MUSIC COMMITTEE CHARTER
General Purpose: The Music Committee’s primary purpose is to provide leadership in and coordination
of our Congregation’s music ministry. To this end this committee will advise and suppo rt our music
program and the Music Director, nurturing, educating, and inspiring our 1st UU musicians to create
dynamic and transformative music ministries.
Leadership and Membership: The Board of Trustees appoints the Music Committee Chair who is a
member of our Congregation, and that chair recruits the additional members. The membership of the
Music Committee is to reflect different segments of our Congregation (for examp le, not just the choir).
Membership of the Music Committee shall consist of:
the Music Committee Chair, two members of the choir, one or more instrumentally talented members,
preferably from the 1st UU jazz band, two or more members of the Congregation at large, preferably
one an RE parent the Music Director, ex officio
Specific Duties:
The Music Committee Chair will recruit the other members of the Music Committee, conduct regular
meetings of the Music Committee, provide regular email reports of our music ministry to the Council,
represent the Music Committee at meetings of the Council and the Sanctuary SeNices team, prepare an
annual report of our music ministry to the Congregation in the spring, maintain an annual
Congregational membership in the· UU Musicians Network to keep us aware of UU musical resources
and information, and share this information with appropriate Congregational members. See
http://www25 .uua.org/uumn/index.htm1
The entire Music Committee will serve as advisors on all musical activities in the Congregation, work in
harmony with the Minister and other staff members to assure a collaborative worship environment.
serve as a liaison between the Congregation and the Music Director, conduct an annual evaluation and
assessment of the Music Director and of the music program, and provide that assessment to the
Personnel Committee at the time asked, provide oversight of our summer music program, seNe as the
search committee when a Music Director vacancy occurs, if so requested by the Boa rd,
Duties for the music program and personnel: nurture and support our Music Director and our other
musicians, work with the Music Director t o develop and implement our music program, balancing
quality and economy advise and assist the Music Director and Min ister in developing our Congregation’s
skill and pleasure in singing a canon of UU hymns, encourage appropriate diversity in the special music
for our worship services , both in performers and in selections, assist in coordinating with UU jazz band
for occasional Sunday seNices, look for, and utilize in our services, the musical talent of members of our
Congre ga tion as well as of area musicia ns, encourage ad hoc choirs or other musical groups to expand
the musical experiences available to adult musicians, find ways to nurture our children’s music program.Miscellaneous tasks: assist the Music Director with time-saving tasks such as putting sheet music in
choir binders and filing music in appropriate filing cabinets, work with the Music Director in building and
maintaining an invento ry of the church’s music library, upholding the ethic that it is illegal to copy any
music in order to avoid purchase, periodically assess the quantity and quality of our Congregation’s
hymnals, making appropriate recommendations when desirable, periodically asses s our musical
instruments–primarily our pianos, making appropriate recommendations when desirable.
Annual Objectives: Unitarian Universalists consider music to be an important component of spiritual
practice. The MCC’s annual goal is to provide music for our Sunday services that complement the
sermon, inspire and uplift our members and friends, and reflect our commitment to diversity.
Outcome Measurements: Numbers in choir and other musical groups, satisfaction levels as measured in
Congregational discussions and surveys.
Annual Budget and Spending Authorities: This committee provides oversight, along with the Music
Director, of the Music Budget, which– in addition to the MD’s salary– contains funds for supplies, guest
musicians, piano tuning and maintenance, and our summer music program.
Authorities Reserved to the Board: The allocation of the Music budget is reserved to the purview of the
Board.
Reporting requirements: The Music Committee Chair regularly attends Council meetings, provides
written reports to the Council when requested, and submits an Annual Report to the Congregation.
Relationship to Professional Staff: The Music Committee works in harmony with the Music Director, the
Minister, the DRE, and the Office Administrator to provide smooth operation of our Congregation’s
music ministry.
Adopted 1/15/2013