Name: Optimistic
Start: 2025-04-26T00:00:00
Location: Rice University

From the vibrant cityscapes of Dallas and Fort Worth to the cultural heart of Midland and Amarillo, Texas is set to host a series of electrifying performances celebrating the timeless genius of Igor Stravinsky. With a lineup featuring world-renowned orchestras, talented youth musicians, and mesmerizing compositions like 'The Firebird Suite' and 'The Rite of Spring,' music enthusiasts are in for an unforgettable journey through the realms of classical music.

Experience the Magic of Stravinsky: A Symphony of Iconic Performances Across Texas

ROCO's 2025 season promises an exhilarating series of concerts that blend traditional with contemporary, showcasing the organization's commitment to innovative and site-specific performances. With a spectrum of events ranging from orchestral masterpieces to collaborative chamber concerts, ROCO offers something for every music enthusiast. This season features the creative genius of artists like Scott St. John, Lara Downes, and Nicholas Phan, each bringing their unique flair to venues across Houston. Join us as we delve into the highlights of ROCO's groundbreaking 2025 lineup.

ROCO's 2025 Season: A Journey Through Music and Innovation

The ROCO Connections Series Concerts and orchestral events offer a symphony of unique experiences, from site-specific performances in Houston's iconic venues to an orchestral explosion of creativity led by standout musicians and composers. Each concert in the Connections Series is thoughtfully curated to complement its venue, blending harmoniously with the surroundings and the community. These events are not just concerts—they are immersive journeys into the heart of music, culture, and collaboration, highlighting top talents like Lara Downes and Alastair Willis, and featuring groundbreaking works by artists such as Clarice Assad and Dai Wei.

The Nomadic Symphony: ROCO's Connections Series and Orchestral Journeys

In 2025, ROCO presents a spellbinding series of concerts across Houston, uniting diverse venues with eclectic performances. From the nomadic nature of the 'Connections Series' to the thematic 'Courageous' and 'Optimistic' orchestral performances, music lovers are in for a distinct blend of creativity and classical mastery. Featuring acclaimed musicians and innovative compositions, these events offer audiences a vibrant journey through the realms of chamber and orchestral music, bridging community and artistry.

Exploring Cultural Connections: ROCO's 2025 Concert Series

Immerse yourself in the world of ROCO's Connections and Optimistic Concert Series—where site-specific chamber music meets orchestral masterpieces. This series traverses unique venues around Houston, bridging communities through the universal language of music. Featuring notable performances by Nicholas Phan and Alastair Willis, and innovative compositions by artists like Dai Wei and Keane Southard, these concerts promise an unparalleled musical experience. From River Oaks Shopping Center to Rice University, each location offers a distinct backdrop to an unforgettable soundscape.

A Journey Through Sound: The Vibrant World of ROCO's Connections and Optimistic Concert Series

Alastair Willis

ROCO

ROCO’s Connections Series continues with Quartet for All Time, a program of emotional resonance. Through a selection of thoughtfully curated works, this concert exhibits music’s power to reflect and uplift in times of grief and remembrance.

Featuring Rebecca Fischer (violin), Alexis Gerlach (cello), Nathan Williams (clarinet), and Audrey Andrist (piano), the evening honors personal and collective memory through music that speaks across generations and traditions, inviting audiences to reflect on the role of music in preserving hope and history.

ROCO Connections: Quartet for All Time

Texas Southern University

A celebration of American stories and voices, ROCO In Concert: Do You Hear What I Hear? welcomes conductor Anthony Parnther in his ROCO debut, with guest concertmaster Tereza Stanislav, leading the 40-piece chamber orchestra on Saturday, February 7, 5:00 p.m. at The Church of St. John the Divine. Featured are Duke Ellington’s New World A-Comin’, spotlighting ROCO pianist Audrey Andrist, and the premiere of Patricia Leonard‘s Persistence of the Dream, a ROCO commission commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, along with the ROCO commissioned premieres of Gala Flagello’s Droughts & Downpours for string orchestra, and Jason Stephens’ rescore of Antonin Dvořák’s New World Symphony.

ROCO In Concert: Do You Hear What I Hear?

The Church of St. John the Divine

ROCO continues its Unchambered Series with an intimate performance featuring harpist Laurie Meister, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Julia Ideson Library. Set in one of Houston’s most iconic historic spaces, this program weaves together music and memory to highlight the expressive beauty of the harp and the building’s storied past. The concert includes a newly commissioned piece by Errollyn Wallen that is sponsored by The Houston Public Library Foundation. The work is created in homage to the library’s many murals painted by women employed by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression, capturing the enduring spirit of creative resilience.

ROCO Unchambered: Laurie Meister, harp

Julia Ideson Library

ROCO joins the global celebration of the 2025 World EXPO in Osaka with Beyond the Rising Sun – A Musical Voyage, a cross-cultural evening honoring innovation, tradition, and international exchange. Hosted at Asia Society Texas Center, this concert features ROCO musicians Kana Kimura (violin), Maiko Sasaki (clarinet), Shino Hayashi (cello), and guest pianist Kana Mimaki in a program that bridges East and West.

The centerpiece is a new ROCO-commissioned quartet by Hiroaki Tokunaga, inspired by the reflections of Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who will join the ensemble as a guest speaker at the event. Paired with a Japanese fashion collection curated by Houston City College and a Suntory Toki whisky tasting, the evening promises a vibrant tapestry of sound, visual art, and Japanese culture.

ROCO Connections: Beyond the Rising Sun – A Musical Voyage

Asia Society Texas Center

ROCO concludes its Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation In Concert Series on Saturday, April 18, 5:00 p.m. at The Church of St. John the Divine with ROCO In Concert: Seeing Is Believing—a thrilling finale led by Artistic Partner Delyana Lazarova, and featuring guest soprano Viviana Goodwin and guest concertmaster Laura Frautschi, along with ROCO wind soloists. The season finale features Richard Danielpour’s Breaking the Veil, set for full chamber orchestra, and his Adagietto for Strings, plus the world premiere of Composer In Residence Kevin Lau’s orchestral work inspired by the world of Narnia. The Houston Youth Symphony joins ROCO for a side-by-side performance in Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel’s Overture in C Major, and the evening concludes with J. Todd Frazier’s We Hold These Truths and Wild Horses, sung by Viviana Goodwin.

ROCO In Concert: Seeing Is Believing

ROCO concludes its Connections Series and its 21st season with Sense of Mind—a bold exploration of how music and the brain intertwine. Presented first at ARTECHOUSE Houston, the performance pairs ROCO musicians with advanced technology, translating real-time neural activity into immersive visuals that react to the sound waves emitted by the musical instruments.

Designed in partnership with neuroscientists and digital artists, Neurofeedback invites audiences to consider how music moves us emotionally and how we process it biologically. The concert features guest pianist Mei Rui (Director of Music in Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center) and a newly commissioned piece by Anthony Brandt, along with visuals created by animator/illustrator Badie Khaleghian.

Optimistic

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