Director of Sanctuary Music and Worship
Our Roadmap:
BelPres is committed to bring Jesus' healing wherever we live, work, play, and learn. To do this, we are focusing on four areas: community, discipleship, racial justice and healing, and equipping and empowering youth and young adults. We strongly desire to reflect the kingdom of God and therefore encourage a diverse pool of applicants. We act because we believe. We love because we are loved by God.
Our Sanctuary Music Ministry:
We worship God through music with our whole being- heart and mind.
Sanctuary Chorus: Singing choral music from Bach to Gospel, the 100-voice Sanctuary Chorus is in residence September to June. The choir has presented numerous major works with the Festival Orchestra, commissioned and premiered new compositions, toured throughout Europe and Russia, and produced several recordings.
Ensemble: Auditioned members of the Sanctuary Chorus specialize in a cappella and concerted music from the 16th century to the latest works of today's composers.
Bel Canto: This auditioned group of treble young musicians presents a variety of sacred choral music, leading Sanctuary and festival worship services each month. More than a choir, Bel Canto has been a spiritually transformative experience for hundreds of youth.
Children's Choirs: Three leveled choirs for children kindergarten through sixth grade develop their musical literacy and deepen their Christian faith.
Festival Orchestra: Professional-level instrumentalists from the congregation volunteer alongside contracted musicians to accompany the Sanctuary Chorus in festival worship and concerts.
Other Instrumental Ensembles: Brass Band Northwest, the BelPres Trombones, and the BelPres Handbells each lead worship several times a year.
Casavant Organ: Our Casavant Organ (Opus 3742) features 3824 pipes, 50 stops, and 68 ranks. Originally installed in 1995, it was created to lead and support congregational singing; accompany the many choirs, soloists, and instrumental ensembles of the music ministry; and serve as a beautiful solo instrument capable of performing all types of Baroque, classical, Renaissance, Romantic, and contemporary organ repertoire.
The Impact You'll Be Making:
The mission of the Music +Worship Department is to glorify God, proclaim God's Word, and minister to and through those who serve. As the Director of Sanctuary Music + Worship, you will foster community among our musicians as well as in the congregation, pastoring BelPres through our music ministry.
Specifically, you will be asked to:
- Prayerfully imagine all that God intends for the worshipping life of BelPres and design and lead sanctuary worship services accordingly.
- Create and oversee the sanctuary worship and music calendar, including coordination and scheduling of all worship elements, staff, and lay leaders with assistance from support staff and in conjunction with Senior Pastor, Communications and other ministries as needed.
- Design worship services with music selections and liturgy that is biblically based, thematically connected, yet relevant in post-modern culture, and creatively use projection and other worship arts to further the worship experience.
- Direct and supervise music programs that consistently point to Jesus and encourage members to deepen their relationship and experiences with Christ through participation.
- Provide age-appropriate musical training and spiritual support to all members of worship and music programs.
- Direct the Sanctuary Chorus, Ensemble, Bel Canto, and Festival Orchestra, and provide leadership and supervision for all children's choirs and instrumental music programs.
- Supervise full-time support staff and collaborate with staff at every level, in every department, to ensure a professional, effective, biblically-based work environment.
- Collaborate regularly with the Director of Modern Worship to ensure alignment of vision and practices.
Skills & Knowledge
- Personal and growing commitment to Jesus Christ
- Strong commitment to the authority of scripture
- Strong pastoral skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Minimum of seven years experience directing a classical musical program, including conducting
- Master's level study of choral conducting, choral music, or sacred music
- Minimum of three years experience conducting an orchestra and other instrumental ensembles
- Demonstrated success working with musicians age 5-95
- Demonstrated experience contracting and managing professional musicians
- Minimum of five years experience managing a department, including budget oversight and staff relations
- Experience scoring arrangements for choir and orchestra preferred
Culture
- We Are One Team, Fully Present: Our communication is built on trust, and we are quick to give grace.
- We Are Intentionally Innovative: We aren't afraid to challenge the status quo.
- We Care Big: We assume good intent and have a bias for action and timeliness.
- We Do Hard Things: We believe in a God who calls us to work together and makes the impossible possible.