Job Description
Job Title: Director of Music of the Robin Chapel
Responsible to: The Board of the Thistle Trust
Line Manager: The Chaplain of the Robin Chapel
Salary: £7,210
Contract type: Open ended; 8 hours per week (Sunday 1400 – 1730), plus administrative time as required
Closing date: Sunday, 20 March 2022 at 23.59
Background
Situated in centre of the Thistle Foundation in the south-east of Edinburgh, the Robin Chapel is an inter-denominational Christian place of worship, and the varied liturgy, within a traditional framework, reflects this. The Director of Music is responsible for the musical life of the Chapel and managing the choir, organist, and library. Choral repertoire is generally of the ‘Cathedral’ tradition, so a knowledge of pointed psalm chant, plainsong (including neumes), and the format of liturgical worship is therefore desirable. As musical adviser to the Chaplain, the Director of Music facilitates the resources required for worship.
Throughout the pandemic, the Robin Chapel has built an online presence on Facebook and YouTube, with online services and ‘virtual’ choirs. Whilst the Trustees have departed from this format, they are seeking to build on the interest and opportunity that this has created. To that end they have directed the Chaplain to enable the Trustees to explore the use of ‘streaming technology’ with a view to developing this as an integral part of the Chapel’s future. The new Director of Music will be encouraged to share in the initial discussions and to enable the development of this aspect of the Robin Chapel’s life of music and worship to progress.
Main Responsibilities
The Director of Music is primarily responsible for conducting the choir, as the Robin Chapel employs a full-time organist; however, on occasion you will be expected to play for services, therefore some keyboard skills are required.
The post holder is responsible for the musical content of the weekly services (Sunday 4.00pm). This includes preparing a termly music list, recording attendance, booking deputy singers and sourcing music as required.
Reporting to the Chaplain, who, in turn, reports to the Chairman of Trustees, you will have direct line management of eight lay clerks (SATB voices) and the organist of the Robin Chapel. Supplementing the lay clerks, there is also a list of approximately 40 adult choristers (also SATB voices), who augment the choir on occasion. The role involves managing payroll, annual leave entitlement, sick pay, and the audition and exit process for employees.
Weekly administrative tasks include managing the budget, booking extra singers, and arranging for payment through the factors of the Chapel, the Thistle Foundation.
Selection Process
Interviews will be held in the week beginning 21 March, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to rehearse the Choir and conduct a service at the Chapel in early April.
Please send a CV and covering letter, outlining why you are a suitable candidate for this position, to:
Professor Herbert A. Kerrigan QC,
Chair of the Thistle Trust
kerrigan@kerriganqc.com
Closing date for applications: Sunday, 20 March 2022 at 23.59
Further information about the chapel can be found here: http://www.robinchapel.org.uk.
Lanarkshire Organists 