ROCO
Shaping the Future of Classical Music through Energizing, Modernizing, and Personalizing the Concert Experience
Core Values: The ABCs of ROCO
ROCO is a dynamic, innovative professional chamber orchestra that flexes from 1 to 40 players from all over the US and Canada, with guest conductors from around the world.
Performing intimate concerts in dozens of venues, ROCO’s musicians do not just give concerts — they challenge preconceptions, create extraordinary experiences and foster new relationships with audiences through the language of music.
With over 128 world premieres to date, ROCO is one of the most prolific commissioning organizations in the US. A study in 2019 by the Institute for Composer Diversity found that ROCO was the #1 ensemble in the US performing works by women and #2 for composers of color. ROCO’s debut album, Visions Take Flight, was recognized with a GRAMMY® Award for Producer of the Year, Blanton Alspaugh.
ROCO embraces technology for the purpose of connection with free worldwide concert livestreams and real-time artist commentary via the ROCO Houston app, as well as on-demand audio and video recordings of past concerts via popular music streaming services and our own Listening Room. A vital part of the community, ROCO performances are shared with nursing homes and hospitals through concert DVDs to bring music to those immobile communities. The unique ROCOrooters music education and childcare program attracts multigenerational audiences. Empowering ROCO musicians with the ability to curate their own concerts and connecting them personally to composers and donors is just one of the many reasons ROCO is known as an “arts disruptor” and “trailblazer.”
ROCO’s Founding
Known as “the most fun you can have with serious music,” ROCO was founded in 2005 by oboist and Juilliard graduate, Alecia Lawyer. After multiple experiences in other musical start-ups, she saw the need for a sustainable and thriving model that would focus on authentic connections between musicians and audiences. Her work of “Wildcatting in the Arts” has expanded through a vibrant and multi-talented team that has made ROCO known for its dedication to living and diverse composers, multigenerational audiences, and free access to classical music for all.
