St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta
Duties of the Assistant Music Director
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The Assistant Music Director shall be responsible for the following tasks in the role of assisting
the Director of Music (DOM) and Cathedral staff (including the Dean, Assistant clergy, Pastoral
Associate), in enabling the full and effective operation of the Music Ministry at St. Patrick’s
Cathedral, Parramatta.
The Assistant Music Director is responsible to the Cathedral Director of Music for direction,
guidance and supervision.
General Tasks:
The Assistant Music Director shall:
Assist the DOM in music ministry by accompanying the choir, congregation and cantor,
conducting the choir, and singing both as a cantor and chorister, when required, for the various
regularly scheduled Weekend Masses (namely 9:30 and 11 am and on occasion when required
Saturday Vigil and Sunday Evening).
Attend and assist the weekly choir rehearsal on Wednesdays (and other scheduled days as
occasionally required) as an accompanist/director/chorister and run the rehearsal when
required.
Sing, play, and/or conduct for rehearsal and liturgy on Solemnities and Feast days at the
cathedral as required, such as Holy Week (minimum 4 services), Christmas (Midnight, 9.30am
& 11.00am), Assumption, All Souls, (Diocesan Occasions as required are in addition to this
and remunerated separately). Attendance at scheduled liturgies of Holy Week/Easter and
Christmas is a compulsory requirement of the position.
Cover liturgies for the DOM as required i.e. diocesan occasions, special liturgies, weddings,
funerals etc. – Remunerated on a per service basis separately.
Maintain a high standard of personal organ repertoire for performance on the cathedral organ,
both in liturgy and for recitals when these may be scheduled, by mutual agreement, and within a
reasonable expectation of a professional cathedral organist musician.
Assist the Choir Librarian and the DOM in the maintenance of the choir library. This includes
filing, photocopying, printing, folding, labeling music and following up outstanding or leftover
music from choristers.
Make suggestions and assist the DOM in repertoire selection and purchases of new music.
Support the development of the Organ Scholars, Choral Scholars, and Choristers with
encouragement and advice, leading by example and occasional tutoring arranged by mutual
convenience.
Assist the DOM in locating, identifying and recruiting new members of the choir, music ministry
team through contacts and engagement in other areas and circles.
Assist the DOM in engaging outside musicians when required.
Prepare and rehearse musical components with cantors and clergy for liturgies, and to attend
occasional ceremonial rehearsals if required. This may involve assisting cathedral clergy to
sing the parts of the Mass and Divine Office.
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Assist Choirmaster and other Cathedral staff as required in the preparation of liturgies, including
producing musical arrangements of works, and music typesetting and proof-reading for liturgy
booklets, explaining or clarifying choir & musical involvement, informing ministers about the
musical requirements at the cathedral.
Assist in the operation of the Cathedral audio PA system as required, particularly with regards
the use of the choir microphones, including from time to time, set up and placement for unusual
liturgies such as Tenebrae or Divine Office services celebrated in the nave of the cathedral.
Pass on and discuss the availability of choir members - particularly in respect of late notice,
absences (sick etc by SMS to DOM and Choir secretary)
Assist the DOM, not only musically in the choir, but also pastorally in maintaining a healthy and
happy environment for personal and professional interaction between choristers, music
personnel and members of the cathedral staff and community.
It is customary for the organ scholars and Assistant Music Director to assist in arranging and
hosting social events such as the Midnight Christmas Party following midnight mass and other
occasional functions as a sign of good will and gesture towards the choir.
Assist/attend various social functions of the cathedral parish (within reason).
Assist the DOM with regards to outside ensembles concerts and recitals at the cathedral
through administration, advertising, PR (Cathedral choir Facebook page and email list) set up,
attending and playing host etc.
Ensure that security around the cathedral is maintained i.e. Murphy house is locked, Cathedral
is locked after rehearsal etc.
A Typical Sunday duty:
Arrival at SPCC 8:30.
Collect a liturgy guide and photocopy sufficient copies for use of the choir.
Check Cathedral email for any music that has been sent in within the previous 48 hours to be
printed for the mass (i.e. choral psalms, descants etc)
Organise music for Choir for 11 am Mass Place music on music table. Mass settings, Liturgy
guides, Gregorian missals (photocopies of introit if necessary), Motets.
Copies of Harmony parts/ descants for hymns and the chant communion (print if necessary) are
placed on the piano for DOM’s perusal. In the choir secretary's absence ensuring that DOM has
all the music required for the mass on the piano.
When also accompanying 9:30. Rehearse Cantor from approx 9am. Be in the church by 9:20 to
set up organ and liaise with Celebrant-presider and other cathedral staff and ministers should
there be any special requirements for liturgy of the day.
As soon as 9:30 mass is finished return to choir room to complete preparation for 11am Mass.
Typical Wednesday duty:
Arrive with time in advance in order to assist in the preparation of music to be rehearsed, and
attend and participate in rehearsal.
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Document prepared and current as at July 2012
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