Associate Director of Music

Description

Resumes: Accepting now  

Interviews: Begin in mid-January

Anticipated start: February–March 2027   

The Opportunity

Peachtree Road United Methodist Church (Peachtree Road) is entering an exciting new chapter in its musical life. With an extraordinary commitment to worship and the arts, substantial musical resources, an ambitious concert program, and a desire to deepen engagement across the congregation and greater Atlanta area, the church offers a remarkable setting for artistic collaboration and professional growth.

Our magnificent 1,700-seat sanctuary, outstanding organ resources, professional and volunteer choral ensembles, and extensive program of worship, concerts, and special events provide an exceptional environment in which to pursue music-making at the highest level.

Peachtree Road seeks an exceptional, imaginative, and collaborative musician to serve as Associate Director of Music. Working closely with the Director of Music, the Associate Director will play a significant role in shaping and leading one of the nation’s most ambitious church music programs.

At the heart of this position is the responsibility to provide organ accompaniment of the highest artistic standard for Peachtree Road’s choral program. The successful candidate will be an exceptional collaborative organist, equally accomplished in supporting choral and instrumental ensembles, accompanying worship, and performing solo repertoire. Strong choral conducting skills, a commitment to musical education, and a genuine enthusiasm for working with people are also essential.

The Associate Director will share in the leadership of worship and the adult choral program, including conducting, teaching, and artistic planning. Beyond these core responsibilities, the position offers opportunities to develop and lead additional initiatives that reflect the successful candidate’s particular skills and interests, contributing to the continuing growth of Peachtree Road’s musical, educational, and artistic life.

Primary Job Responsibilities

• Choral accompaniment: Serve as principal organ accompanist to the adult choral program, providing exceptional musical support in rehearsals, Sunday worship, concerts, and special services.      Work in close artistic partnership with the Director of Music to achieve the highest standards of ensemble musicianship, musical expression, and performance.
• Organ and keyboard performance: Provide outstanding organ and piano playing for worship, concerts, and other musical activities, including hymn playing, improvisation, solo repertoire, and collaboration with singers and instrumentalists.
• Choral leadership: Share in the artistic leadership of the adult choral program, including conducting rehearsals and performances, developing singers, and helping cultivate a thriving and welcoming choral community.
• Worship leadership: Participate in the planning and leadership of music for Sunday worship, festivals, special services,      funerals, and weddings, sharing responsibility for the highest standards of musical and liturgical excellence.
• Artistic planning: Work in partnership with the Director of Music on repertoire selection, concert programming, and the department's long-term artistic development.
• Recruitment and community: Help recruit, encourage, and nurture volunteer and professional musicians, fostering an inclusive musical culture rooted in excellence, generosity, and shared purpose.
• Musical education and mentorship: Develop and support opportunities for musical learning, training, and mentorship, engaging musicians of different ages and abilities and helping to expand the church’s role as a center for musical education and enrichment.
• Additional artistic leadership: According to the successful candidate’s experience and interests, develop or assume leadership of additional musical initiatives, potentially including handbells, chamber music, educational programs, community partnerships, or other creative projects.
• Collaboration: Work collegially with the wider music staff, clergy, volunteers, and other church ministries to strengthen the role of music throughout the congregation and wider community

Requirements

 Required Qualifications

• Exceptional collaborative organ musicianship, with demonstrated ability to accompany choirs at the highest artistic level. Outstanding sensitivity to ensemble, musical phrasing, registration, balance, and the demands of a varied and ambitious choral repertoire.
• Advanced organ proficiency, including accomplished hymn playing, improvisation, and solo performance.
• Strong piano and keyboard skills, with the versatility to support a wide range of rehearsals, ensembles, and musical activities.
• Demonstrated ability as a choral conductor, rehearsal leader, and teacher.
• Thorough knowledge of sacred choral repertoire and liturgical music, particularly within the Anglican, Methodist, and wider Christian traditions.
• Master’s degree in Organ Performance, Sacred Music, Church Music, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of advanced musical training and professional experience.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• A commitment to musical excellence within a welcoming and inclusive environment.
• An understanding of music as an essential expression of Christian worship and community life.
• A spirit of creativity, initiative, flexibility, and collaboration.

Preferred Strengths and Interests 

We recognize that outstanding musicians bring different combinations of expertise. Experience in the following areas would be welcomed but is not essential:

• Handbell direction.
• Musical education, teaching, and the development of new educational initiatives.
• Composition, arranging, and music typesetting.
• Chamber music, orchestral conducting, or instrumental ensemble leadership.
• Community engagement and the development of artistic partnerships.
• Advanced professional qualifications or additional postgraduate study, including Fellowship of the American Guild of Organists (FAGO), Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists (FRCO), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), or equivalent distinctions. 

These and other areas of responsibility may develop in conversation with the Director of Music, allowing the successful candidate to contribute their distinctive skills and pursue opportunities for artistic and professional growth.