Throughout his early years, Mr. Jason Drahos never had much interest in music—in fact, he “hated it.” That changed at the start of 8th grade when his friend Nick Adams “double-dog dared” him to join their middle school’s show choir. From that point on, he developed a deep passion for learning music, which ultimately led him to teaching. Mr. Drahos completed his studies, earning a B.A. in Music Education from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and recently obtained an MM in Choral Conducting from Northern Arizona University.
Before coming to St. Mary’s this academic year, he gained years of experience teaching at various schools overseas, including in Oman, the UAE, Singapore, and Russia. He admired St. Mary’s International School’s (SMIS) music program for its reputation and the quality of its students and staff, which drew him to the school.
Mr. Drahos strongly believes that music is special because it allows people to express their creativity, especially when collaborating with others. He enjoys working with students to help them achieve a common goal, and he finds joy in inspiring them to make music, as it creates better opportunities for their futures.
Outside of school, Mr. Drahos also loves cooking. At 14, he supported his family by working part-time in the food and service industry. He believes that teaching and cooking share similarities, as each day brings unexpected challenges in both the classroom and the kitchen. He notes, “It’s the only thing I don’t like about Tokyo so far… our tiny kitchen!”
Aside from typhoons, earthquakes, and everything being comparatively small in Japan, he appreciates the warm community at St. Mary’s and throughout Japan.