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HOUSTON, TX — 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, St John the Divine Church, 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.
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