Arts e Singing Dean Jack Oros Finds Joy with the DSO Chorus

Sophia Li

When most Upper School students think of Dean of Students Jack Oros, they think of the bagel stands at the Student Center, weekly Community Time announcements or the tub of strawberry candies in his o ce.

What is less known, however, is Oros’s favorite pastime: singing.

“I have three passions: singing, cooking and teaching,” Oros said.

His love for singing began when he was just 3 years old a er he started singing at his church Vacation Bible School. From there, he went on to join the campus chorus in middle school and high school. Eventually, he became a member of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club, the principal vocal group of Purdue University.

In recent decades, in search of another singing outlet, he auditioned for the Dallas Symphony Chorus, a branch of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Unlike the orchestra, the chorus is fully composed of volunteers.

“I had been to some [Dallas Symphony Orchestra] concerts and, even though the singers are volunteers, it’s a very professional organization,” Oros said. “I auditioned and made it.”

During the 2022 holiday season, his love for singing came to life during the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Chorus’s annual Christmas Pops concert. is performance took place from Dec. 2-11 at the Meyerson Symphony Center and featured nearly a dozen performances. e concert featured a variety of classic Christmas carols, including “Believe” from “ e Polar Express,” “White Christmas”, “Silver Bells” and “Twelve Days of Christmas.” For Oros, his favorite piece to perform was “My Dancing Day, On Christmas Night” by Gary Fry.

“It’s several carols put together and the orchestration is great and the choral part is great,” he said.

To further li holiday spirits, the entire Meyerson Symphony Center features a festive backdrop at the concert, with lines of green garland, lights and two Christmas trees on the sides of the stage.

“It gets people in the spirit of the holidays,” Oros said. “A lot of people show up to the concert and it lls the seats of the Meyerson. It’s sold out a lot.”

e rehearsal process for the annual Christmas Pops concert involves weekly rehearsals on Monday nights. ese rehearsals take place at the Meyerson and last for about two hours. Closer to the concert, the singers begin rehearsing with the orchestra.

Despite the frequency of these rehearsals, Oros says they serve as a calming end to his day.

I had been to some [Dallas Symphony Orchestra] concerts and, even though the singers are volunteers, it’s a very professional organization. I auditioned and made it.”

“Singing is always relaxing,” Oros said. “Whenever I’m done with

Many Greenhill students have also found joy in working with the Dallas Symphony

“Singing with an orchestra is always super cool because you know that every voice standing alongside you and every single instrument down on stage is completely uni ed toward one goal: to create and express the music,” senior Vijay Agarwal said. “It truly takes your breath away. It’s especially challenging sometimes working at the world-class standards of groups like the DSO, but there are just once-in-a-lifetime chances to learn and adapt and experience life-changing music.”

Singing is always relaxing. Whenever I’m done with rehearsal, I feel energized.

Junior Michelle Phu agrees, saying the love for music is mutual for everyone there.

“Singing with the DSO is really special, and I’ve had the privilege to do so since Middle School,” Phu said. “I love hearing the musical talent our community has and there’s something so special in being a part of it.” e COVID-19 pandemic posed tremendous challenges to this community, disrupting rehearsal schedules, Oros said. During the pandemic, Oros says he didn’t sing for a year and a half, or he sang with masks in smaller groups. Now, everything is back to the pre-pandemic normal.

Despite any challenges, Oros says that he feels proud of the chorus’ performance.

“I think it went really well,” he said. “I always enjoy this concert.”

Junior Dhilan Patel, who watched the concert through the WFAA channel, says that the concert was of great quality, despite not being able to hear the singers live.

My favorite place we traveled to was Israel with the Israeli Philharmonic back in ’87. I’ve also sung in Germany, Spain, France, Scandinavia and Russia. There’s a lot of great opportunities to sing all over the world.”

“I thought it was really well done,” Patel said. “I thought they did a great job of making sure it sounded great on a telecast, which is sometimes hard to do, and making sure that one section didn’t drown out another. You could hear everything the way it was supposed to be heard.”

Patel also says that the concert served as a great bonding moment for his family on Christmas Eve.

“I convinced my family to watch it with me, so we all sat around the TV when Patel said. “It was one of those moments where we were all having a Christmas Eve dinner and some people watched Christmas movies and other people watched this concert. It kind of puts you in that Christmas mood.” ough a majority of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Chorus’s concerts take place in Dallas, the chorus also travels all across the world. In Oros’s 31 years with the chorus group, he has traveled to more than 10 di erent countries.

“My favorite place we traveled to was Israel with the Israeli Philharmonic back in ’87,” Oros said. “I’ve also sung in Germany, Spain, France, Scandinavia and Russia. ere’s a lot of great opportunities to sing all over the world.” rough the Dallas Symphony Chorus, Oros says he has not only found an exciting outlet to pursue his passion for singing but has also become a part of a community of likeminded singers. rough rehearsals and travels, he was able to form lasting connections with fellow chorus members.

“I’ve met two of my really close friends here,” said Oros. “I’ve known them for 30 years. ere are really good friends that you get and maintain through the years from traveling and the concerts we do.”

As a dancer and member of Greenhill band, Patel says that Oros’s passion for singing speaks to the broader importance of ne arts on campus.

“It just shows how big of an impact the ne arts have at Greenhill, whether or not students go on to pursue it a er high school,” Patel said. “Your Dean of Students is managing the students and bagels and everything, so I think it’s really cool to see someone you see on a daily basis in a non- ne arts setting have a di erent side of him that is more artistic.”