More about Jason
Hover or click on the photos for more information about the various aspects of my musical activity.
St. John’s Cathedral is a vibrant faith community that supports worship, the arts, and relationships. It has been my privilege to be entrusted with building a strong and diverse music program encompassing singers of all ages, a wide spectrum of liturgies from Holy Eucharist to Evensong and Compline, and collaborations with outside organizations such as the Big Ears Music Festival.
St. john’s cathedral
Working with the Primary and Treble choristers is a highlight of my work at the Cathedral. Passing along the great Anglican tradition of musical liturgy and giving a new generation the gift of understanding and connecting with our worship is inspiring and humbling. We are fortunate to have such enthusiastic, industrious young musicians (and their dedicated families)!
treble choir
In addition to working with the Cathedral Choir, I direct Orison, an ensemble specializing in plainsong and polyphonic works based on chant. We have presented several services of Compline following the Sarum Rite and have explored Continental repertoire as well, such as Johannes Ockeghem’s masterful Requiem. Training these singers on sophisticated interpretation of tradition neume (square-note) notation has opened a window to a repertoire we can uniquely offer to the Knoxville community.
orison
Most of the work of a Director of Music is in teaching and inspiring singers, elevating their musicianship and enabling them to achieve ever higher standards of music making. St. John’s Cathedral is fortunate to have highly talented singers in our program, and it is a joy to work with them, challenge them to new levels, and enjoy the camaraderie created by shared performance experiences.
choir training and CONDUCTING
St. John’s Cathedral is fortunate to have members of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra join us for special events including extended preludes on Christmas Eve featuring selections from Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and others. It is a pleasure to conduct these musicians, and their enthusiasm for working with us is gratifying. These relationships are strengthened by further connections with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, and I have been fortunate to appear with them as organist, harpsichordist, and cover conductor.
St. John’s Cathedral participated in a commissioning consortium for this elegant setting of the canticles for Evensong. We enjoyed working with Oliver Tarney in premiering this Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, and it has become one of the choir’s favorite evening services.
Every week I record a short explanation of the liturgy and music of our services, and these videos are shared with the Cathedral email update and broadcast before the livestream of the service.
Writing music has been an important part of my activity throughout my career. I frequently supply music for Cathedral liturgies, often writing anthems for the choir. Composing concert works is of equal interest, and in 2024 my first opera was performed in Knoxville to capacity audiences.
Quartet for Oboe and Strings, 1st Movement
Anthem Holy Spirit, Truth Divine, composed by Jason Overall.
Recorded in the Lady Chapel of Ely Cathedral, June 2022.
Fanfare for Trumpet and Organ by Jason Overall
Performed by Chase Hawkins, trumpet & Jason Overall, organ