May 01, 2021
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF DENVER (Denver, CO)
PAID SINGING POSITIONS - Choral Assistants
Auditioning all voice parts - Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
View the PDF of the job description.
Calvary Baptist Church of Denver, located in southeast Denver on the corner of Monaco & Hampden, is a Christ- like community that experiences and shares God’s love. Calvary welcomes and affirms all people as children of God, from every cultural and religious background, sexual orientation, family composition, physical and mental ability, economic means, race, age, and gender.
Music plays a vital role at Calvary as we engage people with melody, rhythm, and purpose while providing a vibrant community of support and love. Calvary offers a blended musical palette, incorporating a broad range of styles in its two weekly Sunday services. The morning, more traditional 10:30 service includes everything from traditional hymnody, Early Music (Chant, Baroque), Classical and contemporary choral and solo repertoire. The evening service, The Gathering, worships with contemporary praise music in a more casual environment. At Calvary, we believe that by making music together with kindness and in a spirit of community, we experience the presence of God. Church membership is not required for participation in any musical ensemble.
The Calvary Choir is our church’s primary adult choral ensemble. It leads music in the traditional, Sunday morning service. The choir has a long history of musical leadership not only in weekly Sunday worship services, but also in presenting music of high caliber for special Holy Week and Easter services as well as annual Christmas concerts in collaboration with guest instrumentalists and soloists.
Currently, we are seeking to hire FOUR paid CHORAL ASSISTANTS to sing with the Calvary Choir. The positions need to be filled by the beginning of our 2021-22 program year, with a start date of September 2, 2021. All singers over the age of 18 are encouraged to apply and audition. Choir rehearsals take place on Thursday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m. and Sunday mornings from 10-10:25 a.m. just before the 10:30 a.m. service.
PRIMARY DUTIES:
-Serve as a singer (vocal and musical leader) with the volunteer members of the Calvary Choir in select rehearsals, worship services, and special concert presentations for the duration of the program year (September – May)
-Serve as soloist and singer for other small vocal ensembles in the morning worship service and special concert presentations per the discretion of the Director of Music
-Lead by example in all aspects of choral membership, including on-time arrival to all rehearsals, worship and concert calls and other events; excellent interpersonal skills exemplified by a joyful, gentle, patient, and caring communication style; a high level of preparation of music for rehearsals, worship, and other presentations; an openness and tolerance of differences and varieties of member personalities, musical abilities, and vocal qualities
-Regular Schedule: Thursday rehearsal, 7-8:30 p.m. & Sunday 10:30 a.m. service (2 Service Calls) 3 times a month or at the discretion of the Director of Music. Choral Assistants will not be asked to sing less than 2 weeks per month during the program year (Sep-May). All Service Calls will be compensated (see COMPENSATION below).
QUALIFICATIONS:
-A desire to serve in a volunteer, multi-generational choir, with members of varying degree of vocal and musical skill. The ideal applicant is deeply interested in leading singers of all abilities and experience with an attitude of kindness, patience, and consideration.
-Strong musical and technical skill singing music of all levels and styles (from unison singing to large-scale multi- voice compositions, a cappella and accompanied works)
-Expertise and confidence to sing solo presentations as well as duets and small ensemble pieces
-An interest in and an openness to the spoken word in our worship at Calvary Baptist Church is valued. Although membership or additional involvement is not required or expected of Choral Assistants, our hope is to provide ministry and support in any way needed or sought. Calvary is “open to all, closed to none” and we take that seriously.
-Choral Assistants will accept and honor Calvary Baptist Church of Denver’s Inclusivity Statement:
Calvary welcomes and affirms all people as children of God, from every cultural and religious background, sexual orientation, family composition, physical and mental ability, economic means, race, age, and gender.
COMPENSATION:
$50.00 per “Service Call,” where 1 “Service Call” is defined as each of the following:
-Thursday night choir rehearsal, 7-8:30 p.m.
-Sunday morning warmup/rehearsal & worship service, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
-Any additional rehearsal (1) for special services and concerts
-Any additional special service (1) and concert (1)
The average monthly compensation will be for 6 Service Calls per month during the 2021-22 program year and total approximately $300. While some months require fewer Service Calls, others (e.g. during Advent and Holy Week/Easter) need more.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Email a cover letter and resume/CV to Dr. David Farwig, Director of Music at dfarwig@calvarydenver.org. Once your materials are reviewed, you will be contacted and asked to schedule an in-person audition and interview.
Re: COVID-19: Calvary Baptist Church takes all necessary precautions and follows CDC, state and city ordinances and protocols for everyone’s protection against COVID-19. Although most of Calvary’s members are fully vaccinated (including the Director of Music and organist), masks and social distancing will be in place during the in-person audition and interview. Depending on the state of the COVID pandemic, a Zoom interview as well as submission of audio and video recordings may be requested.