottnewman@mac.com or 864.414.9224. Resumes will be reviewed as they arrive. For more information about St. Mary’s Church, visit the parish website at www.stmarysgvl.org.