Jason Oby joined First Unitarian Universalist Church as our Interim Choral Conductor in September, 2007.

Jason has directed the choral and voice programs at Texas Southern University for the past eleven years. He has continued a long-standing tradition at TSU of producing exceptional vocal talent. Additionally, he has performed extensively as a tenor soloist in many diverse venues. His affinity for the art song literature is well known among musical circles. He holds advanced music degrees from the Manhattan School of Music and Florida State University, where he earned his doctorate in both voice and choral conducting.

His accomplishments extend to many musical administrative activities as well, both at TSU and elsewhere. Jason’s service to the musical community and the community at large is truly inspirational.

We look forward to developing connections with the organizations Jason is already involved with including TSU and the vocal recital group, Col Canto. We believe these connections can help our congregation at a time when our interests are broadening in a period of transition. The jazz department at TSU is widely acclaimed and Col Canto has garnered an ensemble of very fine musicians. We think that such connections can help to both sustain and develop the outstanding musical tradition at First Unitarian Universalist Church.

What the Critics Say

"Special praise is in order for Jason Oby's golden toned solo work…  First rate sound: sweet accurate, and flexible, a real pleasure to listen to."
                —The Washington Post

"…mellifluous…"
                —Andrew Porter, The New Yorker Magazine

"Jason Oby was perfectly poised"
                —Peter G. Davis, New York Magazine

"Jason Oby sang with religious intensity"
                —Sarasota Herald

Bio & Accomplishments

Jason Oby has performed as a soloist in opera, oratorio, and recital at venues throughout the United States, as well as in Europe and Asia. As one of the acclaimed Three Mo' Tenors, he toured this country performing excerpts from opera, Broadway, jazz, and Motown.

A past winner of the Leontyne Price Competition as well as the Sun Coast Opera Competition, he has performed operatic roles including: Leandro (Busoni's Arlechino); the Fisherman (Stravinsky's Le Rosignol); Tisiphone (Rameau's Hyppolite et Aricie- Merkin Concert Hall, NYC) Nadir (Bizet's The Pearl Fishers) Tamino Mozart's Magic Flute) Count Almaviva (Rossini's Barber of Seville-Miller Outdoor Theater, HEOG) Alfredo (Verdi's La Traviata), Don Ottavio (Mozart's Don Giovanni) under the batons of such distinguished conductors as Maestro Willie Waters (Connecticut Opera, New York City Opera), John Axelrod,(Orchestra X, Sinfonie Orchester und Theater, Lucerne) David Gilbert (Greenwich Symphony), Robert Shaw and others.

His book, "Equity in Operatic Casting as Perceived by African American Male Singers" is found in libraries throughout the U.S. and he lectures and writes scholarly articles on issues related to the Negro Spiritual.

A frequent recitalist, he is widely known for his artistic interpretations of the Art Song repertoire.

Jason Oby, is associate professor of music at Texas Southern University where he is coordinator of voice, past director of choirs and director of opera workshop.

He serves as a regular soloist and interim choir director at First United Methodist Church in downtown Houston and currently he is the choir director at First Unitarian Church in Houston.

He earned a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Degree in Voice from Manhattan School of Music in New York City and a Doctor of Music Degree from Florida State University in Tallahassee.

Jason studied choral conducting with Rodney Eichenberger and Andre Thomas and has worked professionally as a choral conductor in church and university settings for nearly 20 years. His doctoral degree in voice carries a conjunct in choral conducting as a sub-specialty