Organist and Choirmaster vacancy - Port Glasgow New Parish Church

Job Title: Organist & Choir Master

Reporting to: The Parish Minister at Port Glasgow New Parish Church

Role Duties & Responsibilities:

The successful applicant will lead an enthusiastic congregation in song at the regular Sunday diet of worship, including some evenings, and at other services such as weddings, funerals etc. during the week as required. We currently use CH4 and Mission Praise for congregational singing; hymns are chosen by the Minister and include varied settings of both traditional and modern contemporary hymns and songs.

The appointee will work in conjunction with the Church Choir, including practices; he or she will also lead in developing the musical life of the congregation, including the use of instrumental music, arranging concerts as well as leading and conducting the choir, and in instances accompanying other performers.

Applicants should ideally be skilled in playing the organ either through qualification or through demonstrable experience, have a wide knowledge of varying styles of music, and have experience in working with singers. Previous church organist experience would be an advantage but is not essential. Experience of playing other instruments is also desirable, but not essential.

The church organ is an excellent 3 manual Viscount Physis digital instrument, widely regarded as tonally the best of the digital instruments in the UK, and the building is acoustically fine. There is also a digital piano which sits in the body of the Sanctuary.

The Church of Scotland model contract and the most recent Scottish Federation of Organists salary scales will apply.

Closing date is the end of November ’25 and successful applicants will be called to interview and informal audition shortly after that date.

Successful applicants will be asked to play a short voluntary of their choice on the organ, and a contemporary worship piece of their choice on the digital piano as part of the interview process and to demonstrate their technical ability.

Please contact Rev William Boyle, 07947814410 or email WBoyle@churchofscotland.org.uk for informal discussions about the post.

Applications and expressions of interest, accompanied by details of previous experience and contact details for a referee, should be sent to the Session Clerk, Mr Robert Guthrie, email rguthrie@sky.com

For more information: https://www.newparishchurchportglasgow.uk

Charity Number: SC009018