Director of Music and Organist – Position Description
April 2025

Overview of the Position

• Position: Director of Music and Organist, St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Ottawa
• Hours: 20 hours per week; position includes benefits
• Compensation: Based on RCCO guidelines and as negotiated
• Reports to: Incumbent and Churchwardens
• Start Date: August 2025

About St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Ottawa

St. Matthew’s, The Anglican Church in the Glebe is situated between First and Glebe Avenues. This handsome stone structure, which opened in 1930, for many in the community continues to serve as a spiritual and social cornerstone. St. Matthew’s is a vibrant Christian community that welcomes everyone. A standard of excellent music-making has always been a part of St. Matthew’s history. The music program supports the life of the Parish of St. Matthew’s in its contribution to the worship experience.

Music at St. Matthew’s

St. Matthew’s holds weekly worship services throughout the year with additional services during Advent-Christmas and Lent-Easter cycles. Music for this worship is anchored in the Anglican choral tradition of hymns and anthems, plus the exploration of new compositions.

St. Matthew’s choir is a group of 25 singers dedicated to the discipline of Anglican choral music. It is an auditioned ensemble of men and women, including four paid choral scholars. The adult choir performs from Labour Day to mid-June for weekly and special services.

There is also a children’s choir. They participate monthly in worship services with the adult choir.

The choirs are accompanied by an organ that has significant links back to a 21-stop pipe organ built in 1909 by Casavant Freres for the church’s first sanctuary. In 1957, the organ was rebuilt and more than doubled in size by the British firm of Hill, Norman and Beard, and included a nine-stop Positiv division. The organ was rebuilt a final time by Orgues Baumgarten and dedicated in June, 2002.

It is understood by the parish that large sections of the instrument are at the end of their life. To come on as Director of Music and Organist (henceforth identified as D of M) at this time is an exciting opportunity to assist in the refurbishment of the organ and to head up both the process of acquiring a used or new organ console and the fundraising opportunities to make this happen. There is also a Yamaha grand piano and two harpsicords

Worship Services at St. Matthew’s

Sunday 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist
St. Matthew’s offers a weekly choral Eucharist with a vested choir. The liturgy is drawn from the Book of Alternative Services including hymns from Common Praise. The choir chants the psalm each week using either plainsong or Anglican chant settings. Each week the choir presents a Gradual anthem plus an anthem after communion. St. Matthew’s music library houses a rich collection of anthems and motets ranging from Renaissance polyphony to modern-day compositions

Choral Evensong
Choral Evensong is presented at 4:00 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month from October to June.

Other Services
There is a said service in St. Matthew’s chapel each Sunday at 8:00 a.m. There is also a said Holy Eucharist on Thursdays at 10 a.m. in the chapel, drawing from the traditional language of the Book of Alternative Services.

Funerals and Weddings
The D of M works with the Incumbent and families to plan weddings and funerals which are separately remunerated.

Concerts and other Music Events
Concerts and other music events may be presented throughout the year at the discretion of the D of M in consultation with the Incumbent and the Corporation. Plans and budgets must be authorized by Corporation and the D of M will be compensated separately for the rehearsal and performance time required for such events.

The Position of Director of Music: Responsibilities

• Adult rehearsals are held every Thursday from 7:00-9:00 p.m. and an hour before Sunday services. The children’s choir rehearses from 4:30 to 5:15 on Mondays.
• The D of M is required to play for and conduct the liturgy at the 10:30 Choral Eucharist on Sunday mornings.
• The D of M is required to conduct the monthly 4:00 p.m. Evensong liturgy but may have a guest organist.
• The D of M is responsible for directing, training and rehearsing the choirs. They will develop and maintain a cooperative, dedicated group. A safe learning environment for youth members is required.
• The D of M will encourage participation by choir members and other parishioners in the wide range of tasks necessary to prepare for and conduct any musical performances and events authorized by the Corporation.
• The D of M works in close communication with the Incumbent to plan, execute and implement the musical elements of worship and liturgy. The D of M attends weekly staff meetings with the Incumbent and Parish Administrator to plan upcoming services over the short and long term.
• The D of M is responsible for providing music for Sunday worship, for major festivals of the Christian calendar and other liturgical events that require music. This includes researching and selecting hymns, anthems and other appropriate music.
• The D of M is responsible for the recruitment of new members of the choir, mentoring the choir, training and teaching choir members.
• The D of M is responsible for submitting an annual music budget to the Finance Committee and this would include items such as: selection and hiring of choral scholars, amounts for instrument maintenance and repairs, purchase of choral music and scores, guest organists for evensong and instrumentalists for special services.
• The D of M is responsible to oversee the care of the church organs, pianos and harpsichords with routine tuning and maintenance. Recommendations regarding repair are to be made to the appropriate authorities.
• The D of M is familiar with Anglican liturgy and tradition. The D of M has excellent leadership, teaching and communication skills.

Specific Qualifications of the Director of Music

• Minimum of a Bachelor of Music Degree or Diploma from the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO)
• Membership in RCCO preferred
• Experience directing choirs and instrumentalists
• Proficient ability in various styles of music on piano and organ and harpsicord

Other Terms and Details

• Employment commencing in August 2025
• Compensation and terms to be determined based on RCCO guidelines and as agreed by the Incumbent and the St. Matthew’s Corporation
• A live audition including rehearsing the choir, playing the organ and an interview with members of the Search Committee will be required
• Willingness to undergo a police records check

Application

Please submit your application to the Parish Administrator, by May 31, 2025 admin@stmatthewsottawa.ca

Inquiries about the position are welcome. All applications are considered with strictest confidence.