Director of Music
Job Description
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, San Francisco, is seeking a Director of Music. The Music Director serves as principal organist, pianist, and director of choir. A key member of the worship leadership team, the Director of Music is responsible for shaping and overseeing all musical and liturgical aspects of worship at St. Marks. This is done in collaboration with the Lead Pastor in planning, leading and coordinating Music for weekly services, holy days, special liturgies and events.
St. Mark’s is a historic urban ELCA Reconciling in Christ congregation in the heart of San Francisco, with a rich heritage of Lutheran service and music, rooted in tradition and open to new expression. There are approximately 250 members, with 125 people—both members and visitors from around the world—each Sunday. Music is one of the cornerstones of the worship-centered life of St. Mark’s. Our vision is to offer different opportunities for experiences and a variety of liturgical settings that appeal to a broad range of people.
St. Mark’s is open to expanding the role of Music Director to include professional music event coordination and marketing for music programming in collaboration with the St. Marks Event Coordinator.
St. Mark’s has a long history of offering multiple worship services, each with its own liturgical style. Our volunteer choir is supported by paid section leaders (currently soprano and alto) allowing us to maintain a high standard of music. The 9:00am service is Holy Communion. The 11:00am service is a traditional choral Eucharist.
Qualifications & Skills
Commitment to the mission and values of the ELCA and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.
MA, DMus, or PhD in music or equivalent experience (minimum 5 years).
Experience performing and teaching a wide variety of musical genres, particularly sacred. This congregation uses the Evangelical Lutheran Worship resources, provided by the church.
Accomplished organist with strong accompanying and service playing skills, strong vocal/choral teaching skills and experience leading liturgical worship.
Passionate about working with both volunteer and professional singers, with an excitement for recruitment, inclusion and community outreach.
Strong leadership skills. Ability to work independently and in collaboration.
Willing to collaborate closely with clergy for choral service preparation and offer vocal coaching and support as needed.
Mastery of organ performance and choral direction, with experience in promoting the music ministry in the broader community.
Collaborating with external choirs and planning joint on-site or off-site services.
Demonstrated time management skills and ability to prioritize in order to meet deadlines.
Computer skills to include email, word processing, MS Office Suite, music software and intermediate office-related software.
Accountability
The Director of Music is a key member of the worship leadership team, responsible for shaping and overseeing all musical and liturgical aspects of worship at St. Marks. This is done in collaboration with the Lead Pastor in planning, leading and coordinating music for weekly services, holy days, special liturgies and events.
Responsibilities
Worship
Staff/Community
Development
Administration
Funerals/Weddings
1. Worship
Serve as principal organist, pianist, and director of choir.
Serve as primary musician for the 9am and 11 am services weekly. Primary musician for Advent Vespers (one in collaboration with St. Mary’s Cathedral Music Director), Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Lenten Vespers, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week and Triduum followed by Easter Sunday Celebration.
Recruit and train choir members, support vocal growth and musical excellence, coordinate rehearsals, teach, develop, and conduct the choir and other musicians for regular and special services.
Coordinate and select music for worship services that reflects the liturgical calendar, lectionary themes and the theological and musical traditions of the Lutheran church in collaboration with Pastoral staff.
Work with Pastor(s) in liturgy planning, implementation, music programming, and education
Encourage congregational participation through thoughtful hymn selection and strong leadership.
Provide a balance of musical selections offering traditional music and a variety of other styles.
Oversee maintenance, repair, inventory, and usage of church instruments and music equipment and supplies, including the organ. Organ specifics: Taylor & Boody Organ builders, mechanical key and stop action (tracker), two manuals and pedal, Kellner tuning and temperament. Click here for full specifications.
Contract with instrumentalists for festivals and special liturgies within the budget approved by the church council.
Secure a replacement when unable to fulfill duties.
Perform other duties as assigned.
2. Staff/Community
Supervise the other music positions as assigned by the Lead Pastor. Guest artists who are brought in for special services, or musicians whose expertise is outside that of the Music Director will be supervised by the Music Director.
Participate in weekly staff meetings.
Follow staff expectations, based on the employee handbook. Participate in annual reviews as part of the individual staff review process.
3. Development
Ability to professionally network and collaborate with colleagues, including the American Guild of Organists and other organizations which may assist in future events and other unique programming for the church and community.
Attend continuing education opportunities as approved by pastoral leadership.
Familiarity with marketing and sales related to the music programming at St Mark’s.
Desire and motivation to work with clergy and volunteers to develop and monitor the annual budget and build a financially sustainable music program.
Recruit organists, soloists, and ensembles for concert performances and be willing to perform in concerts. Collaborate with administrative staff regarding advertising, scheduling, and logistics.
Cultivate a music/performance series or similar community offering to develop the music program at St. Mark’s.
Explore the feasibility and development of music programming for young choristers.
4. Administration
Maintain the St. Mark’s music library.
Write a monthly report to Council regarding activities, accomplishments and/or concerns.
Write periodic notes or translations for bulletins.
Plan and promote a calendar of music activities.
Write an annual end-of-year report for the congregational meeting which occurs each year in January.
5. Funerals/Weddings
Provide music for weddings and funerals by special arrangement with additional stipend. The organist shall be entitled to a stipend regardless of whether an outside organist is brought in for the eve
Hours
Year-round.
Part-time/Full-time, 20/30 hours per week. Both weekly and monthly time obligations, including planning meetings, staff meetings, and special services.
The current position is 20 hours per week and has the possibility to expand to 30 hours per week with the approval of the lead pastor and council. Expanded hours could reflect new duties as listed in the above Development section.
Compensation
Paydays are bi-monthly on the 15th and last day of the month. Salary range is between $52 – 58 per hour, commensurate with experience and in line with the AGO pay guidelines. Hourly rate and benefits will be discussed at the interview.
Application
Apply via email to the Music Director Search Team at searchteam@stmarks-sf.org. The email should express your interest and contain your resume, two references, and a selection of your music recordings.
Please include recordings (audio links/attachments or video links) of:
An organ prelude/postlude,
A piano piece of your choice (appropriate for a worship service),
A Lutheran hymn with possible accompaniment variation for one verse, as if you were playing a hymn for congregational singing, and
An example of a choral piece you have taught your choir.
Applications must be received by September 15, 2025.
