September 2026,  Organist Position,  Christ Church, Middle Haddam, CT

 

Christ Episcopal Church is seeking a long-term supply organist musician to play for Sunday services in the manner of the Episcopal Church.  Our musician would need to be skilled at playing keyboard on both the organ and the piano.  We would prefer a musician familiar with playing for church worship services, but will train if needed. 

 

The two instruments are a 1934 Austin (Opus 1855) 2-maual organ with Pedal, Swell, and Great; and a Baldwin console piano. Most of the stops on the Austin are in good working condition, and all the foot pedals work except the bottom one. Both instruments are professionally tuned regularly.

 

The music for any given Sunday would include a prelude and postlude of the organist’s choosing, 5 hymns, and 2-3 pieces of service music which stay the same each Sunday for a period of time but which change seasonally. Sometimes a piece of sheet music is substituted for a hymn, and sometimes additional musicians are brought in to play with the organist, usually violin, oboe or guitar - always with sufficient advance notice.  Ability to sight read is a plus but not essential if the organist practices and comes in ready to begin the service. Hymns are chosen at least three weeks ahead, so there is ample time for practice.

 

Except on rare occasions near holidays, this job would require the musician’s presence only on Sunday mornings from 9:00 to sometime before 11:30.  The choir meets at 8:30 to go over harmonies, and the organist works with the choir from 9:00 to 9:45.  The service begins at 10:00 and usually lasts about 75 minutes. The exception to this time frame is Christmas Eve when the service begins at 4:00 in the afternoon.  Before Christmas and Holy Week/Easter, an extra rehearsal or two might be necessary and can be arranged according to organist availability.  The job can be either year-round or with the summer off.

 

The organist would be expected to work well with the priest, choir director and choir and to arrive on a Sunday ready to play the pieces for that day and for the following week so that the choir could rehearse them.

 

Christ Church is a small, warm community comprised mostly of congregants who live in East Hampton. The demographic leans toward senior citizens, but there are several young parents.  We have a Sunday school of 2 - 12 year olds, and we are forming a youth group for teens. The people in this parish value music in the worship service.  There is a choir which currently has only six members but which we are trying to build.

 

The salary for the position would $250 per Sunday or more depending on experience. Additional pay would be given for extra rehearsals. The musician will have the right of first refusal for weddings and funerals.

 

Christ Church is an equal opportunity employer.  All applicants will be considered regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender or religion.

Heading 3