This is a somewhat informal posting of known vacancies and opportunities for those seeking church music/organ employment in the area.

Organist Positions

Christ United Methodist Church, Rochester, MN (posted 19-Aug-2010)
Seeking a half-time Organist/Accompanist. Ideal candidate will possess exceptional accompanying skills/piano skills, good knowledge of organ literature and hymnody; have strong background in traditional worship and appreciation for blended elements of United Methodist worship. There are 2 services per Sunday; special services including holidays, weddings, funerals and accompanying (extra compensation), one Wednesday evening choir rehearsal. Five-manual pipe organ voiced by Robert Sipe and a Bösendorfer Imperial Grand piano. To learn more about the church visit Christ United Methodist Church. E-mail resumes to mike@cumethodist.com or mail to above address.

Christ United Methodist Church, Rochester, MN (posted 19-Aug-2010)
Seeking a full-time Choral Director/Administrator of Music. Ideal candidate will possess exceptional conducting skills to further develop one youth choir (6th - 12th grades), one adult choir and one senior adult choir. Requires excellent organizational skills to oversee a thriving program of children's choirs and their directors, handball choirs and their directors, organists/accompanists, plan a yearly summer concert series and work collaboratively with clergy and other ministry area coordinators. Responsible for one service traditional choral service each Sunday; special services including holidays. To learn more about the church visit Christ United Methodist Church. E-mail resumes to mike@cumethodist.com, or mail to above address.

Director of Music, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Rochester, MN (posted 02-Aug-2010)
St. Luke's Episcopal Church is looking to hire a Director of Music that will be responsible for providing organ/piano accompaniment and choir direction for the 10:00 am Sunday morning service, including Christmas and Holy Week seasons, special services (e.g. Lessons and Carols), and for leading weekly evening choir rehearsals.

The position is a .33 time or 13-15 hours a week. Salary and Benefits: $13,000 - $ 15,000/ year + FICA; pension after one year; 1 week of paid Continuing Education (allowance $ 400); 3 Sundays paid vacation. See full job description. Send resume, two letters of reference and Ministry Statement to Rev. Dr. Douglas Sparks at stlukes@deskmedia.com.
Application deadline: August 20, 2010

Organist, Christ Episcopal Church, Austin, MN (posted 31-Jul-2010)
Christ Episcopal Church is looking to hire an organist for Sunday morning 10 a.m. worship. Duties include accompanying volunteer choir at rehearsals and at worship, assisting the rector and choir director in liturgical planning. Musician with liturgical music experience and knowledge preferred. Competitive salary. Hoping for a September start. Contact the Rev. Diana M. Rogers at revdianamrogers@gmail.com for full details.

Part-time Organist, Hosanna Lutheran Church, Rochester, MN (posted 31-Jul-2010)
Hosanna Lutheran Church is currently seeking a part-time organist beginning as soon as possible. The responsibilities include playing for two Sunday morning worship services two to three times a month, for Advent and Lent Wednesday evening services and for other seasonal evening services. Keyboard skills for a variety of musical styles on organ and piano are necessary. To apply, contact Pastor Bill Meiers at pastormeiers@hosannalutheran.org or call 507-285-0092.

Organist and Choir Director, Ascension Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, MN (posted 05-Mar-2010)
Ascension Lutheran Church is looking for an Organist and a Choir Director. Other Organist duties included. For more information, please call Ascension Church at 507-373-3408.

Organist, Faith Lutheran Church, St. Charles, MN (posted 01-May-2010)
Faith Lutheran Church of St. Charles, MN is in need of help! They have immediate organist needs starting May 2 and going forward. Pastor Steve McGinley would like to secure sub(s) for the month of May and then look for permanent help going forward. They will pay a competitive wage and expenses! Please contact Pastor Steve McGinley at pastor@hbcsc.net at ASAP!

Handbell Positions

Director of Handbell Choirs, Christ United Methodist Church, Rochester, MN (posted 31-Jul-2010)
Part-time director to start September 2010. The Handbell Director will conduct a well established and well supported handbell program of four choirs with over 60 participants aging from 9 years through Adults. Rehearsals are currently held once a week from September to mid May. Equipment includes one 5-1/2 and one 4-octave sets of Schulmerich Handbells, one 5-1/2 and one 4-octave sets of Malmark Handchimes, various ethnic percussion and orchestral percussion. For more information, or to apply, please contact the Director of Music, Richard D. Owen at ric@cumethodist.com or the church office at (507) 289-4019, ext 109.

News From AGO Headquarters

In an effort to increase the value of the benefits package for AGO voting members, access to the Positions Available list on the AGO National Web site is limited exclusively to AGO voting members. It is appropriate that these listings should be made available only to voting members, since members' dues pay for the operation of the Guild's Web site and maintenance of its job postings board. In addition, this new limitation will ensure that only those organists who have agreed to abide by the AGO's Code of Ethics and Code of Professional Standards will have access to the jobs advertised on the AGO's Web site.

IMPORTANT MEMBER LOGIN INFORMATION: When you go to view the details of a Position Available online, you will be asked to fill in a User Name and Password. Your User Name and Password will be your unique AGO identification number. This number is located above your name on the address label that appears on your copy of TAO each month. When prompted to fill in the User Name and Password fields, please enter your ID number in both fields to gain access to the details of all job openings. This login procedure may be further refined and enhanced in the weeks ahead.