Applying for an Organist Position

MUSICIANS "ON THE SIDE"

Lea Schmidt-Rogers and Doug Schmidt

Dozens ofsuccessful columns have appeared As jobs become more competitive, or hymn playing, and you should probably here under the leadership ofSheila Hess. Now, ganization and communication skills be expect to play a rehearsal and a service. the torch has been passed to me (Wayne Wold) as come more important. Even the Juilliard Prepare a copy of the list of compositions we continue to provide materials ofinterest for School has established the $5 million Alan for each committee member. If you are the benefit ofall musicians-but especially those D. Marks Center for Career Services and weak at one of the above, be honest and, whose church or temple positions are part-time, Entrepreneurship, where marketing and at the same time, emphasize your thus classifying them as musicians "on the side. " The mission ofthe A GO sCommittee on Sharing business courses are offered. strengths. Resources and Skills is stated right in its title, and we strive to keep searching for topics ofinterest Doing Your Homework Your Evaluation and then sharing them. Yott can help! Many of Do you want this position? Study the On the sample Evaluation ofAudition our chosen topics begin with a recommendation church itself: the pastor, music director, Performance (see Schmidtrogersblog. or request from follow G11ild members, and I in the acoustics, and the state of the organ blogspot.com in Resources below), notice vite everyone to make S11ggestions oftopics and and piano. Speak with people at the that at least one of the questions pertains writers. Please send your ideas to me at: church and experience the service. Are the to hymn playing, the "bread and butter" [email protected] acoustics live? If you are going to another of an organist's skills. Most committee or to my fi,11-time gig: city, is it a place you would like to live for members will be listening for what they Wayne L Wold, MGO an indefinite time period? Can you sur know best, usually the hymns. Find a way Chair of the Music Department vive and thrive on the salary that is being to leave the door open. Say, "Please be Hood College 401 Rosemont Ave. offered? sure to contact me if you have any addi Frederick, MD 21701 tional questions or concerns." We have or to my "on the side" gig (yes, I am one ofyo11): The Interview seen an additional phone call push a can Director of Music Be yourself. If there is anything worse didate over the top. First Lutheran Church than not getting the job, it is pandering to A great lesson in life is learning not to 3604 Chatham Rd. the search committee-and not getting fear "No." Even if you aren't selected, Ellicott City, MD 21042 the job. Being yourself takes practice. It is going through the process makes you a This month, I am happy to share a col11mn the norm for a person to interview many, much better musician and more capable prepared by sister-brother team Lea Schmidt many times before finding the right fit. for the next position opening. Sara Rogers and Doug Schmidt abo11t a situation that That is the goal-finding a job that is Watkins, a great oboist, auditioned for every one ofus has dealt with at least once--and right for you and for the committee's or five major orchestras and came in second may do so many times during 011r careers. ganization. Prepare for some of the ques every time-until she became principal tions that a committee might ask you. For oboist for the National Symphony. The some sample questions, order the AGO's fourth horn player in Boston auditioned Applying for an Organist Position "Interviewing for a Job" CD and pam for 40 orchestras before playing there. What does the search committee need to ask? phlet. Listen carefully for concerns ex The right job for you may take the same What does the job applicant need to know? pressed by individual committee mem kind of intensity and persistence. bers, and do your best to address each Getting Your Foot in the Door one. If you have to acknowledge a short Resources If you are an applicant, your goal is to coming (such as not having experience Agohq.org: for Sample Contracts, Salary get beyond the paperwork and into an in with children's choirs), mention some Guidelines (2014), Interviewing for a Job terview. If your musicianship is perfect, thing positive (such as having experience (2006), a CD of a committee that role but your penmanship is sloppy, you have in teaching lessons to children). Unan plays interviewing an applicant with a done yourself a disservice. Count on one swered questions may come back to bite printed transcription ($10). This packet English major being on the selection com you when the committee meets to discuss also includes a good bibliography. mittee. Develop a good cover letter and your interview. Agoseattle.com: Seattle Chapter website: resume (for samples, see Resources noted 2012 salary guidelines. below)-and, if you don't have them al The Audition Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement ready, You Tube offerings, a blog, or a What should you play? If you are audi Without Giving In, by Roger Fischer, website. Examine your Facebook or other tioning on the organ, prepare some "peo William Ury, and Bruce Patton (Penguin social media pages to make sure they de ple-friendly" hymn-based compositions, Books, 2011). liver the image you want to portray to a as well as an impressive toccata and/or a future employer. Always have an editor Bach piece. The search committee may for all correspondence you send. require improvisation and certainly some

64 THE AMERICAN ORGANIST Contact Information Douglas Schmidt: [email protected]; Chessiecap.com Lea Schmidt-Rogers: leabethrogers@gmail. com Schmidtrogersblog.blogspor.com for samples of cover letters and resumes

Over several decades, Harvard and Yale gradu ate Doug Schmidt has served on search com mittees of numerous organizations and compa nies. He is co-head of a search committee for a CEO of a $200 million Mid-Atlantic non profit and recently served on a committee that completed a successful search for a music director/organist for one of Baltimore's pre mier church music programs. Afi:er graduating from Indiana University, Lea Schmidt-Rogers was the staff accompanist at the University of Hawaii before holding four organist jobs in the greater San Diego area. A teacher, composer, and recitalist, she has served as dean of the San Diego AGO Chapter and president of the local Music Teachers Associ ation of California. She is the chair for the Helen B. Goodlin scholarship awards.

United States Postal Service: Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation. Publication Title: The American Organist. Publication Number: 0368-740. Fil ing Dare: Sept. 30, 2015. Issue Frequency: monthly. Number of issues published annually: 12. Annual sub scription price: $65. Location of office of publication: 475 Riverside Dr., Suire 1260, New York, NY 10115-1260. Location of the general business offices of the publisher: 475 Riverside Dr., Suire 1260, New York, NY 10115- 1260. Names and complete addresses of Publisher and Ed itor. Publisher: American Guild of Organists, 475 River side Dr., Suire 1260, New York, NY 10115-1260. Editor: Todd R. Sisley, 475 Riverside Dr., Suire 1260, New York, NY 10115-1260. Owner: American Guild of Organists, 475 Riverside Dr., Suire 1260, New York, NY 10115- 1260. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other secur ity holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: none. For completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at special rates: The purpose, function, and nonprofit sta tus of chis organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes have not changed during the past twelve months. Extent and nature of circulation: Average number of copies ofeach issue during the preceding twelve months. Total number of copies printed: 19,104. Paid cir culation. Mailed outside-county paid subscriptions: 16,347. Mailed in-county paid subscriptions: 0. Paid dis tribution outside the mails including sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, and counter sa1es: 584. Paid distribution by other classes of mail: 0. Total paid distribution: 16,931. Free: or nominal rate: distribution. Outside-county: 0. In-county: 0. Free distribution at oth er classes: 116. Free distribution outside the mail: 59. To tal free distribution: 175. Total distribution: 17,106. Copies not distributed: 1,998. Total: 19, l 04. Percent paid: 99%. Actual number of copies of single issue pub lished nearest to filing dare (September 2015). Tora) num ber of copies printed: 19,047. Paid circulation. Mailed outside-county paid subscriptions: 16,465. Mailed in county paid subscriptions: 0. Paid distribution outside rhe mails including sa1c:s through dealers and carriers, street vendors, and counter sales: 605. Paid distribution by oth er classes of mail: 0. Total paid distribution: 17,070. Free or nomina1 rate: distribution. Outside-county: 0. In-coun ty: 0. Free distribution at other classes: 242. Free distribu tion outside the mail: 67. Total free distribution: 309. To tal distribution: 17,379. Copies not distributed: 1,668. Total: 19,047. Percent paid: 98%. l certify that the above information is true: and complete:. Todd R. Sisley, Editor

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