TERENURE COLLEGE: Director of Choirs being sought

TERENURE COLLEGE

DIRECTOR OF CHOIRS

Job description and Personal Specification

Terenure College wishes to appoint an enthusiastic and highly motivated Director of Choirs from September 2024, with the ability to ensure the continued development of music primarily for worship in the College Chapel and the School. This is a post for an energetic and creative individual who seeks the challenge of building an outstanding choral offering within the context of a thriving Catholic School in the Carmelite Tradition.

• Letter of Application and CV should be emailed to admin@terenurecollege.ie

• The deadline for receipt of applications is Tuesday, 6 August, 2024

• Interviews will take place during the week commencing Monday, 12 August 2024

Responsibilities

The Main duties of the post include:

• ● Directing the College’s Community Choir* (Weekly rehearsals and regular performances (religious/secular));

• ● Organising and taking a lead role in the choirs’ regular performances within and outside of the College and where appropriate, organising and directing choir video and audio recordings;

• ● Development of a School Choir(s);

• ● Directing the College’s Schola Cantorum;

• ● Assist with the organisation and performance of music for the school’s yearly liturgical programme;

• ● Assist with such classes as may be assigned by the Principal such as musical modules of the Wellbeing programme;

• ● In collaboration with the school’s music teachers, the appointee will work to further promote a culture and love of music amongst students no matter what their musical background;

• ● Assist with the organising and developing the College’s Annual Recital Series;

The appointee will be expected to work closely with the Principal of the School, the Prior of the Carmelite Community, the Committee of the Community Choir (as a non-voting member) the College’s Chaplaincy Team and the school’s music teacher(s). He/She will liaise with the Chapel organist and cantors and others who contribute to the musical life of the Chapel and School.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate their appreciation and enthusiasm for the choral and liturgical music of the Roman Catholic Tradition and a commitment to explore new ways of developing this tradition for future generations.

The post will require work with choirs at weekends, and tours away from the College will require longer periods of full commitment.

The role will be 20 hours per week. Exact hours may fluctuate depending on the amount of musical activity in the College at any one point. A certain flexibility will be expected as, for example, commitment during school holidays will generally be significantly less than during school term time. The role will require being available to conduct the choir(s) at Christmas and Easter services.

Essential Criteria:

The successful candidate will have experience as a choral conductor and be able to demonstrate excellence in motivating students and adult choirs to attain a high standard of singing in performances.

A thorough knowledge of the choral repertoire for the liturgical year is essential.

Terms and Conditions:

• Initially a fixed term, one year contract, with the potential to develop into a permanent position.

• Salary: €25,000.

*Although the Community Choir is a non-auditioned SATB ensemble comprising many parents of current and past pupils, friends of the College and past pupils, it is musically extremely accomplished and is strengthened by having regular workshops and augments its numbers with professional singers and musicians throughout the year to achieve its ambitious repertoire. While the repertoire of the Community Choir is primarily liturgical and sacred music, it is not exclusively so.