Allow yourself to be engulfed by the beautiful pairing of percussionist Matt McClung and violinist Maureen Nelson’s music. The ROCO performance “Stolen Moments,” taking place Feb. 12, showcases how wonderfully the two musicians and their instruments complement one another. McClung has quite the diverse musical background and has performed on numerous stages spanning the globe.…
British dance rhythms from a composer suitable for royalty
During ROCO concerts, listeners might encounter composers they’ve never heard of. Part of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra experience is to discover exceptional music that doesn’t get love in mainstream programs. A works by Welsh composer William Mathias will be featured in the upcoming ROCO Brass Quintet concerts on Jan. 27 at MATCH and Jan.…
Enriching the hospital environment: ROCO at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers
One of ROCO’s most valuable partnerships is with the Houston Zoo, the venue where we stage our yearly “Peter and the Wolf” with Interactive Theater. The performances also raise awareness about the zoo’s wolf conservation efforts. Shows at the Houston Zoo are set for Sunday, Jan. 15, at 2, 3 and 4 pm. This year, we’re…
Virtuosic music and artistic vulnerability: This and much more with Alecia Lawyer
Things you didn’t know about Alecia Lawyer: She lived in France and was a storytime docent at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Ahead of the Gallery Concerts at MFAH on Jan. 7-8, we chat with Alecia about pairing music by André Caplet, Émile Paladilhe and Stanislas Verroust with the art works currently on display as…
A cosmic experience with another ROCO world commission
ROCO’s concert “Space: The Final Playground” allows the audience to marvel at the wonder of space from a different perspective. Composer Michael Gilbertson explains the metaphors and techniques employed to create this cosmic experience. The concert takes place Nov. 18, at the Woodlands United Methodist Church and Nov. 19, at The Church of St. John…
It takes two to tango: Music with plenty of ROCO attitude
Aloysia Friedmann has graced ears around the world with her musical talent. Her career has included tours in Japan, Europe, South America and the U.S., performances with New York’s most prestigious musical ensembles and an onstage role on Broadway. On Nov. 13, Friedmann is bringing her talent as the featured artist for ROCO’s Tasting Menu event at…
A glimpse into the creative process with composer Mark Buller
Composer Mark Buller offers a glimpse into his creative process and the inner-workings that must all come together to create the final musical product that we the audience get to hear and experience. One of Buller’s compositions will be featured in ROCO’s Musical and Literary Ofrenda taking place on Nov. 1 at Lawndale Art Center.…
And a good time was had by all…
What a wonderful evening we had at our September 24th season opener and annual ROCO ROCCs dinner! Take a look at our photo gallery. All photos by Jeff Grass.
Peaceful music from a composer who lived a tragic life: From Russia with Valves
Dive into Russian culture and let the music envelop you. Jason Adams plays the trumpet in the first ROCO quintet program of the season. Jason gives more detail on Böhme and the inspiration and meaning behind this ROCO performance. “From Russia with Valves” takes place Oct. 14, at MATCH | Midtown Arts and Theater Center…
Two musical minds under one roof: Making beautiful music together
What is it like to have two musical minds under one roof? While one might expect strong competition, Cecilia and Richard Belcher complement each other wonderfully, and relish performances they play together. We caught up with spouses, who are the talented cellist and violinist in our upcoming Unchambered: Fantasy, Love and Sex(tet) performance on Oct. 9…
Do you have a special move? Pulitzer Prize winning composer dances around artistic processes
When is a work of art complete? We explore this and more in our casual interview chat with Pulitzer Prize wining composer Jennifer Higdon, whose work “Dance Card” is on the program of our “Dance Like No One’s Watching” concerts on Sept. 23-24 at Miller Outdoor Theatre and The Church of Saint John the Divine,…
From cellular to paper: Composer Reena Esmail on creativity and artful exploration
It’s nice to have friends that think highly of you. In the case of ROCO, rather than giving material presents, sometimes friends give each other musical compositions. Founder, artistic director and principal oboe Alecia Lawyer has been working alongside associate director Suzanne LeFevre for such a longtime, they decided to commission a duo from composer…
