11 world premiere commissions, co-commissions, premieres, and re-scores feature in ROCO’s landmark 20th season
Composer Viet Cuong serves as the season’s Composer-In-Residence
ROCO welcomes dynamic conductor Delyana Lazarova as its 3rd Artistic Partner
Houston Youth Symphony again partners with ROCO for a side-by-side performance and masterclasses
ROCO—Houston’s 40-piece professional chamber orchestra focused on innovative concerts, multidisciplinary collaborations, and engaging community-centric initiatives—announces its landmark 20th season. The season introduces new collaborative partners and new concert venues and celebrates a milestone in the ensemble’s commitment to commissioning and premiering new works.
Titled “This is ROCO,” the theme encapsulates the many facets of the ROCO experience such as taking listeners on a tour of Houston through music in dozens of venues, ROCO Resound’s commissioning search for the Bachs, Beethovens, and Bonds of today, and the expansion of the ROCO On the Go program, which places QR codes in parks, hospitals and trails that access recordings of ROCO concerts. ROCO On The Go will also see its expansion outside of Texas, starting with Utah.
“Two entire decades of music recorded and sprouting up on QR codes all over Houston, plus reaching all seven continents with our free concert livestreams, is a legacy that will continue to evolve in the hands of the many dynamic and risk-taking ROCO musicians engaged in exploring the future of classical music,” said Alecia Lawyer, ROCO Founder, Artistic Director, and Principal Oboist.
Season Highlights
The 2024-2025 season brings forth new collaborative artistic partners, introduces new concert venues and marks a significant milestone by reaching 150 world premiere commissions.
Conductor Delyana Lazarova joins the roster of ROCO’s artistic partners that includes conductor Mei-Ann Chen and concertmaster Scott St. John. Lazarova will again lead ROCO’s Side-by-Side performance with selected students from the Houston Youth Symphony. ROCO was attracted by Lazarova’s energy, clarity, and drive.
“I’m delighted and honored to join ROCO as an artistic partner,” says Lazarova. “The ensemble’s innovative programming and the close relationship with leading composers of our time resonated with me instantly.”
Also returning to the podium are ROCO favorites JoAnn Falletta and Alastair Willis.
New venues include the newly-renovated River Oaks Theater for a silent film plus live music evening, as well as the Dan Flavin Installation at Richmond Hall at the Menil Collection, the DeLUXE Theater, and the Horizon on Sunset Art Gallery and Event Center.
One of Jazz Houston’s founders, Vincent Gardner, will compose a work based on the music of Henry Mancini for the full chamber orchestra. The season-opening concert also features multiple commissioned videos and animation pieces from Houston-based artists.
Commissioned World Premieres
ROCO Composer-In-Residence Viet Cuong will debut his latest creation, “Constellations.” This innovative piece is a visual and auditory experience, with each movement featuring musicians positioned to mirror the stars of various constellations when viewed from above. Cuong’s aesthetic leads audiences to experience the convergence of celestial bodies and musical expression. Cuong will also present a poignant song cycle inspired by his family’s escape from Saigon. This deeply personal work will showcase tenor Nicholas Phan, marking his return to ROCO.
Composer Clarice Assad will be featured in a mini-residency with a piano concerto composed for pianist Lara Downes titled “Total Eclipse” and “The Evolution of AI”, which follows the journey of a human-AI hybrid being as it reboots, collects data, learns, and creates music. The work will be performed by Assad using electronic instruments employing artificial intelligence to generate sound.
Additional commissioned world premieres include a special piece titled “St. John the Revelator” by Houston composer Mark Buller, which pays homage to the space where ROCO originated, The Church of St. John the Divine, a November world premiere by Juan Pablo Contreras created specifically for the Day of the Dead, and a compelling composition titled “No Grit, No Pearl” by Jonathan Leshnoff.
Reimagining the Chamber Orchestra
ROCO, with its habit of performing works rescored for chamber orchestra, will present Gustav Holst‘s “The Planets,” reorchestrated by composer James Stephenson in celebration of Holst’s 150th birthday, during the September opening concert. Additionally, John Wineglass‘ “Cityscapes,” originally written for full orchestra and now rescored for chamber orchestra, will accompany footage of Houston to kick off the season.
The season will conclude with the epic “Rite of Spring” by Igor Stravinsky, rescored by Marlijn Helder.
Selected programs will be enhanced with commentary by ROCO Principal Percussionist Matthew McClung. His “Matt’s Musings” will be delivered to audiences via the ensemble’s digital program in real-time during the performance.
ROCO has structured its programming around three varied concert series. The Albert & Margaret Alkek Foundation In Concert Series features the full 40-piece chamber orchestra, collaborating with guest conductors alongside ROCO’s diverse musicians. This series is characterized by playful titles that interpret the letters of ROCO, representing remarkable, outspoken, courageous, and optimistic themes.
The Unchambered Series showcases individual ROCO musicians curating their own chamber concerts. The Connections Series presents site-specific concerts developed in collaboration with partner venues across Houston.
Celebration of Major Achievements
This 20th season celebrates ROCO’s significant achievements, including performances in more than 70 venues throughout Houston, showcasing both chamber and full orchestra ensembles. By the end of the season, ROCO aims to have premiered 150 commissioned works. Additionally, the ROCO on the Go project, which offers access to thousands of musical tracks via QR codes placed in hospitals, parks, schools, and trails across Houston—with plans for expansion nationwide—has seen more than 45,000 scans.
ROCO has been livestreaming performances for free since 2013, leveraging a platform that has reached audiences on all seven continents and in dozens of countries. Moreover, the organization’s Pay What You Wish ticket pricing has proven successful—supported by the ensemble’s investor model, with 95 percent of revenue contributed and 5 percent earned—contributing to its fiscal sustainability.
For tickets and more information on the 20th season, visit ROCO’s website at roco.org.
2024-25 SEASON
Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation
IN CONCERT SERIES
Sept. 27, 2024 | Miller Outdoor Theatre
Sept. 28, 2024 | The Church of St. John the Divine
Mei-Ann Chen, conductor
John Wineglass: Cityscapes ROCO Commissioned World Premiere (with video by Bend Productions)
Viet Cuong (Composer in Residence): Constellations ROCO Commissioned World Premiere
Mark Buller: John the Revelator ROCO Commissioned World Premiere
Gustav Holst/Jim Stephenson: The Planets (with original video by James Templeton) ROCO Rescore Commissioned World Premiere
Nov. 2, 2024
The Church of St. John the Divine
JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Scott St. John & Brian Lewis, violin
Mark O’Connor: Double Violin Concerto, I. Swing
Jonathan Leshnoff: No Grit No Pearl ROCO Commissioned World Premiere
Juan Pablo Contreras: Alma Monarca, celebrating Day of the Dead ROCO Commissioned World Premiere
Franz Schubert/Andi Stein: Death and the Maiden ROCO Texas Premiere
Feb. 8, 2025
The Church of St. John the Divine
Delyana Lazarova, conductor
Lara Downes, piano
Emilie Mayer: Overture No. 2 in D Major Houston Youth Symphony Side-by-Side piece
Clarice Assad: Evolution of AI ROCO Co-commissioned Texas Premiere
Clarice Assad: Total Eclipse, Piano Concerto ROCO Commissioned World Premiere
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 7
April 26, 2025
Brockman Opera Hall, Rice University
Alastair Willis, conductor
Dai Wei: Invisible Portals ROCO Co-commissioned Texas Premiere
Keane Southard: Lamentation for String Orchestra
Vincent Gardner: Mancini Mashup (joined by Jazz Houston) ROCO Commissioned World Premiere
Igor Stravinsky/Marlijn Helder: Rite of Spring ROCO Rescore Commissioned World Premiere
The Unchambered Series features concerts curated by individual ROCO musicians, giving them carte blanche to bring their own unique passions into the creation of their programs.
UNCHAMBERED SERIES
October 19, 2024
Horizon on Sunset Art Gallery & Event Center
Featuring Alecia Lawyer, oboe
November 21, 2024
Dan Flavin Installation at Richmond Hall
Featuring Bernhard Scully, horn & Matthew McClung, percussion
Nomadic in nature, the Connections Series continues site-specific collaborative chamber concerts programmed specially for its chosen venues, in partnership with various arts and community organizations.
CONNECTIONS SERIES Proud Media Sponsor, Texas Monthly
December 7, 2024
Houston Botanic Garden
Yuletide with ROCO and Jazz Houston
January 7, 2025
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Beer & Brass
Featuring the ROCO Brass Quintet
January 25, 2025
The DeLUXE Theater
Featuring Scott St. John & Nicole Cherry, violin
March 1, 2025
The River Oaks Theater
Silent film The General and
Disney’s Silly Symphony: Music Land rescore
with ROCO live orchestra
March 29, 2025
Asia Society Texas Center
Viet Cuong: Song Cycle, telling the story of
his family’s escape from Saigon
Nicholas Phan, tenor
April 10, 2025
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Lynn Wyatt Theater
Presenting chamber works paired with museum artworks,
followed by a museum tour
Date TBD
“Music In Medicine Initiative”
MD Anderson Cancer Center Park Atrium
Featuring Mei Rui, piano
About ROCO
ROCO is a dynamic and innovative professional music ensemble that flexes from 1 to 40 players from all over the US and Canada, with guest artists from around the world. Performing intimate concerts in dozens of venues, ROCO’s musicians don’t just give concerts – they challenge preconceptions, create extraordinary experiences, and foster new relationships with audiences through the language of music.
ROCO’s debut album, Visions Take Flight, was recognized for a GRAMMY® Award for Producer of the Year, Blanton Alspaugh. Widely recognized for diversity in programming, a recent study from the Institute for Composer Diversity found ROCO is the number one ensemble in the US for performing the works of women and number two for performing the works of composers of color. Additionally, ROCO has the third-highest number of commissions in the United States and has premiered over 132 commissions from living composers. ROCO embraces technology, with free worldwide concert livestreams and real-time artist commentary via a smartphone app, as well as on-demand recordings of past concerts via popular music streaming services. A vital part of the community, ROCO concert DVDs are sent to nursing homes and hospitals to bring music to those immobile communities, and their music education/childcare program attracts multigenerational audiences.
It certainly appears to be a Remarkable ROCO Season, thank you all for your brilliant, talented, and hard work. I cannot wait. Ever Onward. Chuck Carlberg, new ROCO Board Member.
It certainly appears to be a Remarkable ROCO Season, thank you all for your brilliant, talented, and hard work. I cannot wait. Ever Onward. Chuck Carlberg, new ROCO Board Member.