The Church of the Redeemer in beautiful downtown Lorain is searching for an organist/music director. We are a small church with a very active outreach program. We have a 17 rank Blanchard organ, a French Harpsichord by Earl Russel, and a Steinway Baby Grand. The position is normally staffed from Sept. through May and includes directing and accompanying a small choir. Please see the job description to learn more and who to contact. We hope to hear from you!

We are so glad you are considering the position and urge you to apply.

The worship committee looks forward to learning more about you and telling you

about our church. Anne Yug, Lynne Mariotti, Laura Blackmer, Chris Thomas, Chris Trunk

Please email a resume and letter of interest to Anne Yug anneyug@icloud.com

If you need a question answered -Ms. Yug cell# 440-897-4978

Compensation

The compensation for this W-4 position is $200 per Sunday, distributed in two paychecks per month (15th and 30th of the month), September to May. Worker’s compensation for this position will be provided. An American Guild of Organists student membership will be paid by the Employer.

The Organist will either be present, or find an alternative, for Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Great Vigil of Easter, and Easter.

Compensation for these services (excepting Easter Sunday, paid as usual) is:

Christmas Eve: $200, with housing provided at the Rectory or elsewhere, as needed.

Maundy Thursday: $75

Good Friday: $150

Great Vigil of Easter: $150

Additional services as negotiated with the Employer, including Choral Evensong, Nine Lessons and Carols, and Ash Wednesday, are compensated at the rate of $150, budget permitting.

Music Directors have, in the past, elected to undertake these additional liturgies without compensation due to constraints on the budget.

$15 per service is earmarked for the transportation of the Organist and choral scholars to the church, if traveling from outside Lorain. Additional transportation costs are borne by the Organist, excepting unusual circumstances.

Weddings and funerals are right-of-first-refusal, at rates negotiated with the appropriate parties.

If the employee needs to request time off, such a request will be made at least two weeks in advance and the employee will attempt to find supply musicians to cover their absence.

General Understandings and Covenants

• Music is an integral part of the life of this parish. Under the leadership of the clergy, the Organist exercises an important ministry that reaches out to the choir members, members of the congregation, and the community.
• The Organist agrees to recognize and facilitate the pastoral dimension of this position.
• The Employee and the Employer agree to meet regularly to facilitate collegiality in the music ministry.
• It is understood that a variety of traditions and styles in organ and choral music may be appropriate for the services, and that the use of a variety of instruments is expected.

Employees Responsibilities

The Organist shall:

• Provide organ music and direct/assist the choir at the later service on Sunday morning (10:30 am) and shall select church calendar appropriate hymns, and organ and choral music, for each service.
• Provide organ (and choral, budget permitting) music for the services on Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, the Great Vigil of Easter, and any additional services negotiated with the Employer.
• Communicate the chosen liturgical music (including hymns) to the Office Manager and the Rector by 8 AM on Wednesday mornings, including Sunday services delegated to a substitute musician.
• Rehearse weekly with the choir.
• Cooperate with the Employer in the area of general planning and leadership of the music program. The Organist shall be directly responsible to the Rector or, in his absence, the Senior Warden.
• Manage, in consultation with the Rector and Treasurer, the budget apportioned for music by the Vestry and supplemented through fundraising efforts. At the beginning of calendar year 2025, establish what the Vestry’s music budget will likely be, and act with appropriate prudence.
• Be responsible for the purchase of all music and music supplies ($50 is reimbursable at present), and the hiring of choral scholars ($55 per normal call), and instrumental soloists ($80 per normal call, including previous rehearsal as applicable).
• As needed to maintain and grow the music budget, arrange fundraising concerts, bake sales, etc.

In addition, the Organist shall:

• Not engage in the unauthorized duplication of copyrighted materials by photocopying or any other means that would expose the Employer to liability for penalties under existing or future copyright laws. In the event that photocopying of music becomes necessary for appropriate purposes, the Organist, on behalf of the Employer, shall first obtain all necessary permissions and authorizations prior to any such reproduction of copyrighted materials. The Employer hereby indemnifies the Organist from all liability in connection with the foregoing, provided the Organist complies with this paragraph.
• Report to the Rector on the conditions and needs for the maintenance of the Employer’s musical instruments including the main organ in the church. The Employer shall provide for the proper care of these instruments.
• Own the copyright and/or the rights granted by copyright holder to any work composed, created, arranged, or otherwise modified by the Organist, regardless of whether the composition creation, arrangement, or modification was done during the term of this contract and/or at the direction of the Employer.
• In the event that the Employer’s job requirements change, the Organist in exchange for being considered for additional, new, and/or different duties and responsibilities agrees to pursue, at the Employer’s additional expense, training and professional development in order to meet the demands of the new duties and responsibilities.
• Provide thirty (30) days’ advance, written notice to the Employer if the Organist wishes to terminate employment or not renew this contract.

The Choir

The Redeemer Choir is a group of around 8 singers, including 3 paid choral scholars from Oberlin College. The group typically rehearses every Sunday at 9:45am, sings during the 10:30am service, and rehearses for the next Sun. after service. The choir chants the psalm every week and sings an anthem most weeks.

The choir is comfortable with plainsong psalmody and minor propers and has sung simplified and full Anglican chant on occasion. Anthems, accompanied and unaccompanied, have ranged in complexity in accordance with available personnel and rehearsal time. The church’s subscription to St. James Music Press is a valuable resource for anthem selection.

Instruments

- Organ by H.D. Blanchard, Opus 4, 1961. 2 Manuals, 17 ranks.

https://pipeorgandatabase.org/organ/68772

- Harpsichord by Earl Russell, 1981, 2 Manuals, French.

- Piano by Steinway & Sons, New York, 1915, Baby Grand.

Church Community

Mission Statement:

The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer is an inclusive worshiping community empowered by the spirit to be Christ’s hands in our neighborhood and the world. You are welcome regardless of age, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, economic condition, physical or mental ability in an atmosphere of trust and gracious acceptance of one another.