"I am still learning." - Michelangelo

I have many passions in life... Music. Technology. Learning. Health. Politics. Sociology. The future...

This site is meant to serve as an online aggregate of these passions, and the projects and businesses that I am inolved in that surround these passions.

Everything I do in life is with heart and dedication to being the best I can be.

Feel free to puruse at your leisure or drop me a line at jason [at] jason-omara.com if you need to get in touch with me. Thanks for stopping by!

With Love,
Jason

Technical Bio

My interest in tech was born in 2005 during what turned out to be a life-changing phone call with my good friend and fellow musician, Neil Shah. Looking to make a drastic career change from education to technology, Neil suggested that I explore web design.

That year, while still employed as a full-time school teacher and university professor, I began a rigorous self-education program in web design and development technologies. The following year, after working for a short time as a part-time web design freelancer, I made the leap from full-time educator to full-time freelance web designer/developer.

In 2007, I was hired by a Philadelphia-based advertising agency as a web developer. Here I was involved in providing client-side and server-side project development, systems architecture, UI/UX design and technical leadership for a wide range of web projects. I was a large contributor to the develpment of the agency's coding standards, SEO policy planning and implementation, and internal web development practices. Additionally, I worked closely with project management and sales to determine planning, budgeting, and scheduling for a majority of their web software development projects.

In October of 2010, I left my full-time position at the agency and founded Philadelphia-based web firm Roja Interactive. I currently serves as founder and CTO of Roja Interactive where I work closely with businesses and organizations to build better user experiences and develop ways to help them grow through digital advertising.

My frontend development skills include CSS, HTML/XHTML/HTML5, JavaScript, and AJAX. My backend development skills include developing and managing a wide range of database-driven applications using PHP/MySQL and ColdFusion/MSSQL.

I am detail-oriented, understand web usability and accessibility, can juggle multiple projects simultaneously, and am always committmented to excellence.

Some of My Skills Include...

• Project Management and Budgeting
• Web Software Systems Architecture
• Database Design
• UX Design
• Graphic Design
• Frontend Development
• Backend Development
• Search Engine Optimization
• Digital Marketing

Musical Bio

A Philadelphia native, Jason O’Mara performs and teaches throughout the Philadelphia area. He keeps a busy schedule working as a freelance saxophonist, clarinetist, flautist, oboist, composer, arranger, producer, and sometimes session musician.

Embracing the challenge of musical versatility, Jason performs and records in a wide variety of musical contexts including regional orchestras, jazz ensembles, musical theater productions, salsa bands, and pop bands. He has shared the stage with many notable performers including Natalie Cole, Frankie Valli, Wayne Newton, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Teddy Pendergrass, Randy Brecker, James Moody, The O’Jays, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and the Temptations. Jason has subbed on a North American tour with The Midtown Men (made up of the original cast of the Jersey Boys) and can be seen on "Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia", a live DVD concert of Philadelphia’s most notable R&B performers produced by PBS and Sony records.

Jason has performed with the Bay-Atlantic Symphony, the Lancaster Symphony, and the Trenton Symphony. He has been a part of the Mellon Jazz Festival, The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, the Main Line Jazz Festival, and the Cape May Jazz Festival. He has performed at concert venues throughout the tri-state area, including Carengie Hall, The Kimmel Center, The Merriam Theater, The Fillmore, Zanzibar Blue, Chris' Jazz Cafe, World Cafe Live, LaRose's, Brooklyn Bowl, and numerous Atlantic City casinos. He is a founding member of the Lars Halle Jazz Orchestra, the Philly Big Band, and the New Jersey Saxophone Quartet, with whom he has performed throughout the tri-state area, in Europe, and most recently, Carnegie Hall.

Currently Jason is a regular member of Nik Greeley & the Operators (funk/rock band), Jack Saint Clair Orchestra (big band), Elvis Bonilla Y Su Orquesta (salsa band), and The New Jersey Saxophone Quartet, and IQRAM (afro-pop band). When Jason is not performing as a sideman, he can be found leading The Jason O'Mara Group throughout the Philadelphia area.

Bands (Past and Current)

• Nik Greeley & the Operators
• IQRAM
• Jack Saint Clair Orchestra
• New Jersey Saxophone Quartet
• All About Me
• Puzzlebox
• Elvis Bonilla Y Su Orquesta
• The Jason O'Mara Group
• Hybrid
• Swift Technique

Performance Experience

Opera and Theater Experience

Jason has performed in several operas and over 100 musical theater productions as a woodwind doubler throughout the Philadelphia area, including The Kimmel Center, Merriam Theater, Prince Music Theater, Arden Theater, and Media Theater.

Educational Experience

Jason has held faculty positions at almost a dozen different education institutions. He is currently a faculty member of the Temple University Community Music Scholars Program (saxophone and jazz studies), where for over 10 years he has committed himself to providing enriching educational and musical opportunities to the young students of the great city of Philadelphia.

Past Faculty Positions

• Faculty, Immaculata University
• Faculty, Germantown Friends School
• Founder and principal teacher for flute, oboe, clarinet, and saxophone studios, Bucks County Woodwind Studio
• Faculty, Univ. of the Arts Summer Jazz Program
• Substitute faculty, University of the Arts
• Substitute faculty, Temple University
• Faculty, Bucks County Community College Saxophone Workshop
• Assistant director, Philadelphia High School Grammy Band
• Director of woodwinds, Kennedy-Kenrick High School
• Saxophone and clarinet teacher, The George School
• Private woodwind teacher, Music and Arts Center, Horsham, PA
• Director of Jazz Ensemble, Bensalem High School
• Director of woodwinds, Conwell-Egan High School
• Private woodwind teacher, The Music Workshop
• Assistant director, Marian Anderson Award High School Jazz Ensemble