The NC Baptist Singers and Orchestra, the worship choir for NC Baptists, is taking applications for new members for the 2025-26 season as well as looking for a new male director to replace Kenny Lamm, who is stepping down from that role  to free up time for many new initiatives that will be launching later this year and early next year. Take a look at excerpts from last season to get a feel for the choir:

Application for Assistant Director

The choir has been led by both a male director and a female director for some time. The male director leads the men’s choir song, and the female director leads the ladies’ choir song. The two share conducting of the SATB songs. Another conductor leads the orchestra-only pieces.

The choir holds a two-day retreat in August (generally from Thursday morning to Friday lunch) and worship concerts on the first Monday of every month during the school year, except in December. The choir is occasionally invited to sing at the Monday night session of the Annual Meeting for North Carolina Baptists in November, substituting for a monthly worship concert.

The position is NOT a paid position, but mileage expenses, choir fees, and retreat costs are covered.

Carol Ann Forgas, our female director, will provide administrative oversight of the group.

After reviewing the required qualities of the new director below, if you are interested in applying, please complete the linked interest form, and a representative will contact you.

Position Statement

• Position requires a skilled individual, familiar with a wide variety of sacred musical
  genres.
• Requires an excellent base of musical skills and can demonstrate knowledge of sacred repertoire.
• Shall possess and demonstrate rehearsal techniques, performance ability, vocal technique, and – preferably – piano skills.
• Will collaborate with other Choral Directors/Leaders in preparing for rehearsals and concerts.
• Will need to have flexibility within the rehearsal schedule to allow for possible early arrivals.
• Most importantly, will provide spiritual leadership for team leaders and musicians. Will maintain a faith-based leadership.
• Additionally, the assistant director should:
  • Assist in the selection of musical repertoire for the choir in general, and the men’s choir
    specifically.
  • Cooperatively collaborate for upcoming concerts and retreats
  • Assist as needed with set-up
  • Communicate effectively with Choir Leadershi

Application to Join the Choir or Orchestra

Due to space limitations in our host churches, we must limit the size of the NCBSO. The number of new people admitted this year will be somewhat dependent on current members who will not be continuing with the NCBSO.

Applications accepted May 12 – June 16. Applicants will be notified by June 20.

All members must be affiliated with a NC Baptist Church affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of N.C.

Priority for membership will be given to (1) the primary worship leader (worship pastor, minister of music, etc.), (2) other paid worship staff, (3) denominational/college/seminary leaders, then (4) other participants in worship ministries of NC Baptist churches. All applicants will submit an audition mp3, a written testimony and a recommendation from the candidate’s church primary worship leader (we have a form for them to fill out). If we determine space is limited in the group, who is admitted may depend upon what parts are needed to fill out the choir and orchestra as well as the audition/recommendations results. The date a person registers in this period will also weigh in on admission decisions if space is limited. The date a prospect completes their application materials will be noted.

Note that orchestra members may also sing with the choir when they are not playing. You can choose to be an orchestra member, choir member, or both.

All interested people must first read the membership guidelines and agree to accept these (all four pages).

Before you submit your application, you must prepare the following items:

1. Read all four pages of the guidelines above. You must agree to the guidelines in this document to be a member of the NCBSO. You can download a copy here.
2. If you are NOT the primary worship leader on staff of your church, you must ask him or her to fill out a recommendation form. You can have this done before application submission opens on May 13. Send this link to them and ask them to fill it out ASAP: lamm.fyi/recommend
3. If you want to be a singing member of the group, record yourself singing Amazing Grace and have an mp3 ready to upload when you submit your application. You can sing the melody in a key good for your voice or sing your voice part, if not soprano, or both–your choice.
4. If you want to play in the orchestra, you will need to record yourself playing your instrument–a familiar part or solo–and have an mp3 ready to upload when you submit your application.
5. If you want to BOTH sing and play in the orchestra, you should do a vocal AND instrumental recording and upload both files.
6. Prepare a written testimony that includes your sense of calling to be involved in worship ministry and upload it in PDF format during your application process.
7. You need a headshot pic to upload with your application.

BEFORE YOU CLICK BELOW TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION, YOU MUST HAVE YOUR AUDITION MP3s, YOUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY (PDF FORMAT) AND YOUR HEADSHOT PIC READY TO UPLOAD

Application submission opens on May 12, 2025. Deadline June 16.