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FORIMMEDIATERELEASEApril26,2017

RiverOaksChamberOrchestraAnnouncesSeason13:“CultivateCuriosity”

HOUSTON—TheRiverOaksChamberOrchestra(ROCO)announcesits2017–18season,themed“CultivateCuriosity,”withalineupofconcertsandcollaborationsthatappealtolifelonglearnersandanyonewholovestoexplorenewandexcitingworlds.“Inour13thseason,ROCOcelebratesallthewaysthatweembraceinnovationandinvitesaudiencestocultivatetheirowncuriositiesinmusicalconversationwithROCOmusicians,”saysAleciaLawyer,ROCOfounder,artisticdirectorandprincipaloboist.“Fromofferingreal-timemusiciancommentaryviathesmartphoneappEnCuebyOctavatopresentingworldpremierecommissionsandunexpectedselectionsfromestablishedcomposerstolive-streamingperformances,ROCOencouragesaudiencesathomeandintheconcerthalltodigdeeperintowhatlinkstheirpersonalexperiencestothemusicpresentedandthemusicianswhomakeithappen.”

ROCOInConcert

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ROCOcontinuesitstraditionofco-creatingwithnineworldpremierecommissions.FivenewcomposerstoROCOwillbefeaturedontheorchestra's"InConcert"series,whichfeaturesthefull40-personchamberorchestra.PiecesbaseduponJohnF.KennedyandHoustonpunkbandTheHatesarejusttwoexamplesofwhattoexpectfromMichaelGandolfi,PaulLansky,DanViscontiandMarkBuller.ThreeinventiveworldpremierecommissionswillbeshowcasedaspartofROCO’s“Unchambered”concerts,whichtakeplaceinamoreintimatesetting.PaulEnglish,KevinLauandAlyssaMorriswritepiecesinspiredbyjazzandDisneyforsoloistsorsmallensemblesfromwithinthechamberorchestra.MarcusMaloneyroundsoutthecommissionsfortheannualMusicalandLiteraryOfrendaatLawndaleArtCenter.

Duringthe2017–18season,ROCOintroducesviolinistScottSt.Johnintothefoldasthepermanentconcertmaster.SincehisfirstperformancewithROCOassoloistandconcertmasterduringseason11,ithasbeenclearthatSt.John’srefinedsound,gentleguidanceandexactingstandardsunitetheorchestra.HispastexperiencewiththeSt.LawrenceStringQuartetandhisfruitfulsolocareerfurtherenhanceROCO’sstrengths.St.JohncoacheschambermusicatWesternUniversityinhishometownLondon,Ontario,Canada;playschambermusicintheMarlboroMusicFestivalinVermont;participatesasapartnerinthenewRebelheartCollectiveatAeolianHall,alsoinCanada;andservesasartisticdirectorofWestern360,achambermusicfestivalatWesternUniversitydebutinginAugust.

“Season13willbefullofnewexperiencesforROCO,cultivatingthecuriosityofouraudienceandmusiciansalike,”saysAmyGibbs,ROCOmanagingdirector.“InAugust,wewillmakeourveryfirstcommercialrecordingatRoundTopFestivalHill,featuringacombinationoftheROCOmusicians’fivefavoritecommissionsfromourpastconcerts.KeepingwithROCOtradition,theconcertsthisseasonwillfeatureunexpectedcollaborationsandmusicwithsurprisinginspirations.”

ScottSt.John,ConcertMaster

AmyGibbs,ManagingDirectorandAleciaLawyer,ArtisticDirector

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InConcertROCOlaunchesits2017–18“InConcert”serieswith“TotheBeatofaDifferentDrummer,”Sept.22atMillerOutdoorTheatreandSept.23atTheChurchofSt.JohntheDivine(SJD).TheprogramfeaturestheworldpremiereofFiveViews,apercussionconcertobypioneeringcomputermusiccomposerPaulLansky.WrittenforROCO'sprincipalpercussionistMatthewMcClung,theworkhighlightsMcClung’stechnicalskillsandhisgiftforcreatingabsorbingsoundscapes.VictorYampolsky,oneofROCO'sfavoriteartisticpartners,returnstoconduct.HebringstherarelyperformedSymphonyNo.2byKurtWeill,alongwithPaulHindemith’sCupidandPsyche,IgorStravinsky’sDumbartonOaksandadditionalROCOsurprises.

OnNov.11atSJD,ROCOpresents“CourageousCatalysts,”featuringacommissionbyMichaelGandolfi.Thisnewwork,titledJFK100,celebratesthe100thbirthdayofPresidentJohnF.Kennedyandthecourageofpeoplewhofightforchange.MichaelSternconductstheprogram,whichincludesJeanSibelius’SymphonyNo.7inCmajor,Op.105,thecomposer’sfinalpublishedsymphony;andBruceAdolphe’sIWillNotRemainSilent,aviolinconcertoinspiredbythelifeofGerman-AmericanrabbiandcivilrightsleaderJoachimPrinz.Throughoutthelatterpiece,theviolin,playedbyROCOconcertmasterandfeaturedsoloistSt.John,representsthevoiceofPrinz,whiletheorchestrarepresentsopposingforces—NaziGermanyinthefirstmovementandAmericaduringtheCivilRightserainthesecondmovement.

St.JohnwillleadfromthechairduringROCO’sannualconductorlessconcertonFeb.10,2018,atSJD.“LegendaryLove”isthenameoftheconcertaswellastheworldpremiereofacommission,aclassicalpiecebyDanViscontihonoringChristianKidd,leadsingeroftheHouston-based‘70spunkrockbandTheHates.AntonínDvorák’sLegendspairswithWoodNotesbyWilliamGrantStill,whowasheavilyinfluencedbyDvorak'scalltoAmericancomposerstofindtheirownuniquevoice.

MatthewMcClung,Percussion

MichaelStern,Conductor

ChristianKidd,TheHates

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Theseason13“InConcert”seriescloserkeepstheaudienceguessingonApril21,2018,atSJD.NurseryRhymesandEpitaphs,twoworldpremierecommissionsbyHoustoncomposerMarkBuller,bookendthe“TwistsofFate”program,whichalsofeaturesDmitriShostakovich’ssurprisingSymphonyNo.9andAnnaClyne’sWithinHerArms.TeddyAbramsconductsandguestperformerTimothyJones,baritone,isthefeaturedsoloist.Ateach“InConcert”seriesperformance,ROCOwillcontinueengagingaudienceswithEnCuebyOctava,asmartphoneappthatdeliversmusicianandcomposercommentaryinrealtime.ROCOrooters,amusiceducationandchildcareprogram,willalsobeavailableduringperformancesatSJDandTWUMC.UnchamberedROCO’s“Unchambered”series,performedonthestageattheMidtownArts&TheaterCenterHouston(MATCH),featuresROCOsoloistsorsmallensemblesinanintimatesetting.

Theseriesopenswith“Nik-NAK”onOct.8atMATCHandOct.10attheCypressCreekFoundationfortheArts&CommunityEnrichment(FACE).FollowingafestivaltourofFrance,theROCOWindTrio—AleciaLawyer,oboe;NathanWilliams,clarinet;andKristinWolfeJensen,bassoon—willperformworksbyfemalecomposers,includingtheworldpremiereofNik-NAK,aworkforwindtriocommissionedfromcomposerAlyssaMorris(andnamedafterthemusiciansNathan,AleciaandKristin).

For"MusicalParfait"atMATCHonNov.19,featuredartistLorenzoGolofeev,violin,adds"layers"ofothermusiciansthroughouttheevening'sprogram.GolofeevalsoperformsMaximeGoulet’sSymphonicChocolates,duringwhichaudiencememberstasteapieceofchocolateduringeachofthefourmovements:Caramel,Dark,MintandCoffee.

TeddyAbrams,Conductor

(Clockwise)BrookeFerguson,KristinWolfeJensen,NathanWilliams,andAleciaLawyer

LorenzoGolofeev,Violin

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KevinLau,Composer

OnFeb.18,2018,atMATCH,theROCOBrassQuintet—ledbyGeorgeChase,trumpet—willperformaprogramthatincludestheworldpremiereofacommissionbyHouston-basedjazzcomposerPaulEnglish.Theseason13“Unchambered”seriesconcludesonApril8,2018,with“MagicalInspirations”atMATCHandFACE.ViolinistSt.Johnisthefeaturedartistforthisprogram,whichincludesanillustratedpieceinspiredbyDisneyandwrittenforviolin,horn,pianoandpercussionbyCanadiancomposerKevinLau.

ConnectionsEachseason,ROCOcollaborateswithdynamicpartnersthroughouttheHoustoncommunitywithaseriesof“Connections”concerts.Theseason13lineupincludes:

● “MusicalTrick-or-Treat,”aprogressivesalonattheHeritageSocietyonOct.26.Audiencestravelingroupstofourhistorichomestohearashortpiecebyonemusicianateachhouse.

● Theannual“MusicalandLiteraryOfrenda”atLawndaleArtCenteronNov.2.AcollaborationbetweenROCO,Lawndale,Inprint,MusiqaandtheHoustonHispanicForum,thisyear’sperformancefeaturesthepremiereoffivenewminiaturemusicalremembrancesbyHoustoncomposerMarcusMaroney.Anoboe,violaandcellotriofromROCOwillperformwithbaritoneTimothyJones.

● “ASeasonofThanksfortheMastersons”concertonNov.30atRienzi,theMuseumofFineArts,Houston(MFAH)housemuseumforEuropeandecorativearts,incelebrationofthehome’sformerowners.

● A“BeerandBrass”performancebytheROCOBrassQuintetatSaintArnoldBrewingCompanyonJan.4,2018.

● “PeterandtheWolf”attheHoustonZooonJan.14,2018.SergeiProkofiev’sclassicisrefreshedwithacollaborationbetweenROCOandHorseHeadTheatreCompany,includingnewcostumeswithmaterialsdonatedbynonprofitdesignhouseMagpies&Peacocks.

GeorgeChase,Trumpet

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SUBSCRIPTIONSSubscriptions,startingat$50,areonsalenow.A“GoldenTicket”seasonpass,whichincludesentrytoallofROCO’s2017–18concerts,canbepurchasedfor$350.Formoreinformationortopurchaseasubscription,visitroco.org.ABOUTROCOFoundedin2005,ROCOisa40-pieceprofessionalchamberorchestrafeaturingmusiciansandguestartistsfromaroundtheworldwhopresentunexpectedclassics,originalcompositionsanddelightfulperformanceswiththegoalofremovingbarriersforourmulti-generationalandcuriousaudience.In12seasons,ROCOhascommissionedandworldpremiered58worksandisregularlybroadcastnationallyonAPM'sPerformanceToday.ROCO'sAnytime,AnywhereprogramprovidesfreelivestreamingofInConcertperformances,freelisteningtopastconcertsonroco.org,andDVDsaresenttonursinghomesandhospitalsfortheirpatientchannels.ROCOisknownas"themostfunyoucanhavewithseriousmusic!"Website:rocohouston.orgPhone:713-665-2700Facebook:@rocohoustonInstagram:@rocohoustonTwitter:@rocohouston

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RIVEROAKSCHAMBERORCHESTRA2017–18SEASONCALENDAR

ROCOINCONCERT:“TOTHEBEATOFADIFFERENTDRUMMER”Friday,September22,2017,8p.m.MillerOutdoorTheater,6000HermannParkDrive,Houston,TX77030Saturday,September23,2017,5p.m.TheChurchofSt.JohntheDivine,2450RiverOaksBoulevard,Houston,TX77019ROCOUNCHAMBERED:“NIK-NAK”Sunday,October8,2017,5p.m.MidtownArts&TheaterCenterHouston(MATCH),3400MainStreet,Houston,TX77002Tuesday,October10,2017,3p.m.CypressCreekFACE,6823CypresswoodDrive,Spring,TX77379ROCOCONNECTIONS:“MUSICALTRICKORTREAT”Thursday,October26,2017,6p.m.TheHeritageSociety,1100BagbyStreet,Houston,TX77002ROCOCONNECTIONS:“MUSICALANDLITERARYOFRENDA”Thursday,November2,2017,arttourbeginsat5:30p.m.;concertstartsat6p.m.LawndaleArtCenter,4912MainStreet,Houston,TX77002ROCOINCONCERT:“COURAGEOUSCATALYST”Saturday,November11,2017,5p.m.TheChurchofSt.JohntheDivine,2450RiverOaksBoulevard,Houston,TX77019ROCOUNCHAMBERED:“MUSICALPARFAIT”Sunday,November19,2017,5p.m.MidtownArts&TheaterCenterHouston(MATCH),3400MainStreet,Houston,TX77002ROCOCONNECTIONS:“SEASONOFTHANKSFORTHEMASTERSONS"Thursday,November30,2017,6:30p.m.Rienzi,1406KirbyDrive,Houston,TX77019

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ROCOCONNECTIONS:“BEERANDBRASS”Thursday,January4,2018,6p.m.SaintArnoldBrewingCompany,2000LyonsAvenue,Houston,TX77020ROCOCONNECTIONS:“PETERANDTHEWOLF”Sunday,January14,2018,2,3and4p.m.HoustonZoo,6200HermannParkDrive,Houston,TX77030ROCOINCONCERT:“LEGENDARYLOVE”Saturday,February10,2018,5p.m.TheChurchofSt.JohntheDivine,2450RiverOaksBoulevard,Houston,TX77019ROCOUNCHAMBERED:“ROCOBRASSQUINTET”Sunday,February18,2018,5p.m.MidtownArts&TheaterCenterHouston(MATCH),3400MainStreet,Houston,TX77002

ROCOUNCHAMBERED:“MAGICALINSPIRATIONS"Sunday,April8,2018,5p.m.MidtownArts&TheaterCenterHouston(MATCH),3400MainStreet,Houston,TX77002Tuesday,April10,2018,3pmCypressCreekFACE,6823CypresswoodDrive,Spring,TX77379ROCOINCONCERT:“TWISTSOFFATE”Saturday,April21,2018,5p.m.TheChurchofSt.JohntheDivine,2450RiverOaksBoulevard,Houston,TX77019