A Musician By Any Other Title
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A colleague and I were discussing the many and varied titles assigned, chosen, and used by church musicians in the churches they serve. It used to be simpler. If you directed the choir, your title was choir director. If your served in a large church and you were responsible for a number of choirs, you were the music director.
Later, when the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) became involved in educating, training, and certifying church musicians, they used three titles:
- Minister of Music: ordained, degreed music directors
- Director of Music: laity, degreed music directors
- Associate in Music: laity, non-degreed music directors
All three of the above titles had specific requirements of membership, experience, and education to meet the certification.
Today GBHEM continues to certify church musicians, but has done away with its official titles. In addition, churches and church musicians have begun to use many different titles, sometimes reflective of the work to be done, sometimes reflective of the talents and gifts of the musician.
I recently surveyed the Methodist Musicians Listserv and asked what titles are being used by church musicians who are employed or volunteer to lead music and worship in the congregation. The 109 responses are below. Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of responses for that title.
Music Director (14) | Church Organist and Pianist |
Director of Music (12) | Clergy for Worship, Music and Technology |
Director of Music Ministries (7) | Director of Choir and Worship Arts |
Minister of Music (6) | Director of Music & Liturgical Arts |
Choir Director (4) | Director of Music and Fine Arts Ministries |
Director of Music and Organist (4) | Director of Music and Media |
Organist (4) | Director of Music and Worship Arts |
Director of Music Ministry (2) | Director of Music and Worship Arts Ministries |
Organist-Choirmaster (2) | Director of Music Celebration Service |
Pianist (2) | Director of Music Ministry and Worship |
Praise Band Director (2) | Director of Music Resources |
Worship Leader (2) | Director of Sacred Arts |
Adult Choir Director | Director of Traditional Music Ministries |
Associate Pastor | Director of Worship and Music Ministries |
Associate Pastor of Worship and Christian Education | Director of Worship and Technology |
Chancel Choir Director | Director of Worship Arts |
Handbell Director | |
Minister of Music & Worship Arts | Praise Team Coordinator |
Minister of Music and Resident Organist | Praise Team Leader |
Minister of Music and Worship | "Prays" Band Director |
Minister of Worship | Senior Choir Members |
Music Coordinator | Song Leader |
Music Leader | Traditional Choir Director |
Music Minister | Worship and Music Arts Committee Member |
Musician | |
Organist/Director of Contemporary Worship Music | Worship Pastor |
Organist/Director of Music | Worship Team Leader |
Organist/Pianist Worship Committee | Worship Team Member |
Pastor | Youth & Children's Choir Director |
Youth Handbell Director |
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