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For Immediate Release — ROCO’s Connections Series continues with their annual evening of Beer & Brass on January 11, 2023 at its traditional venue, Saint Arnold Brewing Company, followed by A House of My Own on February 4, 2023 at Rienzi, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston — a house museum for European decorative arts. ROCO will then bring the In Concert Series back for their “Friends” program at Rice University’s Brockman Hall for Opera, before finishing off the month with the Unchambered Series on February 24, 2023, location TBA.
Spotlighting the ROCO Brass Quintet, ROCO’s annual tradition of Beer & Brass kicks off the new year by gathering friends for good music, food, and fun. Sponsored by the W.T. and Louise J. Moran Foundation, the event will feature traditional beer hall music and favorite brass arrangements infused with the unique wit and humor for which the ROCO Brass Quintet is beloved, accompanied by craft beer (plus root beer) and light bites from Saint Arnold.
Sponsored by Gigi Noyes & Steinway Piano Gallery, the next Connections Series concert, A House of My Own, will be presented on February 4th premiering three new songs by Season 17 Composer-In-Residence Derek Bermel and best-selling author Sandra Cisneros, based upon texts from her novel The House on Mango Street. Offering a modern twist on a Schubertiade salon concert, the performance will take place in Rienzi's grand ballroom, featuring Cecilia Duarte, mezzo-soprano; Ana María Otamendi, pianist; and Jesus Pacheco Manuel, percussion.
The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation In Concert Series continues with a celebration of "Friends" on February 18 at Rice University's Brockman Hall for Opera. Performing conductorless, the concert will showcase the orchestra with Scott St. John, Artistic Partner and Concertmaster, leading from the chair. Featuring the premiere of Brian Raphael Nabors' Upon Daybreak, inspired by Maya Angelou's "A Brave and Startling Truth," plus Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s “Keep Me From Sinking Down,” and works by Joachim Raff and Antonin Dvorak, the program underlines themes of friendship and hope.
Principal Trombonist Thomas Hultén will lead his first Unchambered Series concert on February 24, location TBA. Highlighting the wonders of the brass family through chamber works featuring the trombone, the eclectic program will feature works from classical to jazz, including the world premiere of Hultén’s own Suite for Trombone & Piano.
ROCO’s Connections Concert A House of My Own, Unchambered Series, and In Concert Series concerts will be accessible for free via livestream on ROCO's website, Facebook page, YouTube channel, and at A440.live.
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Connections Series
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Saint Arnold Brewing Company Beer Hall
Featuring the ROCO Brass Quintet
With Christina Carroll, drums
***
Saturday, February 4, 2023
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Rienzi
Writings by Sandra Cisneros
Derek Bermel, Composer
Plus works by Schubert, de Falla, Debussy, and more
Cecilia Duarte, Mezzo-Soprano
Ana María Otamendi, Piano
Jesus Pacheco Manuel, Percussion
***
In Concert Series
Saturday, February 18, 2023
Rice University – Brockman Hall for Opera
Featuring ROCO conductorless,
With concertmaster Scott St. John
Brian Raphael Nabors: Upon Daybreak
[ROCO Premiere Co-Commission]
Antonin Dvorak: Serenade for Strings
Joachim Raff: Sinfonietta
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Keep Me From Sinking Down
***
Unchambered Series
Friday, February 24, 2023
Location TBA
Featuring Thomas Hultén, ROCO Principal Trombonist
Works from classical to jazz, including the world premiere of Hultén's Suite for Trombone & Piano, plus music by Bozza, Ewazen, Leidzen, and more
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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 for 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 the works of composers of color. Additionally, ROCO has the third-highest number of commissions in the United States and has premiered over 110 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 called ROCOrooters attracts multigenerational audiences.
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