ROCO is Houston’s deeply local, globally impactful 40-piece professional chamber orchestra with musicians and guest artists from around the globe. Livestreaming for free since 2013, our concerts have reached all seven continents. ROCO is one of the most prolific commissioning organizations in the US, reaching 150 world premieres, presented alongside classics and rarely-heard gems. Performing in over 75 venues in Houston, our multigenerational and multimedia-enhanced experiences are offered with a Pay-What-You-Wish ticketing model, made possible through 98% of our income being donated by a vast portfolio of supporters.
Known for our use and integration of technology, ROCO invites you to turn ON your phones and iPads in the concert hall to not only view our digital program, but also to see the sheet music and interact with our content in real time. ROCO’s innovative and sector-changing ROCO on the Go! initiative weaves music through the community with QR codes on signs installed in Houston’s parks, hospitals, and schools, now with over 55,000 scans—linking to recordings from our vast library of past performances, providing access for all.
Live audio recordings from concerts are regularly broadcast nationally on American Public Media’s Performance Today show and are available for free listening in ROCO’s own Listening Room as well as through all popular music streaming services. The Donne Foundation’s most recent global report ranked ROCO as second internationally to the BBC Symphony in programming works by women and composers of color. And ROCO’s debut album, Visions Take Flight, was recognized with a GRAMMY® Award for Producer of the Year, Blanton Alspaugh.
Cultivating a multigenerational audience, ROCOrooters music education and childcare program offers a concert and night out for caregivers. The Nightingale, ROCO’s newly published children’s book, offers unprecedented delivery of interactive music and narration.
Shaping the Future of Classical Music
Accessibility
Accessibility reflects ROCO’s commitment to achieving impactful and inviting relationships with our community through a welcoming engagement philosophy and thoughtful artistic content and delivery mechanisms.
Boldness
Boldness reflects ROCO’s commitment to adventurous leadership; curiosity, creativity, and innovation in both artistry and engagement; musical, technical, and administrative excellence; and the financial strength, discipline, and transparency proven to sustain success.
Connection
Connection reflects ROCO’s commitment to building every element of its mission on a foundation of individual relationships among musicians, audiences, composers, donors, staff, directors, and partners, predicated on a deep-seated hope that this is fun for everyone involved!
