Music Minister
North Shore Vancouver | Part Time | Choral Direction | Organ & Piano
For more than a century, West Vancouver United Church has been a caring presence on the North Shore. Guided by the teachings of Jesus and by the Spirit, we try to make the good news good for all people. Ours is a community that values thoughtful faith, welcomes difference, and finds joy in worship that is heartfelt, honest, and alive. Together we have grown into one of the largest and fastest growing United Church congregations in Canada.
An invitation into the musical life of West Vancouver United Church
Lead a celebrated music ministry program, collaborating closely with the Lead Minister to shape worship through wide-ranging sacred music repertoire. The role calls for deep familiarity with sacred music across the ages, drawing from different traditions, cultures, styles, languages, and periods, from early and classical works to contemporary and newly composed music.
Direct and conduct a nearly 40-voice choir, and accompany with a spectacular Martin Pasi mechanical-action tracker pipe organ and Bösendorfer grand piano.
This is a chance to step into a well-established music ministry and help shape its next season, alongside a committed choir, engaged leadership, and a congregation that shows up. The church financially supports the music program, with funding for professional section leaders, a library of over 750 anthems, and an endowment supporting student musicians.
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Leading worship music from selection to performance — conducting the choir, playing organ and piano, and working closely with the Lead Minister to ensure every service sings with intention and excellence.
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Creating space where music draws people in — from Sunday worship to life's most meaningful moments, coordinating with families for weddings and memorials with care and intention.
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Managing the full operational life of the music program — budget, library, instruments, talent pipeline, and the Sunday service details that make every gathering run seamlessly.
Our Choir
Nearly 40 voices strong
West Van United's choir is a cornerstone of our worship life — an ensemble of dedicated choristers supported by professional section leaders and student musicians through a dedicated endowment. The Music Minister will direct, develop, and inspire this ensemble week after week.
Our Instruments
Our singing is accompanied by our Martin Pasi, mechanical-action tracker pipe organ and Bösendorfer grand piano. The sanctuary is recognized as one of the top musical venues on Vancouver’s north shore, used by several choirs and instrumental groups for their concerts.
Our Organ
Our pipe organ, one of the finest in the province, was custom-built by Martin Pasi. It inspires our singing, accompanies choirs and soloists, and serves the broader community. A dramatic presence at the front of the church, it contains 1,851 pipes spread through 31 different stops, across two keyboards and a pedal board. It can be as soft as a gentle flute, or as grand as an orchestra, filling the space with so much sound that you can feel its reverberations throughout your body.
Experience our worship
Explore recordings of our choir, organ, and worship services to get a feel for the musical life at West Van United.
Position Overview
Music is at the heart of worship at West Vancouver United Church. We are searching for a Music Minister who feels called to serve a life of worship through music that listens carefully to scripture, to the shape of each service, and to the people gathered. The role is deeply collaborative and rooted in a congregation that cares about good music, shared leadership, and worship that invites people in.
Working closely with the Lead Minister and Executive Director, the Music Minister shapes and leads the musical life of our church community. Through careful planning and musical leadership, the Music Minister helps create worship that invites participation, reflection, and prayer.
The Music Minister has responsibility for all aspects of the music program at West Van United, including directing the church choir and providing musical leadership for regular worship as well as weddings, funerals, and special services. The successful candidate will be deeply familiar with sacred music across the ages and comfortable working with a wide and varied repertoire — drawing from different traditions, cultures, styles, languages, and periods, from early and classical works to contemporary and newly composed music.
West Van United has a long and well-established tradition of musical excellence. Our choir includes nearly 40 committed singers and is supported by funding for professional and student musicians. Music in worship is led from a Martin Pasi mechanical-action tracker, Baroque style pipe organ and a Bösendorfer grand piano. The sanctuary itself is regarded as one of the finest musical spaces on the North Shore and is regularly used by visiting choirs and instrumental ensembles.
This is a chance to step into a well-established music ministry and help shape its next season, alongside a committed choir, engaged leadership, and a congregation that shows up. We are seeking someone who brings musical depth, pastoral sensitivity, and a genuine desire to engage with the wider life of the congregation and community we serve. The church financially supports the music program, providing funding for a half-dozen professional members, the opportunity to work with and grow a library of over 750 anthems and an endowment that supports another half-dozen students.
Hours: 20 hours per week
Compensation: $50-$60k, plus pension and benefits
Key Responsibilities
Worship Planning & Leadership
Plan and select a diverse and wide-ranging repertoire of music for Sunday services, including hymns, choir and soloist pieces,
prelude, postlude, and other musical elements.
Collaborate with the Lead Minister to ensure music is tightly integrated with the theme and message of each service.
Set and maintain outstanding standards for music quality at West Van United.
Conduct the choir in weekly rehearsals and during services.
Plan and coordinate guest soloists and musicians, including repertoire selection.
Lead music from the organ and/or piano.
Pastoral & Ministry Functions
Create an inclusive worship environment that fosters participation and spiritual encounter through music.
Ensure music supports and is cohesive with the whole worship gathering.
Liaise with families for memorial services and weddings to thoughtfully select, coordinate and perform music.
Administration & Operations
Manage the music ministry budget, including soloist hiring and compensation.
Develop and nurture a pipeline of emerging musical talent for soloists, choir members, and instrumentalists as appropriate.
Manage the acquisition of new music and maintain the music library
Prepare all music slides for Sunday service powerpoint presentations; as necessary, add lyrics for anthems and melody-only scores for hymns.
Contribute to the weekly bulletin as needed (music listings, credits, etc.).
Manage the maintenance and care of the mechanical-action tracker Martin Pasi pipe organ, Bösendorfer grand piano and other instruments owned by the church
Set up and manage sound equipment as required.
Attend staff meetings and participate in collaborative ministry planning.
Interface with church systems and technology as required.
Desired Qualities & Attributes
We are seeking someone who:
Is a collaborative partner to the Lead Minister and Executive Director.
Leads out of their Christian faith, and is aligned with the theological ethos, vision, and ministry of West Van United.
Fosters authentic community amongst a diverse group of singers in a way that upholds West Van United’s theological commitment to creating space for all people to know and be known by God.
Understands the heart of worship and understands the way music functions as a ministry.
Is Spirit-led and responsive to the theological and emotional tone of a service.
Maintains a high musical calibre while remaining pastorally and spiritually grounded.
Values creativity, curiosity, and thoughtful innovation.
Can engage and gently challenge the congregation musically, while honoring its traditions.
Demonstrates strong leadership and communication skills as a coach and mentor to a diverse group of choir members and musicians.
Is comfortable working with basic worship technology and production systems.
Has built a proven track record of directing high quality choral performances
Minimum Qualifications
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a music-related field
A minimum of five years choral conducting experience
Prior experience conducting, playing piano or organ, or singing in a church setting
How to Apply
This is an opportunity to be part of shaping and energizing the worship life of a large and growing community of faith eager for both depth and creativity. The right candidate will help foster a culture where music serves as a conduit for spiritual encounter, communal participation, and theological reflection.
Application: Please submit a resume and cover letter to musicsearchteam@wvuc.bc.ca. Applicants are encouraged to include links to video recordings of conducting, and performance, if available. Applicants who are shortlisted will be asked for references and will be required to complete a police information check, including vulnerable sector.