Director of Sacred Music

St. Mary’s Parish
Summit County, Colorado
Full-Time | Benefits Eligible

Position Summary

St. Mary’s Parish seeks a full-time Director of Sacred Music to lead, elevate, and unify the parish’s liturgical music life in fidelity to the Roman Rite and the Catholic Church’s sacred tradition.

This is a dual-facility parish serving multiple worship sites, with major solemnities (especially Christmas) expanding to as many as four facilities requiring coordinated music leadership.

The Music Director works closely with the Pastor and operates under the direction of the Director of Mission. The Director is responsible for sacred music at all English-language Liturgies and parish events, whether personally singing and accompanying or facilitating choirs, scholas, and volunteers.

The priest leads the worship of the Church; the Director of Sacred Music elevates that worship through sacred music that is reverent, faithful, and beautiful.

Mission of the Role

To cultivate sacred music that:

• Is faithful tothe Roman Rite and Catholic Church teaching
• Draws deeply from Gregorian chant and the Church’s tradition
• Forms musicians spiritually and musically
• Serves the Sacred Liturgy without performance mentality
• Elevates worship through beauty and reverence

Core Responsibilities

1. Liturgical Music Leadership

• Ensure music leadership for all English-language weekend Masses.
• Provide music for Holy Days of Obligation, Christmas, Holy Week, and other solemnities and parish events.
• Coordinate music across multiple worship sites, including expanded Christmas scheduling requiring coverage at up to four facilities.
• Personally serve as accompanist and/or cantor as assigned.
• Recruit and facilitate choirs and scholas to ensure coverage at all required liturgies.
• Select music in accordance with:
  • The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM)
  • Church teaching on sacred music
  • The parish hymnal and approved liturgical resources
• Integrate hymns and chant appropriately within the parish’s hymnal framework.
• Ensure full compliance with copyright law and reporting requirements.

2. Sacred Music Formation & Chant Instruction

• Teach Gregorian chant to:
  • Cantors
  • Choirs
  • Scholas
  • Volunteers
• Form volunteers in:
  • The Church’s sacred music tradition
  • Latin Mass parts (Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, etc.)
  • Chant notation  and interpretation
• Gradually introduce chant into parish life in a pastorally sensitive manner.
• Develop and lead parish scholas for more solemn liturgies.

Familiarity with chant notation and Latin liturgical parts is essential.

3. Volunteer Development & Vocal Coaching

• Provide basic voice instruction to volunteer cantors and choir members.
• Train volunteers in:
  • Proper vocal technique
  • Pitch and rhythm accuracy
  • Breath control
  • Chant phrasing
• Conduct auditions as needed.
• Establish clear musical standards and expectations.
• Foster a culture of preparation, reverence, and humility.

4. Musical Skill Requirements

The Director must:

• Be a strong vocalist capable of leading chant.
• Be proficient in piano.
• Have organ proficiency (strongly preferred).
• Be able to read music fluently.
• Conduct choirs effectively.
• Sight-read and prepare scores independently.
• Teach chant from Gregorian sources.

Some familiarity with praise and worship music is appreciated, as this may be used periodically during Eucharistic Adoration in a reverent and liturgically appropriate manner.

5. Administrative & Strategic Responsibilities

• Maintain an annual liturgical planning calendar.
• Coordinate musician scheduling across multiple worship sites.
• Manage sacred music budget.
• Maintain music library and liturgical resources.
• Ensure copyright compliance.
• Develop a unified Sacred Music vision in collaboration with the Pastor and Director of Mission.

Qualifications

Required

• Deep reverence for the Sacred Liturgy.
• Proficiency in Gregorian chant.
• Strong vocalist.
• Skilled pianist.
• Ability to read music fluently.
• Experience directing choirs.
• Ability to teach chant and provide voice coaching.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills.

Preferred

• Practicing Catholic in good standing.
• Organ proficiency.
• Degree in Sacred Music or related field.
• Familiarity with Church documents on sacred music.
• Experience implementing chant renewal in parish settings.

Compensation

Salary Range: $70,000–$90,000 annually
Commensurate with education, experience, and proficiency.

This full-time position includes:

• Leadership of weekend and major liturgies
• Coordination across multiple worship sites
• Administrative and formation responsibilities
• Benefits eligibility per Archdiocesan policy