Director of Music Needed

Posted On: 08/01/2024

Full Name: Patricia Hofstrand

E-Mail Address:hofstrandp@gmail.com

Choir:First Unitarian Church of Victoria Chalice Choir

Contact Person:Patricia Hofstrand

Contact E-Mail:hofstrandp@gmail.com

The First Unitarian Church of Victoria, a progressive religious community, seeks a dynamic Music Director to oversee a 35-voice adult choir (performing two Sundays per month), a men’s ensemble, and a hand bell choir (which has a separate Director). The Music Director will also interact with, and help promote other music offerings within the church community: a thriving monthly jazz service featuring local (and occasional guests from other parts of Canada) jazz musicians (Spirited Jazz will soon be celebrating its 10th anniversary), a lay led Drumming Circle; a lay led Song Circle, and a highly accomplished Collaborative Pianist that all regularly contribute to the music ministry of the Church. We seek a Music Director that can add vibrancy, energy, and creative ideas for 21st century congregational life. In particular, we’d like to find a Music Director who could re-start our children/youth choir, lead us in songs from the oral tradition, and explore the possibility of a Taizé service.


The musically engaged congregation expects to participate in music that is stylistically and spiritually varied, reflecting our Unitarian Universalist tradition (https://cuc.ca ),and that provides inspiring, meaningful reflection on our lives. We enjoy and appreciate drawing from many genres—jazz, gospel, blues, bluegrass, folk, and pop—in addition to more traditional (and classical) church music. We want music to move us and invite us to be open to change. We are a progressive community that draws spiritual inspiration from many sources. Music is an integral and central part of our worship experience.


Strong candidates will possess the ability to lead and perform music, have skills in arranging, and be able to perform on multiple instruments. The Church sanctuary is a beautiful acoustical environment, houses a fine Baldwin grand piano, and a recently upgraded state-of-the-art audio/visual system (new microphones, cameras, acoustic tiling, lighting,etc.). The starting date is negotiable. The position is half-time, and we intend to offer compensation at Royal Canadian College of Organists standards based on qualifications. Send resume to: Reverend Shana Lynngood; First Unitarian Church of Victoria Church Office, 5575 West Saanich Road, Victoria, BC V9E 2G1; email rev.shana@victoriaunitarian.ca; ph (250) 891-6331. Closing date for receipt of applications is February 29, 2024.