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Unison Media- ROCO Press Kit
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- 2. Overview ROCO is a40-piece professional chamber orchestra based in Houston, TX, with virtuosic musicians, conductors and composers from around the world who invite people into the ROCO experience through the language of music. ROCO presents unexpected classics, original compositions and delightful performances with the goal of increasing access for a multigenerational audience. In 12 seasons, ROCO has commissioned and world premiered 58 works with 9 more scheduled for Season 13 “Cultivate Curiosity!” and is regularly broadcast nationally on American Public Media’s Performance Today. ROCO.org
- 3. Media Quotes “Offering audiences aconcert experience like that of no other” “A prominent part of Houston’s art music scene” “ROCO is magic... a major Houston success story” “One of the country’s most innovative classical musical ensembles” “Music buffs love this chamber orchestra because they hear something they love and they learn to love something they've never heard before” ROCO.org
- 4. Concert Series ROCO hasthree separate concert series: In Concert Unchambered Connections Full 40-piece chamber orchestra performances at The Church of St. John the Divine Intimate performances by ROCO soloists or small ensembles at MATCH Site-specific, collaborative and multidisciplinary performances that take place in various locations around Houston ROCO.org
- 5. In Concert ROCO’s InConcert series features the full 40-piece chamber orchestra alongside distinguished guest conductors from around the world. Repertoire includes classical favorites, hidden jewels and world premieres of original works commissioned by ROCO. All concerts are livestreamed via ROCO’s website and Facebook page, and are available afterwards in the Listening Room on www.roco.org. Additionally, In Concert performances utilize the mobile app EnCue by Octava, which allow audience members to follow along with the music and get insight and guidance from ROCO musicians. ROCO.org
- 6. Connections ROCO’s innovative Connectionsseries takes the orchestra into the community through music, partnering with other arts and community organizations to give intimate, site- specific, collaborative and multidisciplinary performances that present classical music in new and compelling ways. “The River Oaks Chamber Orchestra is known for roaming around Houston, bringing classical music into neighborhoods, parks and other community gathering spaces.” – Houston Press Peter and the Wolf at the Texas Children's Cancer Center Musical and Literary Ofrenda celebrating the Day of the Dead at Lawndale Art Center Beer & Brass at St. Arnold’s Brewery ROCO.org
- 7. EnCue by OctavaNewMusic ROCO is the first professional orchestra to premiere EnCue by Octava, a brand new smart phone app that’s changing the concert-going experience. Developed by Linda Dusman, composer, and Eric Smallwood, artist, from the University of Maryland, it delivers real-time program commentary from musicians and guest artists. It’s not just another way to deliver program notes, however; we have a printed program for that. Instead, think of it like a director’s commentary or VH1’s Pop-Up Videos. ROCO has found a way to talk and play at the same time! ROCO has given 58 Commissions & World Premieres in 12 seasons. The orchestra’s commitment to new music is a part of everything they do, and reflects their vision of classical music as a living, breathing part of contemporary culture. Innovations ROCO.org
- 8. Anytime, Anywhere ROCO allowslisteners to enjoy their performances performances anytime, anywhere! The ROCO “Listening Room” features free access to audio recordings of ROCO performances from past seasons, also available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music and more. ROCOrooters ROCOrooters is ROCO’s unique music education and childcare program for kids between 2 months and 10 years: parents can enjoy the concert and have a date night, while the kids enjoy fun music and concert etiquette instruction, a trip into the concert hall, and an option to stay for pizza and movies after the concert, under the watch of certified and bonded childcare workers. ROCO’s In Concert series performances at The Church of St. John the Divine are also live streamed with high-quality video and audio, available for free viewing on ROCO’s website and Facebook page. “Saving marriages one concert at a time” Innovations ROCO.org
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- 10. Named by MusicalAmerica as one of classical music’s Top 30 Influencers for 2015, Alecia Lawyer is the Founder, Artistic Director and Principal Oboist of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra. ROCO, with its 40 dynamic, engaging and virtuosic professional musicians from around the nation and guest conductors from around the world, is “the Most Fun You Can Have with Serious Music!” ROCO performances are broadcast regularly to a nationwide audience on American Public Media’s Performance Today. Ms. Lawyer was named a finalist for Texas Musician of the Year (along with Willie Nelson) and was listed as one of Houston’s Top 50 Most Influential Women. She has received numerous awards, including the Gutsy Gal Award from Houston Woman Magazine, the Sigma Alpha Iota Musician of the Year, and the Outstanding Chamber Orchestra Founder from the Houston Chronicle. She regularly presents her Entrepreneurial model and dynamic ideas to conservatories, universities and music festivals around the US such as Juilliard, Yale, SMU, Round Top and Texas Music Festival, using ROCO as a case study for community-specific orchestral building. Business and social groups in the Greater Houston area engage her to speak on numerous topics related to the creation, innovation, marketing and development of the arts. A member of the Houston Committee on Foreign Relations and a participant in the Aspen Leadership Seminar at the Aspen Institute, Alecia continues to weave musicians and audience together with the language of music through innovative programming and collaboration with ROCO. After receiving her Masters from Juilliard and her Bachelors from SMU, Alecia Lawyer’s career has ranged from recording for John Cage and soloing with Rostropovich to a contemporary chamber music recital at Carnegie Hall, live radio broadcasts in New York, and disc jockeying for KRTS-92.1FM, Houston, TX. Enjoying a year residency in France, she recorded with the Sorbonne Orchestra, performed recitals in Paris, and concertized with various orchestras and chamber groups in France and Germany. Ms. Lawyer currently serves as artistic director and performs as principal oboist of ROCO. In addition, she solos with area orchestras and is oboist with the contemporary composers’ group Musiqa in Houston. Alecia and her husband Larry have two fantastic sons, Jacob, 18 and Zachary, 14. Alecia Lawyer ROCO.org
- 11. Amy Gibbs ROCO announcesthe hire of Amy Gibbs as managing director. Gibbs comes to ROCO with a rich background in arts administration and organizational development. “With her high energy, laser focus and strategic outlook, Amy Gibbs is the perfect catalyst to continue to support our rapid growth,” said Alecia Lawyer, ROCO founder, artistic director and principal oboist. “Amy has a deep passion for the arts and the talent required to lead and drive ROCO’s mission of shaping the future of classical music through energizing, modernizing and personalizing the orchestral experience.” Prior to joining ROCO, Gibbs served as the capacity building manager at Houston Arts Alliance. In that position, she was responsible for overseeing four flagship programs and providing targeted services for small and mid- sized arts organizations at different life stages. Gibbs worked closely with staff and board leadership of 15 to 25 organizations each year to provide them with individualized, hands-on support to strengthen their administrative infrastructure. Gibbs’ past experience also includes positions at AMS Planning and Research, an arts management consulting firm, where she supported several facility feasibility studies, strategic plans and market research projects; and at DataArts, where she worked with arts and cultural organizations across the United States to report financial and programmatic information. She is the co-chair of Emerging Arts Leaders: Houston and has been involved with Nonprofit Leadership Collaborative and Texans for the Arts. “Throughout the course of my career, I have developed a passion for entrepreneurial, risk-taking, strategic organizations like ROCO,” Gibbs said. “This organization is ambitious, savvy and innovative, and I look forward to guiding its continued growth.” In the role of managing director, Gibbs will work closely with Lawyer in moving ROCO forward through its current season and beyond. She will provide oversight for board governance, fundraising, communications and marketing, and will lead daily operations including finance management. “ROCO has embarked on an innovative and ambitious five year strategic plan,” said Alison Comstock Moss, vice- chair of ROCO’s board of directors. “Amy’s expertise and proven background in nonprofit management adds strength to our incredible team, and she will help us raise ROCO to new heights in the world of classical music.” Gibbs received her B.A. in Drama from Trinity University in San Antonio and her M.S. in Arts Administration, with an emphasis on research and arts policy, from Drexel University in Philadelphia. ROCO.org
- 12. Videos ROCO April 2014 DebussyPetite Suite ROCO Season 13: “Cultivate Curiosity” Haydn Symphony no. 44 - Presto - ROCO's April 18, 2009 Season Finale Concert Houston Public Media Trumpet Lesson with ROCO ROCO.org
- 13. Contact 713-665-2700 info@rocohouston.org Mailing Address ROCO –River Oaks Chamber Orchestra 3733-1 Westheimer Rd. #1029 Houston, TX 77027 Office Address ROCO – River Oaks Chamber Orchestra 1973 West Gray, Suite 3 Houston, TX 77019 PUBLICITY: Andrew Ousley Unison Media andrew@unison.media ROCO.org