Listening Room
Upcoming Performances
Works by Women
A compilation of works by female composers from the ROCO archives. ROCO was the number one programmer of female composers…
ROCO Team Favorites: Classics
We took an office poll, and here are our team's favorite classic works from our Listening Room, compiled to brighten…
ROCO Team Favorites: Commissions
We took an office poll, and here are our team's favorite ROCO Commissioned World Premieres, compiled to brighten your day…
ROCO Team Favorites: Composers of Color
A compilation of music created by composers from historically underrepresented groups. ROCO was the number two programmer of works by composers of color in the 2019 concert season, per the Institute for Composer Diversity .
Past Performances
ROCO Connections: Mixed Messages (October 2021)
ROCO’s Connections series opened October 9 with “Mixed Messages”, a celebration of World Post Day—live from Houston’s downtown cultural campus,…
ROCO In Concert: Bursting at the Seams (September 2021)
ROCO’s In Concert series, showcasing the full 40-piece orchestra, opened on September 25 with “Bursting at the Seams” at The Church of St. John the Divine, and livestreamed at ROCO.org, Facebook, and YouTube.
ROCO In Concert: Flamenco (April 2021)
ROCO's 16th season concluded with livestreamed flair on April 24, 2021 in “Flamenco”, featuring the world premiere of "The History of Red", a co-commission by Reena Esmail based on a text by Chickasaw poet Linda Hogan, with soprano Kathryn Mueller as soloist.
ROCO Connections: Journey to America (March 2021)
ROCO’s Connections series concluded on March 11, 2021, livestreamed in partnership with Holocaust Museum Houston, and featuring a world premiere from Afghan composer Milad Yousufi, co-commissioned by ROCO and the Winsor Music Consortium.
ROCO Unchambered: Blackbird (March 2021)
ROCO’s musician-curated Unchambered series concluded for the season with the ROCO Brass Quintet, streamed live from MATCH (Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston).
ROCO In Concert: Shadows (February 2021)
Continuing their sixteenth season, ROCO explored the interplay of light and dark in “Shadows”. Built around a commission by Alyssa Morris, Tlapalli Tlahuilli was inspired by an Aztec myth detailing how the world received its sound and color.
ROCO Connections: Celebration of Margaret Bonds (February 2021)
The Connections series continued via livestream in February, with an intimate concert featuring the music of Margaret Bonds—one of the most prolific Black composers of the 1900s—plus works by composers who influenced or were influenced by her, including Florence Price, Ned Rorem, and Robert Owens.
ROCO Unchambered: Kaleidoscope (February 2021)
ROCO’s musician-curated Unchambered series continued via livestream with a nature-inspired program featuring ROCO’s Principal Winds and two world premiere commissions by Composer-in-Residence, Alyssa Morris.
ROCO In Concert: Oceans (November 2020)
ROCO's fully live-streamed 16th season continued on November 14, 2020 from The Church of St. John the Divine with “Oceans”, a nature-inspired program featuring the orchestra—conductorless!
ROCO Unchambered: Love Notes (October 2020)
Love Notes, a livestreamed performance, kicked off ROCO’s Season 16 Unchambered series in a nature-inspired program of beauty, respite, and reflection, featuring flutist Rebecca Powell Garfield, oboist Spring Hill, and harpist Laurie Meister.
ROCO In Concert: Starburst (September 2020)
ROCO’s In Concert series, which showcases the full 40-piece orchestra in livestreamed performances, lifted off September 26, 2020 from the…
ROCOrooters
Activity Pages & Playlist Hi! We’re so glad you’re here! We wanted to make some of our previous ROCOrooters content…
ROCO Connections: We Were the Music (March 2020)
ROCO was honored to partner with the Holocaust Museum Houston, marking the recent reopening of their expanded new building, with “We Were the Music” – a chamber concert featuring the world premieres of two ROCO commissions by Bruce Adolphe, part of his season triptych in tribute to female musicians of the Holocaust.
ROCO In Concert: Beauty is in the Eye (February 2020)
ROCO’s In Concert series continued with “Beauty is in the Eye” on February 8, 2020. The performance featured the premiere…
ROCO Connections: Age of Aquarius (January 2020)
The Age of Aquarius was reimagined at Rienzi on January 30, 2020, as ROCO explored the music of the 70s - that is, 1770s, 1870s, and 1970s!
ROCO In Concert: Hope for Beauty (November 2019)
ROCO presented “Hope for Beauty”, featuring the premiere of Bruce Adolphe’s full chamber orchestra piece "I Too Bleed, and Hope…
ROCO Unchambered: Morsels (November 2019)
Experience a musical tasting menu of string quartets, curated by ROCO concertmaster, Scott St John, in ROCO Unchambered: Morsels, from November 2, 2019.
ROCO Unchambered: Flair (October 2019)
ROCO’s Unchambered series started on October 19, 2019 with clarinetists Nathan Williams and Maiko Sasaki, accompanied by pianist Colette Valentine,…
ROCO In Concert: Time for Hope (September 2019)
ROCO’s In Concert series, which showcases the full 40-piece orchestra, kicked off at The Church of St. John the Divine…
ROCO In Concert: The Wrestler (May 2019)
The final concert of the In Concert series, "The Wrestler", featured the world premiere of Erberk Eryılmaz’s Wrestling Airs for Two…
ROCO Unchambered: Chase Sequence (April 2019)
ROCO's Unchambered series closed on April 6, 2019 at MATCH with the ROCO Brass Quintet performing Chase Sequence, James Stephenson's work where…
ROCO In Concert: Ticket to Ride (February 2019)
Travel around Europe by rail with “Ticket to Ride,” beginning with Jim Stephenson’s musical tribute to miniature trains, ROCOmotive. Conductor…
ROCO Unchambered: Force of Nature (December 2018)
ROCO's principal flute, Brook Ferguson, was featured on "ROCO Unchambered: Force of Nature”. The December 8, 2018 concert showcased nature-themed…
ROCO In Concert: Queen of Hearts (November 2018)
The all-female-composer program “Queen of Hearts” continued the In Concert series on November 17, 2018, with ROCO favorite Mei-Ann Chen…
ROCO: Visions Take Flight
For ROCO's debut album, it was important for the selection of works to be a collaborative process. We surveyed our musicians and asked them to select their favorite pieces from ROCO's repertoire over our first twelve seasons. Given our long history of commissioning, it was not surprising that five of our then fifty-eight world premiere commissions rose to the top. The recording session were originally scheduled for August 2017 in the Texas Hill Country, just outside of Houston. Unfortunately, Hurricane Harvey struck just days before, resulting in an eight month delay of the project. The sixth piece, Anthem of Hope: Houston Strong, commissioned in honor of the resiliency of the Houston community in the wake of the storm, was added to complete the story of the album.
ROCO In Concert: Checkmate (September 2018)
ROCO’s In Concert series, which features the full 40-piece orchestra and live-streamed performances, kicked off September 22, 2018 with the…
ROCO Unchambered: Magical Inspirations (April 2018)
The Season 13 "Unchambered" series concluded April 8, 2018, at Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (MATCH) with "Magical Inspirations".…
ROCO In Concert: Legendary Love – Conductorless! (February 2018)
Concertmaster Scott St. John lead from the chair during ROCO’s annual conductorless concert. "Legendary Love" was the name of the…
ROCO In Concert: Courageous Catalysts (November 2017)
Continuing its 13th season, ROCO presented “Courageous Catalysts”, featuring a new commission by Michael Gandolfi. The new work, entitled "Houston:…
ROCO Unchambered: Nik-NAK (October 2017)
ROCO’s Season 13 “Unchambered” series opened with “Nik-NAK” on October 8 at the Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston. Following…
Anthem of Hope: Houston Strong
Originally commissioned in response to the city's resilience after Harvey, ROCO's signature piece is now a balm for COVID times.…
ROCO In Concert: To the Beat of a Different Drummer (September 2017)
ROCO launched its 2017-18 “In Concert” series with “To the Beat of a Different Drummer”. The program featured the world…
ROCO In Concert: Double Trouble (April 2017)
ROCO's Season 12 “In Concert” series came to a close with “Double Trouble”. The concert was led by conductor Steven…
ROCO In Concert: People are People – Conductorless! (February 2017)
ROCO continued its 2016-2017 season with “People are People - Conductorless!”. Grammy-nominated violinist, Andrés Cárdenes, returned as concertmaster to lead…
ROCO In Concert: Space – The Final Playground (November 2016)
ROCO continued its 2016-2017 season with “Space: The Final Playground.” The program featured the Texas premiere of a new ROCO…
ROCO In Concert: Dance Like No One’s Watching (September 2016)
ROCO launched its 2016–2017 season with a program entitled “Dance Like No One’s Watching”. Mei-Ann Chen conducted, Scott St. John…
ROCO In Concert: Sliding Into Home (April 2016)
“Sliding Into Home” brought ROCO's 2015-2016 In Concert series to a close with a world premiere performance of Servant of…
ROCO In Concert: Matchmaking – Conductorless! (February 2016)
ROCO’s annual conductorless concert featured works in which the orchestra is subdivided. Concertmaster and violin soloist Scott St. John lead…
ROCO In Concert: Pacific Crossings (November 2015)
East meets West in “Pacific Crossings” as conductor Edwin Outwater leads ROCO in a Kyo-Shin-An Arts and ROCO co-commissioned world…
ROCO In Concert: Gitcha Groove On! (September 2015)
Pairing disparate musical styles like jazz and classical, “Gitcha Groove On!” takes its name from ROCO’s 44th world premiere commission…
ROCO In Concert: Notes to be Written (April 2015)
ROCO's Season 10 Finale, Notes to be Written, features the world premiere of the ROCO commission, From Dusk to Starry…
ROCO In Concert: Mutual Affection – Conductorless! (February 2015)
ROCO's Mutual Affection - Conductorless! features concertmaster Cho-Liang Lin and composer Derek Bermel, premiering Murmurations, a National Chamber Orchestra Commissioning…
ROCO In Concert: Serious Fun (November 2014)
Serious Fun, ROCO’s 2014-2015 November 8th Concert performed at The Church of Saint John the Divine, boasts the ROCO commissioned…
ROCO In Concert: Once Upon a Time (September 2014)
ROCO’s 2014-2015 Season Opener, Once Upon A Time, takes the audience on the whimsical journey through Benjamin Britten’s Suite on…
ROCO In Concert: ROCO Celebrates France (April 2014)
ROCO’s 2013-2014 Season Finale, ROCO Celebrates France, featured Alastair Willis, conductor, and Kristin Wolfe Jensen, bassoon soloist. The concert showcased…
ROCO In Concert: ROCO Celebrates Austria – Conductorless! (February 2014)
ROCO Celebrates Austria, our Season Nine conductorless concert, featured Andrés Cárdenes as concertmaster and soloist. This concert showcased all the…
ROCO In Concert: ROCO Celebrates Asia (September 2013)
ROCO's Season Nine Opener boasts exotic works by Reena Esmail (Teen Murti for String Orchestra), Huang Ruo (Folk Songs for…
ROCO In Concert: Big Bang! (April 2013)
ROCO topped off its 2012-2013 season with “Big Bang!”, an action-packed program featuring the Houston premiere of a co-commissioned double…
ROCO In Concert: A Timeless Feast – Conductorless! (February 2013)
ROCO's Season Eight concert, A Timeless Feast and Brandenburg No. 2, features a bountiful array of Baroque works! Bach's famous…
ROCO In Concert: Musical Mélange and Organ Solo (November 2012)
ROCO in Concert: Musical Mélange and Organ Solo featured organ soloist Paul Jacobs, playing Felix-Alexandre Guilmant’s Symphony No.1 in D…
ROCO In Concert: Fiesta! (October 2012)
ROCO's Season Eight Opener features the orchestra under the baton of conductor Josep Caballé-Domenech. The program included Juan Crisostomo Arriaga's…
ROCO In Concert: April 2012
ROCO’s Seventh Season was “a fusion of cultures and generations". The April Season Finale featured Grammy-nominated guest conductor, Alastair Willis,…
ROCO In Concert: October 2011
ROCO’s Seventh Season was “a fusion of cultures and generations". The Season Opener featured Guest Conductor, Mei-Ann Chen, conducting Martinů’s…
ROCO In Concert: April 2011
The Season Six Finale featured guest conductor, Robert Moody, and ROCO principal clarinetist, Nathan Williams, performing the Copland Clarinet Concerto.…
Conductorless! February 2011
Our Season Six Conductorless Valentine Concert was full of surprises! Featuring Haydn's Symphony No. 94, "Surprise", Dvořák's Serenade for Winds,…
ROCO In Concert: October 2010
ROCO’s Season Six Opener featured guest conductor, JoAnn Falletta, conducting Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3, "Scottish", Ligeti’s Concert Românesc, and the…
ROCO In Concert: April 2010
ROCO’s Season Five Finale featured guest conductor, Robert Moody, and the world premiere of Brad Sayles’ Buffalo Bayou Suite, which…
Conductorless! February 2010
ROCO’s Season Five Conductorless! concert was presented on Valentine’s weekend and included Gordon Jacob’s Old Wine in New Bottles and…
ROCO In Concert: October 2009
ROCO’s 2009-2010 Season Opener featured guest conductor, Joel Smirnoff, and ROCO concertmaster, Brian Lewis, performing the much-beloved Mendelssohn Violin Concerto…
ROCO In Concert: April 2009
ROCO’s Season Four Finale featured Grammy-nominated guest conductor, Alastair Willis, and the world premiere of Carter Pann’s Mercury Flute Concerto,…
Conductorless! 2009
ROCO’s Season Four Conductorless! concert featured ROCO Principal Horn, Danielle Kuhlmann, performing Schmitt’s Lied et Scherzo, Op. 54. Also on…
ROCO In Concert: October 2008
ROCO’s Season Four Opener featured guest conductor, JoAnn Falletta, and ROCO harpist, Molly Marcuson, performing Handel’s Concerto for Harp, op.…
ROCO In Concert: May 2008
ROCO’s Season Three Finale featured guest conductor, Joel Smirnoff, and the world premiere of Brad Sayles’ Echoes of Invention, with…
Conductorless! February 2008
Featuring its own principals as soloists, ROCO’s season three Conductorless! concert featured Enescu's Decet for Winds, Holst's St. Paul's Suite,…
ROCO In Concert: November 2007
ROCO's Season Three Opener featured Kristin Wolfe Jensen in Vivaldi's Concerto in C Major for Bassoon and Strings, as well…
ROCO In Concert: May 2007
Guest conductor Edwin Outwater led ROCO in its Season Two Finale, which featured J.C. Bach's Symphony in B-flat major, op.…
ROCO In Concert: February 2007
This Season Two performance featured guest conductor, Daniel Myssyk, and ROCO principal percussionist, Matthew McClung, in Alan Hovhannes' Fantasy on…
ROCO In Concert: May 2006
The Finale Concert of ROCO's Inaugural Season featured works by Derek Bermel, Debussy, Haydn, Mozart, Ravel, and Rimsky-Korsakov. Conducted by…
ROCO In Concert: February 2006
ROCO's first-ever Valentine's Concert featured conductor Tanya Ratner, as well as concertmaster, Brian Lewis, and principal oboist, Alecia Lawyer, in…
ROCO In Concert: November 2005
In its inaugural concert, ROCO welcomed guest conductor Scott Yoo, and featured its own principal flutist, Christina Jennings. The program…
