Job Listings and Substitutes
Job Openings - Substitutes needed!
If you are available as a substitute organist, please place your name on the Merrimack Valley Chapter substitute list by contacting Cynthia Arsenault. You do not need to be available every Sunday. If you are free on the 1st and 3rd Sundays, for example, let Cynthia know. Also, let her know if you take one of these positions or know of one that has been filled. Churches sometimes fail to notify her when the position has been filled. Please note that listings will remain on the list for no more than three months unless renewed with Ms. Arsenault or removed sooner by request of the church.
A current list of members who may be available for substituting can be obtained by clicking here; updated June 14, 2024. You must be a member of a chapter to be on the list.
Please note: by signing up for substituting, the contact information you provide to Cynthia
may be made public on the substitute list, which anyone can download.
The chapter will not be responsible for how that information is used by anyone who downloads the list.
Below is a list of churches seeking regular employees. You may click on the church name to go to the church's website, if available (opens in a new window). You can also check the listings on the National Headquarters website. You must have a member number from National to do so; it's on the mailing label of your American Organist magazine.
Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, Gloucester, MA
We need an organist/pianist one or two Sundays per month. We pay $200 per Sunday. The pipe organ is a tracker built by Hutchings in 1893 and refurbished by Charles Fisk in the 1960s. It's played regularly and maintained. We also have two grand pianos: an antique Chickering and a contemporary Webber. Contact Rev. Janet Parsons at (781) 724-3284 or rev.janetparsons@gmail.com.
----------
Saints Mary & Joseph Parish in Salem, NH
These two separate churches are looking for coverage for their 4PM Saturday Mass at Mary Queen of Peace church (Falcone Grand piano and Allen organ) and 7:30AM Sunday Mass at St Joseph Church (pipe organ) starting in October. Interested musicians should send an email to arts.jmw@gmail.com.
----------
St. Mary Star of the Sea - Beverly, MA
Saint Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Beverly, MA is seeking an accomplished organist and choir director to work as the Director of Music. Visit this link for full details: https://www.beverlycatholic.com/music-director-opening
----------
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church - Lynnfield, MA 01940
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church seeks to employ a part-time Organist and Music Director. In this ministry, the Organist and Music Director will be involved as a pastor, educator, and the principal musician of the parish. His/her pastoral concern and counsel for members of the choir are to be exercised within the context of his/her larger duty to the pastoral care and well being of the congregation corporately. For more information, see the job description at this link.
----------
Organist and Director of Music, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Newburyport, MA
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Newburyport, Massachusetts seeks a collaborative, joyful, and creative partner to serve as our next Organist and Director of Music to begin this fall. The Director will help to develop and bring to light the musical gifts of our community and be committed to enriching the spiritual lives of others through our liturgy as we worship God together, including by leading our thriving and excellent adult choir. This partner will bring a clear joy and love of music and worship in community to the planning and execution of our Sunday liturgy and other musical endeavors. Finally, a successful candidate will have an open creative mind as we live into our ancient traditions in today’s world. For a complete job description, click here.
-----------
Interim Organist/Music Director Position,
South Congregational Church UCC, Kennebunkport, ME 04046
Seeking an interim church organist and music director (beginning fall 2024). Responsibilities include playing organ and piano for all worship services with a variety of music genres, leading volunteer adult choir in rehearsal and worship, including children in music program when possible, recruiting and scheduling guest musicians/substitute organists, and playing for weddings and funerals. Year-round position, approx. 16 hours per week, compensation starting at $24,000 depending on experience; additional compensation for supplemental music programming. Church organ: a 2004 Noack (Opus #146) 2 manual, 21 rank tracker pipe organ with an electric stop action and an extensive memory bank. Town of Kennebunkport is on the southern Maine coast, approx. 28 miles/35 minutes south of Portland, ME and 29 miles/35 minutes north of Portsmouth, NH. Additional information to be posted shortly on church website, above. Successful candidate will also be eligible for settled position to be recruited later. Send expressions of interest to Elizabeth Grant, elizabethgrant56@gmail.com.
----------
Pilgrim Congregational Church, UCC - Nashua, NH
Keyboardist (or Accompanist) and Choir Leader
Pilgrim Church’s keyboardist and choir leader proficiently plays solo works and hymns and accompanies choral works on the organ, clavinova and/or piano at each Sunday service, as well as for special services including some evening services such as Christmas Eve. A keyboardist may also be asked to play music for memorial, celebration of life or marriage type services, if available. Click here for full job description. Contact information: treasureratpilgrimchurchnashua.org@charter.net
----------
State Street Church (UCC), Portland, ME
Music Director / Organist
Part-time year-round opportunity in scenic Portland, Maine
Website: www.statestreetchurch.org
Contact: musicsearchssc@gmail.com
----------
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Wakefield MA
Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Wakefield MA seeks a Minister of Music to provide regular and seasonally appropriate music to enrich our weekly and holiday services as a means to help to fulfill the mission of our Parish. Our Minister of Music will provide organ music, lead our choir and arrange for guest musicians as appropriate. Working in partnership with our enthusiastic Rector, this is an opportunity to orchestrate creative liturgical experiences.
Emmanuel is a small parish with a strong sense of fellowship and community and boasts a talented choir that enjoys performing a variety of works and genres.
This is a 12-15 hours per week position. Annual pay is $25K.
Skills and Experience Needed:
• Knowledge of liturgical music.
• Proficiency at playing the organ.
• Experience leading a mixed-voice choir whose members have a range of proficiency in reading and singing music.
In addition to your resume and cover letter, interested candidates are asked to send video or audio recordings of yourself performing in three ways: solo organ, a hymn, and working with a choir to musicsearch@emmanuelwakefield.org.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
----------
First Congregational Church in Westminster, MA
Substitute Organists/Permanent Organist. Seeking long term Music Coordinator for their 9:30am Sunday morning Service, in dire need for Easter Sunday at this time! Allen Organ and beautiful grand piano in the sanctuary. Willing to have substitute guitarist/vocalist too in the "in-between time".
For further information regarding this position, click here.
---------
Christ Congregational Church, UCC, Brockton, MA: An Open and Affirming Congregation
2 part time positions:
1. Music Director - 16 hours per week
Job responsibilities include: overall music program of the church in cooperation with Board of Music and pastor; choir rehearsals, Sunday a.m. worship, and special services, supervising organist/accompanist, administrative tasks and maintenance of all church instruments.
Benefits include PTO, pension, etc. Can be 10 months or 12 months, negotiable. Please request full job description and apply by contacting the Search Committee at search@brocktonucc.org
2. Organist/accompanist - Average 12 hours per week; choir rehearsals, Sunday a.m. worship and special services; 12 month position; Austin Organ #2759 plus a well-maintained Yamaha piano. Please request full job description and apply by contacting the Search Committee at search@brocktonucc.org.
These positions could be filled by one or two people. Please indicate your interest when applying.
---------
St. Andrew's by-the-Sea, Rye Beach, NH
Planning a get-away on the beautiful New Hampshire seacoast and wanting an easy gig while you are there? Have a student that could use some service playing experience? Well, St. Andrew's-by-the-Sea Episcopal Summer Chapel in Rye Beach, NH has the perfect job for you!
We are looking for organists and pianists who would like to accompany the hymns and service music for its Rite II 9:30 am summer services Sunday, June 11th through Sunday, September 3rd, 2023. Services are approximately one hour long and involve collaborating with a guest musician for at least two of the three voluntaries (prelude, offertory, and postlude).
Qualified candidates may contact Savannah Curro, Music Coordinator at St. Andrew's, at spmcurro@gmail.com. St. Andrew's-by-the-Sea particularly values the contributions of young musicians, and warmly invites candidates of high school and college age to apply, in addition to those with more experience. Compensation is $250. Selected candidates will be asked to commit to as many Sundays as they are available and willing to play for. To learn more about the historic chapel, please visit our Website.
---------
All Saints Episcopal Church of the North Shore
Interim Music Director. Part-time
As was true for many parishes, music at All Saints Episcopal Church of the North Shore, Danvers was seriously affected by the pandemic. We seek an Interim Music Director to lead the process of rebuilding our music ministry, providing planning in coordination with the Rector, supporting worship with organ, piano, and vocal music, and in particular, re-establishing and leading the parish choir. The Interim Music Director's term is indefinite, with the possibility of assuming the permanent position. Click here for more information.
----------
First Baptist, Methuen
Organist for Temporary/Permanent Substitute Work for a few Sundays during the upcoming year at First Baptist Church, 30 Park Street in Methuen, MA. Parish enjoys both traditional and contemporary music. Instruments: a Steinway piano and an Austin Organ; Opus 1153. The stipend is $175.00. For additional information or to offer your services, please contact: Michelle Gordon - (978) 685-1844 - fbcmethuen.secretary@verizon.net
----------
St. Anselm, Sudbury
We’re now looking for a new music director who plays piano and preferably organ, is able to choose liturgically appropriate music, can direct a small choir, plus schedule cantors and volunteer accompanists. We have one Mass on Saturday and one on Sunday. Here’s a link to the full description: