ROCO Celebrates America 250 with Stories and Voices in “Do You Hear What I Hear?” featuring World Premieres and Reimagined Classics

ROCO performing at the Church of St. John the Divine, 2018 (Violeta Alvarez)

HOUSTON, TX – ROCO continues its Season 21 Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation In Concert Series with DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? In their ROCO debuts, acclaimed conductor Anthony Parnther and guest concertmaster Tereza Stanislav lead the full 40-piece chamber orchestra on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at The Church of St. John the Divine.

Alongside Antonín Dvořák’s beloved New World Symphony, presented in the premiere of a new rescore for chamber orchestra by Jason Stephens, ROCO pairs a commissioned world premiere by American composer Patricia Leonard, created using a unique Cryptopoint cipher based on the word ‘dream’. Entitled Persistence of the Dream, Leonard’s work commemorates the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.

Gala Flagello’s Droughts & Downpours—a ROCO co-commission making its Texas premiere—brings the concert’s global dimension into sharp focus. This thought-provoking work captures the voice of our planet, exploring scarcity and abundance through the sonic depiction of climate change.

ROCO principal pianist Audrey Andrist features in Duke Ellington’s New World A-Comin’. A rhapsody for piano and orchestra infused with jazz and a virtuosic flair, the work characterizes Ellington’s vision and optimism for a “New World” built on unconditional love and equality.

This concert also offers ROCOrooters, ROCO’s unique music education and childcare program for kids 5th grade and under, designed to stimulate young minds and allow parents to enjoy a night out. Offering a wonderful music lesson, a trip into the concert hall to hear one piece on the program, and up to 5 hours of supervision by certified childcare professionals at an affordable rate, caregivers need look no further for a memorable, multi-generational musical evening.

Pay-What-You-Wish tickets for the concert are available now on the ROCO official event page, with a free livestream at roco.org/live, YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and on the ROCO mobile app.