Interim Director of Music

Interim Director of Music - St Luke's W12

About The Role

Music is an important part of our life at St Luke’s. We make use of several congregational Mass settings in different liturgical seasons; we sing hymns drawn from the New English Hymnal, but also from some other sources, including some modern worship music; we have become familiar with the plainchant tradition.

We have a choral scholarship scheme which offer four places for an auditioned SATB choir to enhance our worship and develop our music tradition, they sing as a choir 3 times per month. This has enabled a greater diversity and higher quality of music, including chant, polyphony, the Anglican choral tradition, and modern choral works.

The new Interim Director will also lead a new project to recruit and train a small group of able singers from the congregation to lead the singing on the remaining Sunday(s) each month, with a particular view to giving a good lead to the hymns, singing the responsorial psalm, and the possibility of a melody-only anthem during Holy Communion.

The main sung service is the Parish Mass at 10am each Sunday morning. A list of additional days when the Director of Music is expected to play/direct is available on request.

The church is a warm, modern building with an excellent acoustic. There is a digital Wyvern two-manual and pedals organ which is in a good state of repair and produces a sound that exceeds usual expectations of such instrument – helped by high quality speakers and the church’s acoustic. There would also be opportunity to explore the acquisition of (and necessary fundraising for) a small chamber organ or similar instrument.

The post of Interim Director is offered from appointment until August 2026 whereupon a permanent appointment will be made; if the Interim Director is interested and suitable then he/she may be appointed to the permanent role. [Additionally, the permanently-appointed Director of Music may have first refusal on the tenancy of an on-site two-bedroom flat with a reduction in rent for a church office-holder – subject to negotiation.]

Enhanced DBS is required for this role.

The Diocese of London is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults through the use of the Safer Recruitment practice guidance. This role is subject to acceptable pre-appointment checks, including a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check.

Duties and Responsibilities

We are looking for an Interim Director of Music who will undertake the following core duties:

• Play the organ and direct the choral scholars on Sunday mornings and other services
• Rehearse the scholars before services
• Recruit and develop a small choir of parish singers
• Oversee all resources for music-making including the organ and music library
• Meet with the Vicar to discuss and plan music
• Find a deputy to play for services when absent

Person Specification

We are looking for an Interim Director of Music who displays the following particular skills and qualities:

• A church musician with a sympathy for the liturgy and an organist of a good standard
• Experience of training and rehearsing choral singers
• Ability to work collaboratively with the Vicar
• Ability to manage the choral scholars and to foster these relationships as part of our mission
• Good administrative and planning abilities
• Open to development of the role based on their own abilities and interests and the mission of the parish