Church Organist/Organ Scholar (New Tracker Organ)

INDIAN HILL EPISCOPAL-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

6000 Drake Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45243

indianhillchurch.org

ASSISTANT ORGANIST/ORGAN SCHOLAR (Two Manual Tracker, 2025)

OVERVIEW:

Located in the northeast suburbs of Cincinnati, this dual-denominational congregation is located in the heart of the Village of Indian Hill.  Despite being a medium-sized parish, the music program affords many professional and educational opportunities for the Assistant Organist/Organ Scholar.  The program has a Director of Music and a choral structure that is about half volunteer singers from the parish and half professional section leaders/choral scholars.  All choirs rehearse on Sunday mornings – no midweek rehearsals.  This position offers flexibility (the Director of a Music is an organist), opportunity to work with other professional musicians on staff, experience working with professional singers and volunteer singers of all ages, and a greater understanding of the traditions of two denominations – Indian Hill Church is a rare Episcopal and Presbyterian congregation.  Worship is not blended, but the two Sunday services follow the liturgical traditions of both denominations, on a rotating basis.  Traditional worship/music is the staple of the music program, but the choral program includes a high school/young adult choir that sings less traditional music (Gospel, Spirituals, and global music).  For the seasoned professional, or the professional in training, this position allows an organist to use a wide palette of expression in style and to have great flexibility in job description, workload, and hours of availability. The installation of our two manual tracker organ is currently being completed.

JOB DESCRIPTION

PLANNING:

The current model (which is negotiable, based on the skill set of the Assistant Organist/Organ Scholar) is one in which all of the planning for choral rep and congregational singing is done by the Director of Music.  The Assistant Organist/Organ Scholar is only responsible for planning/practicing choral accompaniments, congregational singing, and solo organ rep (Prelude, Postlude, and some selections for Communion and Offertory).  The Assistant Organist/Organ Scholar does not attend parish nor Music Department staff meetings.  Time for collaborative planning/practicing is done on an as-needed basis and is arranged at a time convenient for all parties.  It is conceivable that this could be a Sundays-only job.

SERVICES:
The Assistant Organist/Organ Scholar may be involved in non-Sunday morning services (e.g. Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday), but these are rare and negotiable.  Weekly Sunday morning responsibilities include:

8:00 Service (abbreviated music – organ only, no choir)
Two hymns, very minimal service music, and 2-4 brief solo organ pieces
This service is mostly covered by the Assistant Organist/Organ Scholar
10:30 Service (full Episcopal and Presbyterian liturgy)
There is a choir on most Sundays during the academic year
Hymns, full service music, choral accompaniments, and solo organ pieces
Responsibilities may be shared with the Director of Music
Assistant Organist/Organ Scholar will play most of the choral accompaniments

SKILL AT OTHER INSTRUMENTS:

Organists with proficiency on other instruments or in singing are strongly encouraged to apply as these additional skills accommodate a more flexible job description.

COMPENSATION:
A highly competitive compensation is negotiable and is based on level of proficiency, level of education, experience, and the amount of responsibility taken on by the Assistant Organist/Organ Scholar (given that responsibilities may be shared by the Assistant Organist and other music staff members).  Compensation may be hourly or salary, depending on the level of responsibility.