🎹 Organist/Pianist

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide organ music at all worship services, including Sunday, mid-week services (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, Thanksgiving, etc.), and all special occasions of worship services where the organ is the primary instrument used.

Responsibilities:

• The organist will play 48 (of 52) Sundays per year as well as special services.

• Schedule and train substitute organists for the four (4) Sundays off each year

• Rehearse with and accompany the midweek choir rehearsals.

• Rehearse with and accompany soloists and instrumentalists for any special music used in the worship service, and provide regular organ solo works (Prelude, Postlude and Offertory and other supporting selections) for the worship service.

• Rehearsing and accompanying may include piano literature in addition to organ literature.
  Work cooperatively with the Pastor, Choir Director, and Leadership Council.

• Provide organ music for weddings and funerals held at FUMC, consulting with wedding couples or families if requested. (Weddings/Funerals are additionally compensated). Note: Weddings and Funerals are paid for outside of FUMC's Ministry. The Organist of FUMC has the right of refusal to play for weddings and funerals at the church, with the understanding that the Organist will be responsible for finding an alternate organist if they are not available.

• Oversee the tuning and maintenance of organ and pianos of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church within the approved budget and provide regular reports specifying maintenance needs to the Pastor and the Leadership Council as needed.

Job Requirements:

• A disciple of Jesus Christ, committed to growing in faith through practicing the spiritual disciplines of prayer, Scripture study, worship participation, and service at and beyond Fredericksburg United Methodist Church.

• Experience in church worship, with both organ and other music and hymnody (understanding and familiarity with Methodist worship preferred).

• Knowledge of the instrument and keyboard ability sufficient to play hymns, liturgy, and anthem accompaniments at sight.

• High degree of competence on organ, piano, and the ability to accompany groups and individuals, organ performance preferred.

• Knowledge of basic music theory, including simple transpositions or harmonizing a melody.

• Sensitivity and the ability to interact with a variety of people.

• Report to Director of Music and Pastor Fredericksburg United Methodist Church

Additional Notes: The piano is a Steinway Model D Grand (the same piano as in Carnegie Hall) and was even shipped from New York! It is housed in our Sanctuary by courtesy of the Fredericksburg Music Club. The Fbg Music Club regularly hosts performances in our Sanctuary, and it is a priveledge they allow us to use their fine instrument for our worhip services. Our organ is a 1986 Flentrop Orgelbouw Organ shipped directly from the Netherlands complete with 25 ranks, 1,224 pipes, 3 divisions, 2 manuals, and 19 stops. This is one of the most treasured and beautiful pieces of our Sanctuary and our roof was actually customized just to fit it in! It is a stunning instrument and a delight to play.

Salary: Negotiable, consistent with candidate education, experience, and skill level

📩 Submit resumé and inquiries to: karen@fredumc.org