ROCO offers a new take on an October tradition with its inaugural Musical Trick-or-Treat, where instead of candy being the reward at the door, it’s a musical performance. Audience members will travel in groups to four different historic Heritage Society homes. At each stop, they will hear a short piece of music performed by a single musician.
Anthem of Hope: Houston Strong
Helping Houston heal from Harvey, ROCO commissioned Emmy Award-winning composer, Anthony DiLorenzo, to write Anthem of Hope: Houston Strong as a tribute to the city’s resilience. The two-minute fanfare honors the strength, caring, and courage our community showed the world, both during initial rescue efforts, and now in recovery. The new work received its world…
ROCO November 2017 Concerts
ROCO continues their In Concert series by honoring Veterans’ Day on November 11 with “Courageous Catalysts,” a program centering around Houston: September 12, 1962, a world premiere commission by Michael Gandolfi, that celebrates the 100th birthday of President John F. Kennedy and the courage of people who fight for change. The November 11 concert will also feature the…
Hurricane Harvey Relief
ROCO’s heart is broken for our city and everyone who has been affected by Hurricane Harvey, including colleague organizations whose Houston performance venues, the Wortham Center, Hobby Center, and Alley Theatre, have been flooded. We realize the damage to these venues affects numerous organizations and all who work for them. If you work in the…
From punk rockers to presidents: The rebels at ROCO announce new season
From punk rockers to presidents: The rebels at ROCO announce new season STEVEN BROWN MAY 31, 2017 ROCO General manager Amy Gibbs and ROCO founder and artistic director Alecia Lawyer. Photo by Lynn Lane. ROCO in performance at the Church of St. John the Divine. Photo by Jeff Grass. The conductor nearly chickened out. Planning the…
Support ROCO’s First Commercial Recording!
What: 5 ROCO world premiere commissions, all from living American Composers, selected by ROCO Musicians from our 58 world premiere commissions: – Marcus Maroney’s “Concerto for Chamber Orchestra” – Anthony DiLorenzo’s “Jabberwocky” – Derek Bermel’s “Murmurations” – Reena Esmail’s “Teen Murti” – Karim Al-Zand’s “Visions from Another World” Who: – World-Renowned Conductor, Mei-Ann Chen – Grammy-winning…
Season 13 announced: Subscribe today!
ROCO announces its 2017–18 season, themed “Cultivate Curiosity,” with a lineup of concerts and collaborations that appeal to lifelong learners and anyone who loves to explore new and exciting worlds. “In our 13th season, ROCO celebrates all the ways that we embrace innovation and invites audiences to cultivate their own curiosities in musical conversation with…
Welcome Amy Gibbs as Managing Director!
ROCO announces the hire of Amy Gibbs as managing director. Gibbs comes to ROCO with a rich background in arts administration and organizational development. “With her high energy, laser focus and strategic outlook, Amy Gibbs is the perfect catalyst to continue to support our rapid growth,” said Alecia Lawyer, ROCO founder, artistic director and principal…
Pop Culture Invasion: ROCOmoji for the Win
ROCO performs ROCOmoji at the Church of St. John the Divine. Photos by Morris Malakoff/CKP Group. Composer Alexander Miller performs ROCOmoji. Savvy concert goers can count on ROCO (River Oaks Chamber Orchestra) to keep up with current cultural trends. On its In Concert season finale Double Trouble, a new commission and world premiere took center…
A big poodle face with hearts for eyes? Composer Alexander Miller reveals his favorite emoji and more
Do you have a favorite emoji? If you could design your own, what would it look like and represent? We ask composer and oboist Alexander Miller this and more ahead of “Double Trouble” on Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1. Q: The idea of writing a piece inspired by emoji . . . we…
Home for the human soul: A concert of music that speaks to everyone
Ahead of “Roots, Reeds, & Rhapsody” at Asia Society Texas Center on March 23, ROCO clarinetist Maiko Saski shares her thoughts on the program. Q: How did you put this program together. What unifies all the pieces? Maiko Sasaki: My selection is based on “folk influences in classical music.” Throughout history, classical music composers have…
Music that Downton Abbey would love: Schubert tells a captivating story
Ahead of an Unchambered ROCO performance featuring Franz Schubert’s Octet on Sunday, March 5, 2017, we chat with principal clarinetist Nathan Williams about getting ready to perform this gorgeous, beautiful and meaningful work of chamber music. Q: What’s one thing that’s surprising about the Schubert Octet? Nathan Williams: The length of the work, which is…
