Principal Organist
West Chester, PA
St. Maximilian Kolbe Church
15 East Pleasant Grove, West Chester, PA 19382
May 2025
Title: Principal Organist
Department/Office: Music
Supervisor: Music Director, Pastor
Positions Supervised: None
Status: Part time, non-exempt
Please e-mail resume to the Parish Business Manager, Susan Barbella, at Bmanager@stmax.org
Principal Organist Job Description / Responsibilities
- 1)To enhance the worship experience of St. Max Parish by:
- Providing organ and piano accompaniment for Choirs and Cantors
- Scheduling organists and ascertain there is coverage for all sung liturgies
- Contribute to fostering the art of musical liturgy
- 2)Demonstrate proficiency in the following key areas:
- Organ and piano accompaniment in both traditional and contemporary styles
- Organ and piano soloist
- Knowledge of Roman Catholic Liturgy
- 3)Provide accompaniment for:
- Regularly scheduled weekend Masses (4:00 p.m. Saturday, 9:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Sunday)
- Weekly choir rehearsals
- Holy Days of Obligation
- Seasonal liturgies during Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter
- Parish and School Penance services, Secular holidays as required
- School liturgies, as needed
- Any other parish services, as needed
- 4)Ability to work in partnership with Director of Music and parish leadership/staff
- 5)Assist in maintaining musical instruments and resources
- 6)Coordinate music for Weddings*, with advance notice. (must arrange for a suitable substitute if unavailable). Coordinate with cantor, contact other instrumentalists if needed
- 7)Provide prelude and postlude music as needed/requested
- 8)Prepare weekly music for other accompanists in binder
- 9)Pull hymn numbers for board and set up in advance of Vigil Mass
- 10)Accompany Handbell Choir rehearsals when needed
- 11)Rehearse with Cantors prior to Mass and at a separate rehearsal during week, as needed.
*Compensation for these services is from the families; the accompanist is contracted with them