ROCO and MD Anderson Cancer Center Present Classical Performances to Patients

River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (ROCO) and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have teamed up to provide live classical music performances directly into patients' rooms during the 2013 - 2014 ROCO in Concert season.

The first concert, scheduled for Saturday, September 28, will feature Mei-Ann Chen conducting a performance entitled ROCO Celebrates Asia. Through technology that exists at MD Anderson and The Church of St. John the Divine, the home of ROCO, the concert will be live streamed directly into the patients' rooms.

"We ran a beta of one concert last season and worked out the technical issues such that we are very pleased to be able to offer the concerts to our patients this entire concert season," said Larry Jones, Executive Director of Media Services and Academic Technology at MD Anderson.

September 28th will be the first of four concerts that ROCO and MD Anderson live stream into patients' rooms. It's all part of a community outreach program called ROCO Anytime, Anywhere that uses live streaming and an online listening room to make both traditional and newly-commissioned classical music accessible to the broadest audience possible.

"MD Anderson knows music is so important to the healing process and since they are so committed to the healing and comfort of their cancer patients, it was natural to offer our live concerts free to their patient community," said Alecia Lawyer, Founder and Artistic Director of ROCO. "Plus," Ms. Lawyer said, "it makes our performances so much more meaningful. We plan to stop at some point during each concert and give a shout out from the stage to our friends at MD Anderson."

ROCO and MD Anderson will offer three other live stream concerts during the 2013 - 2014 concert season, including the ROCO Celebrates Sousa concert on November 9, the ROCO Celebrates Austria - Conductorless! concert on February 22 and the ROCO Celebrates France concert on April 5.

ROCO ROCO is a professional chamber orchestra of 40 all-star musicians, distinguished guest conductors and dynamic composers who come together from all over the world to present engaging performances of classical and original compositions. Founded in 2005 by oboist, Alecia Lawyer, ROCO is the most fun you can have with serious music. www.rocohouston.org