Video Library Tag: Connections

ROCO's Season 16 Connections series continued via livestream in February, with an intimate concert featuring the music of Margaret Bonds—one of the most prolific Black composers of the 1900s—plus works by composers who influenced or were influenced by her, including Florence Price, Ned Rorem, and Robert Owens.

A rare, previously unknown recording of Margaret Bonds in performance was discovered in the Mastersons’ collection at Rienzi. Produced in collaboration with Rienzi, the concert featured and was curated by returning ROCO favorite, Timothy Jones, bass-baritone, and Howard Watkins on piano.

Recorded at Rienzi, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, February 4, 2021, by Blueprint Film Co.

ROCO made its debut at the jewel of Houston’s 5th Ward Cultural Arts District, the beautifully renovated historic DeLUXE Theater, on January 25th as we welcomed guest violinist Nicole Cherry in collaboration with ROCO Artistic Partner Scott St. John, presenting an evening of chamber works honoring and inspired by the outstanding contributions of London-based nineteenth-century Afro-European violin virtuoso, George Bridgetower.

A part of Dr. Cherry’s commissioning project, “ForgeWithGeorge”, the premiere of David Wallace’s The Bridgetower featured, for solo violin with creative vocalization—along with Yvette Jackson’s recent commission Remembering 1619 for violin and tape. Fellow ROCO string musicians joined for further works by George Bridgetower, Joseph Bologne – Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Duke Ellington.

Recorded live at The DeLUXE Theater, Houston, Texas, January 25, 2025

ROCO’s Connections Series continued on February 10, 2024, as we celebrated collaboration in “Simple Gifts,” bringing us to a new location at Rothko Chapel!

Led by conductor Delyana Lazarova, Aaron Copland’s iconic tone poem Appalachian Spring, heard in its original 13-piece version, inspired the ROCO-commissioned world premiere of James Stephenson’s Persephone with solo dancer, with original choreography by Marlana Doyle, founder of Houston Contemporary Dance Company. Jennifer Higdon’s quintet Celestial Hymns, inspired by stained glass windows, rounded out the program, performed by Nathan Williams, clarinet; Scott St. John, violin; Matthew Dane, viola; Wilhelmina Smith, cello; and Audrey Andrist, piano.

One of Houston’s coolest people (named to Houston CityBook’s 2023 Cool 100), Korean-born and locally-based composer Nicky Sohn’s music has been described as “dynamic and full of wonder”, playing elegantly with rhythm and harmony, drawing inspiration from keen observation of the world around her.

We were delighted to work with Nicky on a new commission, “Colors of Life’s Garden”—celebrating the 25th anniversary of Rienzi’s founding as a house museum, and the cycle of life found within its stunning 4.4 acre gardens.

Premiered on January 27, 2024, this work was part of ROCO’s Connections Series concert "BLOSSOMS", performed at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's Rienzi, featuring musicians Alecia Lawyer, oboe; Milena Pajaro van de Stadt, viola; and Audrey Andrist, piano; and also including works by Charles Loeffler, Rebecca Clarke, Margaret Bonds, and Alyssa Morris.

ROCO made its debut at the jewel of Houston’s 5th Ward Cultural Arts District, the beautifully renovated historic DeLUXE Theater, on January 25th as we welcomed guest violinist Nicole Cherry in collaboration with ROCO Artistic Partner Scott St. John, presenting an evening of chamber works honoring and inspired by the outstanding contributions of London-based nineteenth-century Afro-European violin virtuoso, George Bridgetower.

A part of Dr. Cherry’s commissioning project, “ForgeWithGeorge”, the premiere of David Wallace’s The Bridgetower featured, for solo violin with creative vocalization—along with Yvette Jackson’s recent commission Remembering 1619 for violin and tape. Fellow ROCO string musicians joined for further works by George Bridgetower, Joseph Bologne – Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Duke Ellington.

ROCO's Connections series continued March 11 with "Journey to America", livestreamed in partnership with Holocaust Museum Houston, and opening with Tim Hinck’s “Fanfare for Rosa”—a 2018 work commissioned by the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, written based on interviews the composer conducted with migrant children, recalling their experiences of entering the United States from South and Central America for the first time.

Featuring musicians Alecia Lawyer, oboe; Maureen Nelson, violin; Suzanne LeFevre, viola; Courtenay Vandiver Pereira, cello; and Chelsea De Souza, piano.

The short, emotionally-charged, fanfare echoes their own journeys, first tinged with terror and trauma, then developing in strength and optimism over its course, to a hope-filled musical response to the immigrant crisis.

ROCO’s Season 18 Connections Series continued March 22 at Asia Society Texas Center, in From Here, There, and Nowhere, presenting an intimate evening of chamber music!

ROCO violinist Min-Jeong Koh curated a personal, meaningful program of works by Asian composers, accompanied by her sister Bo Yon Koh on piano—musically telling their stories of immigrating from Korea to embracing their new home in North America.

ROCO’s 17th season Albert & Margaret Alkek Foundation In Concert Series closed on April 23 with “Tying Up Loose Ends”, live at The Church of St. John the Divine.

Conducted by Rei Hotoda in her ROCO debut, the program centered around the world premiere of "Plumes" for large chamber orchestra by Composer-In-Residence Derek Bermel based on J. Henry Fair’s photography collection “Industrial Scars”—capturing the beauty and destruction of industrial and human impacts on our planet—and also included Viet Cuong’s percussion concerto Re(new)al, and a new work by Cynthia Lee Wong, "In a Blink of an Eye", commissioned as part of ROCO’s FIFteen Project.

Presented in collaboration with Holocaust Museum Houston, ROCO performs the world premiere of Milad Yousufi’s quintet “My Journey to America”, a co-commission with ROCO and the Winsor Music Consortium—a musical memoir telling the story of his own journey, from his birth and childhood in Kabul, Afghanistan, to the experience of becoming a refugee in New York City, and finding success as a musician.

Featuring musicians Alecia Lawyer, oboe; Maureen Nelson, violin; Suzanne LeFevre, viola; Courtenay Vandiver Pereira, cello; and Chelsea De Souza, piano.

ROCO’s Connections Series continued on February 10, 2024, as we celebrated collaboration in “Simple Gifts,” bringing us to a new location at Rothko Chapel!

Led by conductor Delyana Lazarova, Aaron Copland’s iconic tone poem Appalachian Spring, heard in its original 13-piece version, inspired the ROCO-commissioned world premiere of James Stephenson’s Persephone with solo dancer, with original choreography by Marlana Doyle, founder of Houston Contemporary Dance Company. Jennifer Higdon’s quintet Celestial Hymns, inspired by stained glass windows, rounded out the program.

ROCO’s 17th season Albert & Margaret Alkek Foundation In Concert Series closed on April 23 with “Tying Up Loose Ends”, live at The Church of St. John the Divine.

Conducted by Rei Hotoda in her ROCO debut, the program centered around the world premiere of "Plumes" for large chamber orchestra by Season 17 Composer-In-Residence Derek Bermel, a ROCO commission based on J. Henry Fair’s photography collection “Industrial Scars”—capturing the beauty and destruction of industrial and human impacts on our planet. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Arts for supporting Derek Bermel's residency!

ROCO's Connections series continued March 11 with "Journey to America", livestreamed in partnership with Holocaust Museum Houston, including chamber works by Bohuslav Martinů, Tom Hinck, and Milad Yousufi.

Martinů's Quartet for Oboe, Violin, Cello, and Piano, written in 1947 during his years in America, pays tribute to Mozart, with its Neoclassical style and graceful charm.

Listen for the lilting motion in triple meter, and simple tonality of the melody, which embody the elements of Czech folk song appearing throughout Martinů’s career.

In the composer’s words: ”I am always more myself in pure chamber music. I cannot express what pleasure it gives me when I start work and begin to handle four instrumental parts. In a quartet one feels at home. Outside it may be raining and darkness is falling but these four voices take no heed. They are independent, free to do what they like, free to create a unity, a new harmonious note."

Featuring musicians Alecia Lawyer, oboe; Maureen Nelson, violin; Courtenay Vandiver Pereira, cello; and Chelsea De Souza, piano.

ROCO’s 17th season Albert & Margaret Alkek Foundation In Concert Series closed on April 23 with “Tying Up Loose Ends”, live at The Church of St. John the Divine.

Conducted by Rei Hotoda in her ROCO debut, the program centered around the world premiere of "Plumes" for large chamber orchestra by Composer-In-Residence Derek Bermel based on J. Henry Fair’s photography collection “Industrial Scars”—capturing the beauty and destruction of industrial and human impacts on our planet.

The program also included Viet Cuong’s percussion concerto "Re(new)al", inspired by types of renewable energies and featuring soloists Craig Hauschildt, Ksenija Komljenović, Todd Meehan, and Doug Perkins, plus a new work by Cynthia Lee Wong, "In a Blink of an Eye", as part of ROCO’s FIFteen Project.

ROCO made its debut at the jewel of Houston’s 5th Ward Cultural Arts District, the beautifully renovated historic DeLUXE Theater, on January 25th as we welcomed guest violinist Nicole Cherry in collaboration with ROCO Artistic Partner Scott St. John, presenting an evening of chamber works honoring and inspired by the outstanding contributions of London-based nineteenth-century Afro-European violin virtuoso, George Bridgetower.

A part of Dr. Cherry’s commissioning project, “ForgeWithGeorge”, the premiere of David Wallace’s The Bridgetower featured, for solo violin with creative vocalization—along with Yvette Jackson’s recent commission Remembering 1619 for violin and tape. Fellow ROCO string musicians joined for further works by George Bridgetower, Joseph Bologne – Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Duke Ellington.

ROCO made its debut at the jewel of Houston’s 5th Ward Cultural Arts District, the beautifully renovated historic DeLUXE Theater, on January 25th as we welcomed guest violinist Nicole Cherry in collaboration with ROCO Artistic Partner Scott St. John, presenting an evening of chamber works honoring and inspired by the outstanding contributions of London-based nineteenth-century Afro-European violin virtuoso, George Bridgetower.

A part of Dr. Cherry’s commissioning project, “ForgeWithGeorge”, the premiere of David Wallace’s The Bridgetower featured, for solo violin with creative vocalization—along with Yvette Jackson’s recent commission Remembering 1619 for violin and tape. Fellow ROCO string musicians joined for further works by George Bridgetower, Joseph Bologne – Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Duke Ellington.

ROCO's Season 16 Connections series continued via livestream in February, with an intimate concert featuring the music of Margaret Bonds—one of the most prolific Black composers of the 1900s—plus works by composers who influenced or were influenced by her, including Florence Price, Ned Rorem, and Robert Owens.

A rare, previously unknown recording of Margaret Bonds in performance was discovered in the Mastersons’ collection at Rienzi. Produced in collaboration with Rienzi, the concert featured and was curated by returning ROCO favorite, Timothy Jones, bass-baritone, and Howard Watkins on piano.

ROCO’s Connections Series returned to the Asia Society Texas Center on October 20 presenting “Rise Up”— an evening of thought-provoking new chamber works and dialogue spotlighting the ongoing fight for women’s rights and equality, in the U.S, Iran, and around the world.

Artistic Partner Mei-Ann Chen led an ensemble of thirteen female ROCO musicians in the world premiere of Breaking the Veil by Grammy-winning Season 19 Composer-In-Residence Richard Danielpour and a new scoring of Texas-native composer Quinn Mason‘s ballet The 19th Amendment—performed along with members of Houston Contemporary Dance Company, premiering new choreography by Founding Artistic and Executive Director Marlana Doyle.

Inspired by the current uprising and historic struggles of Iranian women seeking equal rights and freedom, Grammy-winning composer Richard Danielpour’s Breaking the Veil honors his family’s Persian heritage, and is dedicated to his mother Mehri Danielpour Weil, an Iranian sculpturist.

Quinn Mason’s ballet The 19th Amendment, in the composer’s words, “not only depicts the struggle of obtaining the right to vote, but contemplates the effect that passing of the 19th amendment has had on our current generation”.

ROCO made its debut at the jewel of Houston’s 5th Ward Cultural Arts District, the beautifully renovated historic DeLUXE Theater, on January 25th as we welcomed guest violinist Nicole Cherry in collaboration with ROCO Artistic Partner Scott St. John, presenting an evening of chamber works honoring and inspired by the outstanding contributions of London-based nineteenth-century Afro-European violin virtuoso, George Bridgetower.

A part of Dr. Cherry’s commissioning project, “ForgeWithGeorge”, the premiere of David Wallace’s The Bridgetower featured, for solo violin with creative vocalization—along with Yvette Jackson’s recent commission Remembering 1619 for violin and tape. Fellow ROCO string musicians joined for further works by George Bridgetower, Joseph Bologne – Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Duke Ellington.

ROCO's Season 16 Connections series continued via livestream in February, with an intimate concert featuring the music of Margaret Bonds—one of the most prolific Black composers of the 1900s—plus works by composers who influenced or were influenced by her, including Florence Price, Ned Rorem, and Robert Owens.

A rare, previously unknown recording of Margaret Bonds in performance was discovered in the Mastersons’ collection at Rienzi. Produced in collaboration with Rienzi, the concert featured and was curated by returning ROCO favorite, Timothy Jones, bass-baritone, and Howard Watkins on piano.

Recorded at Rienzi, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, February 4, 2021, by Blueprint Film Co.

ROCO’s Season 17 Unchambered series wrapped up April 2 with “Spinning Tales”, highlighting the percussion family, live from MATCH and also livestreamed at ROCO.org, Facebook, YouTube, and A440.live.

Featuring and curated by ROCO percussionists Matthew McClung, Christina Carroll, and Craig Hauschildt, the program presented music by composers such as Quinn Mason, Thomas Rex Beverly, Christopher Deane, Keiko Abe, and more, taking the audience on a journey through a wide variety of percussive instruments.

From traditional folk songs of Chiapas, Mexico, the three tunes included were arranged for three percussionists/marimba by ROCO Principal Percussionist Matthew McClung.

ROCO's Season 16 Connections series continued via livestream in February, with an intimate concert featuring the music of Margaret Bonds—one of the most prolific Black composers of the 1900s—plus works by composers who influenced or were influenced by her, including Florence Price, Ned Rorem, and Robert Owens.

A rare, previously unknown recording of Margaret Bonds in performance was discovered in the Mastersons’ collection at Rienzi. Produced in collaboration with Rienzi, the concert featured and was curated by returning ROCO favorite, Timothy Jones, bass-baritone, and Howard Watkins on piano.

ROCO’s Connections Series continued January 27, 2024 with "BLOSSOMS", performed at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's Rienzi, featuring musicians Alecia Lawyer, oboe; Milena Pajaro van de Stadt, viola; and Audrey Andrist, piano; including works by Charles Loeffler, Rebecca Clarke, Margaret Bonds, Nicky Sohn, and Alyssa Morris.

ROCO's Season 16 Connections series continued via livestream in February, with an intimate concert featuring the music of Margaret Bonds—one of the most prolific Black composers of the 1900s—plus works by composers who influenced or were influenced by her, including Florence Price, Ned Rorem, and Robert Owens.

A rare, previously unknown recording of Margaret Bonds in performance was discovered in the Mastersons’ collection at Rienzi. Produced in collaboration with Rienzi, the concert featured and was curated by returning ROCO favorite, Timothy Jones, bass-baritone, and Howard Watkins on piano.

ROCO’s Season 18 Connections Series continued March 22 at Asia Society Texas Center, in From Here, There, and Nowhere, presenting an intimate evening of chamber music!

ROCO violinist Min-Jeong Koh curated a personal, meaningful program of works by Asian composers, accompanied by her sister Bo Yon Koh on piano—musically telling their stories of immigrating from Korea to embracing their new home in North America.