Capping off ROCO’s 14th season of “Games People Play,” our final world premiere commission pays tribute to a game blending skill, strength, and artistic expression – the sport of traditional Turkish wrestling! We sat down with composer Erberk Eryılmaz to learn more about the inspiration for his new work, and his unique journey as a musician, taking him cross-continent from his native Turkey, all the way to Texas.
Connecting through creation: a ROCOInsider Q&A with muralist Jessica Padilla
Meet the artist of ROCO’s new interactive Mini Mural, Jessica Padilla, as we explore all that went into the process of making our musical vision come to life, and discover what she loves about being an artist and art teacher.
Introducing ROCO’s New Interactive Mini Mural!
ROCO’s Mini Mural invites you into our musical world to interact with instruments of the orchestra. Share your own photos with #ROCOPlay!
Catching the tune: a ROCOInsider Q&A with trumpeter George Chase
Curated by ROCO trumpeter George Chase, discover how the program of ROCO Unchambered: Chase Sequence came together, why it’s such a challenge for the musicians, and what George finds most rewarding about arranging for the quintet – in this edition of ROCOInsider!
ROCO to perform game-changing brass piece | Houston Chronicle
A game player has three responsibilities: Gobble up the dots. Travel through the maze. Avoid the ghosts…Although the arcade game, released in 1980, wasn’t the inspiration for Chicago-based composer James Stephenson when creating “Chase Sequence,” it’s certainly a fitting analogy, particularly when Houston’s River Oaks Chamber Orchestra will perform the piece Saturday in a concert that closes its “Unchambered” series in a season titled “Games People Play.”
Season 15 Announced: Subscribe Today!
The 15th season from the innovative Houston-based professional music ensemble features a record-breaking 21 world premiere commissions, and an introspective series of concerts in which the musicians tell their coming of age stories through music.
On unexpected journeys: a ROCOInsider Q&A with composer Jim Stephenson
From orchestras, to bands, to choirs, plus soloists of almost every instrument – the music of composer Jim Stephenson has been performed by musicians of all ages, across America and the world. We are thrilled to welcome him to Houston for the world premiere of his newest work celebrating the fun hobby of model railroading – ROCOmotive!
A Note on Notes: A ROCOInsider Q&A with Mark Buller
In this installment of ROCOInsider, Audience Engagement Coordinator, Rachel Smith, sat down with ROCO’s program note writer, Mark Buller, to chat about what goes into the making of a program note.
Playing musical games: a ROCOInsider Q&A with co-principal violist Suzanne LeFevre
In this ROCOInsider, learn how co-principal violist Suzanne LeFevre crafted the program of ROCO Unchambered: Terzetto, hear why the viola is like a secret sauce, and discover why this performance is truly “music among friends!”
River Oaks CO downsizes for ambitious program with Crumb, world premiere | Texas Classical Review
Houston’s River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, unlike many larger ensembles, gives its musicians the opportunity to play chamber music.
Composing evolution: a ROCOInsider Q&A with Sapien’s Stephanie Ann Boyd
Adding to ROCO’s ever-growing body of commissions, Saturday’s ROCO Unchambered: Force of Nature features the world premiere of Sapien by Stephanie Ann Boyd, for flute, oboe, cello and piano.
Help Us Shape the Future of Classical Music – Give to our Annual Fund!
Every commission has a unique story, but they all have a similar path. ROCO commissions an average of 10 new works each season and will have performed the world premiere of nearly 80 commissioned new works by the end of the current season.
