Alecia Lawyer Appointed as First Classical Musician to Receive State of Texas’ Highest Honor in the Arts
Alecia Lawyer (Founder, Artistic Director, and Principal Oboist of ROCO) is honored by the Texas Commission on the Arts as the 2025 Texas State Classical Musician
HOUSTON, TX – May 27, 2025 – In a landmark moment for classical music in Texas, Houston-based oboist, innovator, and arts leader Alecia Lawyer has been named the 2025 Texas State Musician – Classical—the first-ever recipient of this newly established designation.
On May 26, the Texas State Legislature, in partnership with the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA), formally recognized Lawyer through a House Resolution at the Capitol. Her appointment celebrates a career dedicated to reimagining how classical music is experienced, accessed, and shared, both in Texas and around the world.
The State Musician – Classical category, codified in 2023 through Senate Bill 281, marks a major step in acknowledging the ongoing relevance of classical music in Texas’ cultural identity.
“I grew up in a small East Texas town where my parents led the local high school band and choir. Music was my first language and how I first learned to connect to the world,” said Lawyer. “Being named the inaugural classical musician by the State of Texas is deeply personal and also symbolic. It shows that classical music is not only alive in Texas—it’s evolving, expanding, and creating new ways to connect people. This recognition feels like both a milestone and a beginning, and proves what’s possible because this great state puts artists and innovation at the forefront.”
Lawyer is the founder, artistic director, and oboist of ROCO Chamber Orchestra, a 40-piece professional ensemble based in Houston that just completed its 20th season. Under her leadership, ROCO has commissioned more than 150 new works, live streamed for free since 2013 to all seven continents, and become a national model for accessibility and innovation in classical music.
While Texas may not be widely known for its classical music scene, Lawyer’s work is shifting that narrative. Through ROCO, she has helped dismantle outdated perceptions of the genre—making it vibrant, human, and boldly Texan.
“In honoring these individuals, we bring attention to the important role the arts play in shaping Texas’ cultural landscape,” said Gary Gibbs, executive director for the Texas Commission on the Arts. “These Texas State Artists are the best of the best. Their work defines our character of place and reflects the distinctive qualities that make Texas unique.”
Each Texas State Artist is selected through public nominations, reviewed by a committee appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House. Honorees serve one-year terms as official ambassadors for the arts.
Lawyer is one of ten artists named for 2025 and 2026. Other 2025 appointees include country music icon Miranda Lambert, National Book Award honoree Octavio Quintanilla, visual artist Angelbert Metoyer, and sound sculptor Steve Parker, and 2026 appointees include soprano Ana María Martinez, singer and pianist Norah Jones, poet Kevin Prufer, photographer Letitia Huckaby, and sculptor and printmaker Linda Ridgway. The Texas State Artists program is the state’s highest recognition for creative excellence.
To learn more about Alecia Lawyer, visit alecialawyer.com.
For more on the Texas State Artists program, visit arts.texas.gov.
PRESS CONTACT:
Greta Rimpo, Director of Marketing & Communications, ROCO
Email: [email protected]
Direct: 713-665-2700, Ext. 4
Leave A Reply