Houston, Texas – ROCO, the acclaimed professional chamber orchestra known for its innovative approach to classical music, has announced its 2025-26 concert season, aptly titled “Season of the Senses.” This ambitious 21st season promises a remarkable array of 15 commissioned world premieres and rescores, performances in three groundbreaking new venues, and expanded audience engagement initiatives designed to create a truly immersive experience for music lovers across Texas and beyond. By the end of this season, ROCO will have premiered an impressive 165 commissioned works, solidifying its position as one of the most prolific commissioning groups in the United States.
This season sees the return of Artistic Partners Delyana Lazarova and Mei-Ann Chen, who will guide the full 40-piece chamber orchestra in the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation In Concert Series. Composer Kevin Lau has been named Composer-in-Residence, bringing fresh perspectives and new music to the ensemble’s repertoire. The “Season of the Senses” is poised to redefine how audiences connect with orchestral music, transforming passive listening into a multi-sensory journey.
A Canvas of New Sounds: Premieres and Powerful Narratives
The heart of ROCO’s “Season of the Senses” lies in its unwavering commitment to commissioning new music releases and breathing new life into existing works through rescores. Among the eagerly anticipated world premieres is a commission by Hiroaki Tokunaga, inspired by the reflections of Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. The opening program, “Feels Like Home,” will introduce Starr Parodi’s “Rip Tide,” a piece exploring the beauty of sea life, and a new work by composer and filmmaker Heather Schmidt, inspired by her passion for husky rescues. These diverse narrative threads underscore ROCO’s dedication to contemporary artists and compelling storytelling through sound.
Composer-in-Residence Kevin Lau will debut his concerto, “At the Still Point of the Turning World,” written specifically for ROCO’s Principal Clarinetist Nathan Williams, who is also the orchestra’s first Musicians with a Mission Manager. This profound work is said to explore the arc of birth, life, death, and the afterlife, reflecting Williams’s passionate work in the hospice community. The season will also feature Richard Danielpour’s commissioned works “Breaking the Veil” for full chamber orchestra and his “Adagietto for Strings,” alongside J. Todd Frazier’s “We Hold These Truths and Wild Horses.” Further expanding the orchestral repertoire, the “Do You Hear What I Hear? America at 250” program will include a commission by Patricia Leonard commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, Gala Flagello’s “Droughts & Downpours,” and Jason Stephens’ rescore of Antonín Dvořák’s New World Symphony.
Venues That Resonate: Immersive Spaces and Community Engagement
ROCO is set to expand its footprint across Houston by introducing three new and distinctive performance venues: the immersive digital art space ARTECHOUSE, the poignant Holocaust Museum Houston, and the culturally rich Asia Society Texas Center. Each location offers a unique backdrop, promising to amplify the “Season of the Senses” theme.
The collaboration with ARTECHOUSE Houston stands out as a pioneering venture, integrating real-time neurofeedback visualizations directly into the performance. Audiences will witness their neural activity translated into dynamic visuals alongside a commissioned work by Anthony Brandt, a professor at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, with input from Dr. Mei Rui, Director of Music in Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center. This innovative partnership exemplifies ROCO’s pursuit of a “physical experience, a full body experience,” where music and science intertwine to create unprecedented music events.
Performances at the Holocaust Museum Houston, including a program featuring violinist Vijay Gupta and ROCO principal cellist Alexis Gerlach, reinforce ROCO’s commitment to telling stories that matter and honoring memory through music. The Asia Society Texas Center will host a cross-cultural evening celebrating the 2025 World EXPO in Japan, featuring a new commission by Hiroaki Tokunaga and showcasing a Japanese fashion collection from Houston Community College, fostering international exchange through music and art.
The Unchambered Series, curated by individual ROCO musicians, will also move into new, intimate settings. Harpist Laurie Meister will perform a newly commissioned piece by acclaimed British composer Errollyn Wallen, inspired by the murals of the Julia Ideson Library, celebrating its 100th anniversary. Flutists Brook Ferguson and Rebecca Powell Garfield will explore the full spectrum of the flute family at Texas Southern University’s Charles P. Rhinehart Music Auditorium. Popular existing venues such as Miller Outdoor Theatre, where concerts are free, and The Church of St. John the Divine will also host performances, ensuring accessibility for diverse audiences.
Dynamic Leadership and Visionary Collaborations
Driving this ambitious season are ROCO’s returning Artistic Partners, conductors Delyana Lazarova and Mei-Ann Chen. Lazarova, who joined ROCO in the 2024-25 season and also begins a role as Principal Guest Conductor of the Utah Symphony in 2025-26, is lauded for her passion for 20th and 21st-century music and her ability to foster collaboration. Chen, an Artistic Partner since 2019, is celebrated for her dynamic conducting style and commitment to infusing orchestras with energy.
The season will also mark the ROCO debut of conductor Anthony Parnther, known for his versatile approach and his advocacy for amplifying traditionally underrepresented voices in classical music. Three distinguished guest concertmasters—Margaret Batjer, Laura Frautschi, and Tereza Stanislav—will further enrich ROCO’s sound. ROCO’s collaborative spirit extends to its side-by-side performance with the Houston Youth Symphony, fostering the next generation of artists.
ROCO’s pioneering “Pay What You Wish” ticketing model continues to make music accessible, reflecting its deep local roots and commitment to the Houston community. The organization’s innovative spirit has earned it recognition as the second-ranked orchestra globally for programming works by women composers, as noted by the Donne, Women in Music Foundation in Germany.
Engaging the Senses, Expanding the Reach
Beyond the performances, ROCO’s “Season of the Senses” emphasizes expanded audience engagement. The Season of the Senses Soirée at ARTECHOUSE, following the opening concert, will be a celebration of creativity, honoring legendary guitarist Steve Vai with the Wildcatting in the Arts Award and Frank Donnelly of Kensinger Donnelly as the Corporate Pillar of the Arts Awardee. This event promises dazzling digital installations, curated culinary experiences, and a playful musician scavenger hunt, engaging sight, taste, and interaction.
ROCO continues to offer its ROCOrooters music education and childcare program, further demonstrating its dedication to community and fostering future generations of music enthusiasts. The orchestra’s commitment to visual engagement, through video projections and live camera work that highlights individual artists and instruments, along with its unique ROCOhouston app allowing audiences to follow scores in real-time, ensures a deeply immersive and personalized concert experience.
In essence, ROCO’s 2025-26 “Season of the Senses” is more than just a series of concerts; it’s a bold artistic statement that solidifies its reputation as a leading innovator in the classical music world. By blending premieres, new venues, and cutting-edge immersive technologies, ROCO continues to transcend traditional boundaries, offering memorable cultural events and reaffirming Houston, Texas as a vibrant hub for groundbreaking orchestral music.
