Assistant Director of Choristers Children’s Choir
Assistant Director assists the Director of Music in running rehearsals and Masses with the Children’s Choir (grades 3 – 8). The Choir rehearses weekly (on Tuesdays) and sings at Masses approximately once per month (full schedule available on request). The Children’s Choir at St. Clare of Assisi sings only sacred music in the context of the Roman Catholic liturgy – primarily Gregorian chant (in Latin and English), with some basic polyphony and hymnody. The Associate Director should be familiar with children’s vocal pedagogical techniques, have worked with children before, be comfortable with solfège, and should have a pleasant singing voice (straight tone). The ability to read Gregorian chant notation (neumes) – even very basically - would be greatly beneficial. Some rudimentary keyboard skills and familiarity with the Ward Method or other teaching tools (i.e. Gwozdz Singing FUNdamentals) are also desired. Applicant must complete Safe Environment training as per the Diocese of Phoenix requirements before beginning the position. A stipend is offered for each rehearsal and Mass.

St Clare of Assisi Catholic Parish in Surprise, Arizona is a rapidly growing, culturally diverse community of 3500 registered parish homes with a new 2000 seat church. The community consists of many young families, as well as a large retirement community. St. Clare’s school of religion has over 500 students, which should allow for recruitment of a large and vibrant Chorister program. The parish has been making great progress toward the vision presented in His Excellency, Bishop Olmsted’s series “Singing the Mass” – with choirs/cantors presently singing many of the propers of the Mass in English and/or Latin, priests and deacons chanting their dialogues and prayers, and the congregation chanting the ordinary of the Mass and other appropriate Psalms and hymns.

Please send resume – and if possible a recording of your singing voice – to mmeloche@diocesephoenix.org

For more information please email Matthew J. Meloche at the above address.



Cantor
St. Clare of Assisi seeks a talented professional vocalist to be Staff Cantor for the Parish. The Cantor’s main role will be singing the proper texts at Holy Mass. The vocalist should have an excellent singing voice (straight tone preferred), confidence to sing in front of a large congregation, the ability to lead the congregation in song, good sight-reading abilities and a pleasant disposition. The ability to read Gregorian chant notation (neumes) is necessary for the position (training provided for exceptional candidates that do not have this ability). The schedule of the Cantor is one Mass per weekend, with potential extra Masses on Holy Days, Christmas and throughout Holy Week / the Easter Triduum. Applicant must complete Safe Environment training as per the Diocese of Phoenix requirements before beginning the position. A stipend is offered for each Mass.

St Clare of Assisi Catholic Parish in Surprise, Arizona is a rapidly growing, culturally diverse community of 3500 registered parish homes with a new 2000 seat church. The community consists of many young families, as well as a large retirement community. The parish has been making great progress toward the vision presented in His Excellency, Bishop Olmsted’s series “Singing the Mass” – with choirs/cantors presently singing many of the propers of the Mass in English and/or Latin, priests and deacons chanting their dialogues and prayers, and the congregation chanting the ordinary of the Mass and other appropriate Psalms and hymns.

Applicants should send a resume, references, and a recording of their voice (if possible) to:

Matthew J. Meloche
Director of Music and Liturgy
mmeloche@diocesephoenix.org