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Newsroom

View All ROCO News Releases Project Media Features Blog Search

ROCO Guest Composer Erberk Eryılmaz

New music, ancestral tradition: a ROCOInsider Q&A with composer Erberk Eryilmaz

Blog, May 4, 2019

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.

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ROCO performing with Mei-Ann Chen

ARTISTIC PARTNERS, NEW WORKS, AND HISTORIC MUSICAL MOMENTS: HOUSTON’S ROCO AT 15 | Arts and Culture TX

Media Features, April 30, 2019

STEVEN BROWN, APRIL 30, 2019 Photo: ROCO in Concert: Queen of Hearts, Nov. 2018; Mei-Ann Chen, conducting. Photo by Blueprint Film Co. Don’t hold your breath waiting for Houston’s River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (ROCO) to anoint a conductor as its music director. Being player-driven is in ROCO’s DNA. But founder-oboist Alecia Lawyer wants to bring in…

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Artist Jessica Padilla Painting ROCO Mini Mural

Connecting through creation: a ROCOInsider Q&A with muralist Jessica Padilla

Blog, April 30, 2019

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.

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Catching the tune: a ROCOInsider Q&A with trumpeter George Chase

Blog, April 5, 2019

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!

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ROCO Guest Composer Jim Stephenson

ROCO to perform game-changing brass piece | Houston Chronicle

Media Features, April 5, 2019

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.”

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Portrait of ROCO Brass Quintet

A Chamber Piece So Difficult, the Composer Says It’s Too Hard for Him to Play | Houstonia

Media Features, April 2, 2019

COMPOSER JAMES STEPHENSON wrote “Chase Sequence” for the United States Marine Band’s brass quintet about eight years ago. He had the idea that the piece would start out with an energetic start from a trumpet, with the other instruments following each other quickly through the music. River Oaks Chamber Orchestra’s brass quintet presents the piece to cap off its Unchambered series. With “Chase Sequence,” they’re highlighting a contemporary work, as well as classical jazz pieces.

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ROCO Guest Composer Jim Stephenson standing under a train track

On unexpected journeys: a ROCOInsider Q&A with composer Jim Stephenson

Blog, February 21, 2019

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!

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ROCO in concert. Photo credit to Blueprint Film Company.

River Oaks Chamber Orchestra travels across Europe with ‘Ticket to Ride’ | Houston Chronicle

Media Features, February 21, 2019

“I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could,” says Brett Mitchell, quoting a favorite bumper sticker of his. “That’s kind of like me. Any excuse to come back to Texas is great.” On Saturday, Mitchell will return to Houston to make his debut with… the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra in “Ticket to Ride” at the Church of St. John the Divine.

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ROCO Co-Principal Violist, Suzanne LeFevre

Playing musical games: a ROCOInsider Q&A with co-principal violist Suzanne LeFevre

Blog, February 8, 2019

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!”

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Bear cub crawling tree

Bear Witness to This Revamped ‘Peter and the Wolf’ | Houstonia

Media Features, January 24, 2019

LAST YEAR’S ROCO PERFORMANCE OF PETER AND THE WOLF was such a hit at the Houston Zoo, the show is coming back—this time with a twist.

“There are no more wolves at the Zoo,” explains ROCO’s founder and artistic director Alecia Lawyer, “but there is a new black bear exhibit.”

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Album Cover for ROCO's debut album, Visions Take Flight

Tonal Evolution: Great New Music That Makes Room for Tunes | San Francisco Classical Voice

Media Features, January 8, 2019

Recordings of new music rooted in tradition that still is uncompromisingly contemporary — and sometimes unsettling. Debates about new music have always focused mainly on styles that have caught listeners off guard.

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River Oaks CO downsizes for ambitious program with Crumb, world premiere | Texas Classical Review

Media Features, December 9, 2018

Houston’s River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, unlike many larger ensembles, gives its musicians the opportunity to play chamber music.

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Upcoming Performances

A House of My Own | Saturday, February 4

Saturday, Feb 4 2023, 5:00pm

ROCO Connections: A House of My Own

Friends | February 18

Saturday, Feb 18 2023, 5:00pm

ROCO In Concert: Friends

ROCO Unchambered - Thomas Hultén, Trombone | Friday, February 24

Friday, Feb 24 2023, 7:30pm

ROCO Unchambered: Thomas Hultén

From Here, There, and Nowhere | Thursday, March 23

Thursday, Mar 23 2023, 7:00pm

ROCO Connections: Here, There, and Nowhere

ROCO Unchambered - Scott St. John & Pasha Sabouri, Violin | Saturday, April 1

Saturday, Apr 1 2023, 7:30pm

ROCO Unchambered: Scott St. John & Pasha Sabouri

See More

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  • Meet
    • About ROCO
    • Artists
    • Board & Team
    • Newsroom
    • Press Kit
  • Livestream
  • Attend
    • Season Calendar
    • Performances
    • ROCOrooters
    • Season 18 Announced!
    • Accessibility
    • Pay What You Wish
  • Listen
    • Listening Room
    • Video Library
    • ROCO on the Go
    • The Nightingale Book
    • Album
    • Commissions, Premieres, Rescores, & Resources
  • Support
    • Ways to Support
    • ROCO Resound
    • ROCO Revelry Gala
    • Sponsors & Partners
    • Donate
  • Follow
    • ROCO Mobile App
  • Contact