Redeemer Bethesda is seeking section leaders (soprano and tenor) and substitutes (all parts) for our professional quartet that leads our volunteer choir of 25.
Redeemer is an Episcopal Church with music at its heart. As a Parish, we foster our community of professionals, volunteers, and music-appreciators to express our ministry of welcome and elevate our worship through the Anglican choral tradition. The repertoire is appropriately chosen and joyously executed, and whether a hymn or an orchestral mass setting, our music enriches the shared experience of life and the divine. Our composer-led Ensemble-in-Residence, Kassia Music is a first-class group that performs with the choir on special occasions, at our flagship Saturday evening concerts, and co-curates our Friday night series (with open mic). We welcome other local and regional professionals for our Saturday night series, who this year include The Whiffenpoofs, Sam Scheff, and the Eric Byrd Trio.
Our quartet of section leaders works collaboratively with our talented and enthusiastic volunteers. Tuning and ensemble are paramount, but our paradigm is the healthy focus of vowels through healthy onset to energize stylistic performance.
Our Director of Music Ministries, GRAMMY®-nominated producer, Geoffrey Silver, received his training in London and Cambridge and as a founder of GRAMMY®-nominated New York Polyphony. He was chorus master of the GRAMMY®-winning Washington Chorus for a number of years and now combines his Redeemer ministry with his record label, Acis. Associate Director of Music Ministries, composer, and conductor Gian-Philip Toro was conducting assistant to the late Kurt Masur and brings a wealth of talent and experience to Redeemer.
The pattern of section leader work is Thursdays and Sundays from Labor Day until Trinity Sunday. Choir rehearsal is on Thursday nights (7:00-9:30), worship on Sunday mornings (9:15 call for a 10:30 service), with occasional Evensongs. Red letter days are Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Saturday morning Easter rehearsal of Holy Week; Advent Lessons and Carols (dress the day before); and two services on Christmas Eve. Subs are invited as additional support for Advent Lessons, Christmas, and Easter. We do not rehearse or perform on Christmas Day, nor the Thurs/Sun after Easter or Christmas. Since his appointment, the DMM has directed Redeemer in collaborative orchestral events at Redeemer in the Duruflé Requiem, Rutter Requiem, and Vivaldi Gloria, which are on our YouTube. Section Leaders are encouraged to drop in as guests at public-facing music events. Absence from rehearsals and services is requested in writing at least two weeks in advance, and we will arrange for substitutes if required. In general, attendance on Thursday is required for Sunday. The music list is published twice a year and Section Leaders are expected to arrive prepared with their music in hand.
Interested candidates should send a resume to the music department, along with links to audio or video extracts of a standard recitative/aria and an art song. If called for an audition, the requirements will be 1) recitative in German or English of at least four phrases; 2) sight-reading a polyphonic work in at least 6 parts; 3) sight-singing Anglican chant; 4) singing an unaccompanied prepared piece of at least one minute in duration. Ten minutes of private preparation time with a keyboard and the sight-reading materials will be given.
Pay is $80 per call, plus $20 for travel. Double call days are paid as $160+$20 travel. Section Leaders are able to book the space for private tuition, audition recording, and practice. Positions open until filled.
Geoffrey Silver, Director of Music Ministries