Thank you for seeking details for the position of Director of Music at Leeds Minster. The post is available from 1st January 2020, or as soon as possible thereafter.
The position falls vacant following the move of Paul Dewhurst to be Director of Music at Bridlington Priory after a successful and rewarding three-year tenure in Leeds. Paul’s move is earlier than either he or we expected, but makes practical sense given that the majority of his responsibilities now lie towards the east coast. Paul is very happy to have a conversation about the post with any interested party. His email is [email protected].
Please find below an introduction to the Minster and parish, along with a job description and an application form. Further information about the Minster can be found at www.leedsminster.org.
An email copy of the completed application form must arrive by noon on Friday 25th October 2019. Short-listing will take place that weekend and we will send out the result to all applicants by email on Monday 28th October.
References will be taken up for short-listed candidates only: please ensure that your referees can reply promptly to a request for a reference.
The interviews will be held at the Minster on Friday 1st November. No interview can be stress-free, but we aim to run a programme which enables an effective discernment process on both sides, and which is as caring, interesting and objective as possible.
If there are questions about the post which you need to have answered before deciding whether or not to apply, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you again for your interest.
Yours sincerely
Canon Sam Corley Rector of Leeds [email protected] 07966 524 683
Introduction
A The Parish
The parish covers the eastern part of the city centre, including the major retail and leisure parts of the city, as well as residential accommodation amongst the many hotels, bars, clubs and restaurants. In sharp contrast, Lincoln Green is classified as an area of urban deprivation. It sits on the eastern side of the parish and is home to a diverse and transient population, as well as St James’s Hospital.
Membership of our congregations is made up of people who live in the parish, alongside others who travel in from all over the city and beyond. The majority of those who attend come to the Minster specifically because of the high quality of our worship and music.
B The Church
Leeds Minster was completed in 1841 as St Peter-at-Leeds, by the Vicar of Leeds, Dr Walter Farquhar Hook. His vision was that the church should be for all people, not just the wealthy. It soon became known as Leeds Parish Church, thus signifying its central position as the spiritual heart of the city and embracing both the Catholic and Reformed strands of Anglican spirituality. The building is on the site of much older places of worship known to date back to Saxon times, and the 10th century cross within the current building remains from this earlier period.
In September 2012 the parish church was re-dedicated as Leeds Minster. This was in response to the developing vision of a church connecting the city through ministries of prayer, mission, service and hospitality. Though begun, the process of embedding these values was not seen through adequately and work remains to be done in this regard. Nevertheless, Leeds Minster is still regarded as the civic church and hosts a number of services for the city. Further, it is to the Minster that the city turns on occasions of national commemoration and celebration.
C Music at the Minster
Leeds Minster is renowned for its musical heritage. Wesley, Bairstow, Cook, Hunt and Lindley are all names closely connected with the church and each has left their mark on the choral foundation. The Minster itself is proud of this sacred choral tradition. As well as a Choral Eucharist and Choral Evensong on Sundays, Evensong is sung on Thursday evening before a choir rehearsal. This is supplemented with regular concerts and performances in the Minster and elsewhere by the choir, the Director of Music and sub-organist, as well a chamber choir connected with the church – The St Peter’s Singers - directed by Simon Lindley, the former Master of Music. The music is supported by a financially independent ‘Friends of the Music of Leeds Minster’ trust which facilitates the maintenance of services as well as the possibility of further growth and development.
In October 2015 the Rector took the decision to suspend the treble lines in order to allow for a period of reflection and review. Numbers were low and it was deemed no longer sustainable or realistic to retain their involvement in week-by-week rehearsals and services. Since then it has become clear that an adult chamber choir best serves the Minster’s needs and context.
Members of the choir are a mixture of regular, committed members, along with occasional singers drawn in as need arises. The introduction of ladies singing the top line has been much appreciated and has helped to develop the strength and quality of the sound. The same goes for the expansion of the choral scholar scheme. This is now very well-subscribed and funds are in place to support this for at least the next ten years.
D The Future
Canon Sam Corley arrived as Rector in October 2015 with a brief from the Bishop of Leeds to respond to the ‘significant and urgent challenges’ facing the parish ‘by building, re-shaping, inspiring and encouraging the Leeds City Team’ and through ‘making a significant contribution to the life of the city’. This work is complex and demanding and much still needs to be done, including securing funds for the repair and development of the building and re-envisioning mission and ministry across the parish.
The new Director of Music will need to be comfortable with uncertainty, resilient enough to cope with significant challenge, and be able to work with creativity and innovation in order to consolidate and develop the current musical arrangements at the Minster.
Job Description – Key Duties and Responsibilities
A The Minster Choir
• In consultation with the Rector, to agree the musical liturgy for all services, including Sunday choral worship and midweek Evensongs, Easter and Christmas services, feast days, weddings, funerals and memorial services.
• To maintain and expand the number of adults who sing with the choir regularly through the recruitment, audition, induction and training of new choir members, including management of the scheme for choral scholars.
• To maintain and enhance the confidence, repertoire and ethos of the choir.
• To publish in advance a diary each term of commitments undertaken by the choir, including rehearsal details, any additional commitments and details of services and events elsewhere.
• To direct the choir in Minster services and rehearsals, to act as the point of contact for external engagements involving the choir, as well as for any radio or television broadcasting, recording and touring the choir may undertake.
• To programme music that balances the familiar with the new and challenging, so maintaining the interest and development of choir members.
B The Minster Organ
• To be responsible for all aspects of the upkeep of the Minster organ in conjunction with the organ builder, Andrew Carter.
• To play the organ as required, in consultation with the sub organist.
• To be responsible for the maintenance and tuning of other keyboard instruments within the Minster.
• To contribute to the Friday lunchtime recital series as organist, and to play a part in the running of the series, as well as planning ahead and budgeting effectively to maintain the success and reputation of the series.
C Administration and general duties
• To keep records of choir presence and absence, following up unexplained absences, and to maintain a tick grid for choir members to indicate availability.
• To devise and contribute to a programme of professional development for all choir members.
• To plan choir tours and visits well in advance, communicating clear plans to the PCC, with all visits fully risk assessed.
• To ensure the availability of sufficient copies of music in satisfactory order, and to work within the Department budget to replace worn copies or to acquire new repertoire.
• To act as ambassador at all times for the musical life of the Minster.
• To oversee the work of music department colleagues such that the department operates efficiently and purposefully.
• To oversee spending on music, robes, training and sundry other expenses within the Music Department budget as agreed each year.
• To find means of raising funds for the choir’s own furtherance, including subsidy of visits and tours.
D Non-statutory services
• To have first refusal on playing or directing music for weddings, funerals and memorial services, or to delegate to a colleague to provide music for such services. To arrange for a choral group for such services on request and advice on suitable music choices where appropriate.
• To be the musical point of contact and have first refusal for any broadcasting or recording work that might be offered by the BBC or other parties.
E Additional Work
• While the post of Director of Music is part-time, priority must be given to the formal pattern of weekly rehearsals and services and the same around Christmas and Easter. Those duties aside, the post holder is encouraged to pursue other freelance work elsewhere, including choral training and giving of recitals, as long as there is no clash with Minster duties. The PCC considers that additional musical work is fact complements the Director of Music’s Minster work beneficially in terms of gaining wider experience and being visible in the wider community. The extra-mural work of other musical colleagues is also, within these limits, to be encouraged. It is the responsibility of the postholder to combine such duties effectively, such that administrative matters and all aspects of Minster work are at all times up to date.
• To pursue active self-development: learning new repertoire, being alive to new techniques and methods, and gaining from colleagues in similar contexts.
F Privileges
• The Director of Music will have the right to teach students on the Minster organ and pianos and practice with due care not to disturb scheduled events in the Minster.
• The Director of Music will be encouraged to take on other teaching, playing and directing work in the locality, so long as it is of a nature that will not conflict with Minster duties. Any one-off clashes must be negotiated well in advance with the Rector.
Person Specification
The PCC of the Parish of Leeds City wishes to appoint a person of mature and open character, who is resilient and robust, with a good sense of humour, and who is an experienced and professional musician and who has:
• A sound grasp of liturgical principles, an in-depth knowledge of the range of liturgies of the Church of England and experience of the musical repertoire needed to support these liturgies in a major parish church setting.
• Proven ability in recruiting, inspiring, training and rehearsing choir members to high standards.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and musical skills that enable them to motivate and enthuse all members of the choir.
• The ability to forge and develop links with the congregation, choir and supporters in order to develop a sustainable network of support for the musical life of the Minster.
• Experience of how the choral music tradition can be adapted and refreshed through creative work with others in a variety of musical styles.
• A proven commitment to sharing and enhancing the contribution music can make to the Minster’s wider ministry and mission.
• A consistent commitment to working collaboratively with members of the Minster staff and lay leaders.
• Proficiency as an organist, (FRCO/ARCO is desirable but not essential), particularly in accompanying liturgy.
• Administrative competence, including the ability to plan, schedule and work to deadlines.
• The flexibility to respond positively to new opportunities and the demands of a variety of situations.
• The potential to understand how policy and its implementation operate within a complex organisation and the ability to exercise leadership within that framework.
• The desire to develop the Minster’s educational work in partnership with the Education Officer, as well as with local schools and other organisations.
• The ability to operate within an agreed budget and take account of the Minster’s need to achieve a strong financial base.
• Competence in IT, including Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook and music notation software
Terms of Employment
1. Your employer would be the PCC of the Parish of Leeds City.
2. You would be expected to work an average of 15 hours per week during term time, with lighter duties outside of choir term as agreed with the Rector.
3. Your employment would begin on 1 January 2020. The first 6 months would be treated as a probationary period.
4. You will be responsible to the Rector on behalf of the PCC.
5. You will be paid a gross annual salary of £15,000, with an annual review, which will be paid no later than the last day of the month.
6. Payment of additional services and other engagements will be made in addition to your salary at rates agreed by the PCC or otherwise negotiated on your behalf.
7. You will continue to be paid normal basic salary during absence due to illness or incapacity, such payments being inclusive of any statutory sick pay or other benefits to which you may be entitled.
8. The position is pensionable and further details of the scheme currently being arranged for all Minster staff can be supplied.
9. A cassock and surplice will be provided by the Minster for your use.
10. As part of the Minster community, the mutual respect required between all members of the Choir and all those connected with the Church is important. Good relations with colleagues, other members of Minster staff and clergy and choir members are also key to a successful partnership. You will be required to behave in a manner in keeping with the Minster and its activities, including through social media.
11. You are entitled to eight weeks of paid leave per year, which should be taken during periods of Choir holiday. Members of the Music Department co-ordinate their leave in such a way that there is always organist cover out of choir term for Sunday services and for non-statutory services.
12. Beyond the probationary period, you will be entitled to receive and be required to give 3 months’ notice should it be necessary to terminate your employment.
13. The post is subject to an enhanced DBS clearance.
Interviews
• Interviews will be held for short-listed candidates on Friday 1st November 2019.