It’s Checkmate at River Oaks Country Club: Classical Music Gets a Real Boost in This Exclusive Kickoff Gala
By Errin Maye //
Photography Paul Davis of dabfoto
What: ROCO (River Oaks Chamber Orchestra) gala
Where: River Oaks Country Club
PC Moment: The new fall season was launched with the sound of music as ROCO kicked off its 14th season with a dinner evening. More than 240 people were welcomed by event chairs Fran and Chuck Riepe. Mesmerized guests were given an insider’s look into the 2018-19 season with the orchestra’s opening concert, “Checkmate.”
The evening significantly surpassed last year’s event attendance in support of ROCO’s mission: to shape the future of classical music by energizing, modernizing and personalizing the concert experience.
Company musicians were seated at each table a guests rubbed shoulders with celebratory figures and masterful players such as longtime ROCO supporter and the soirée’s honoree Mary Ann Newman; ROCO founder, artistic director and principal oboist Alecia Lawyer; ROCO managing director Amy Bibbs; board chair Allison Comstock Moss; guest conductor Paul Watkins; guest composer Maxine Goulet; piano soloist Lara Downes; and concertmaster Angela Fuller.
During the performance tribute, four members of ROCO’s string section —Richard Belcher, Courtenay Vandiver Pereira, Clement Chow and Sandor Ostlund — performed a rendition of Ode to Joy in honor of Newman.
ELIZABETH ANTHONY
Concluding the evening, as a parting gift, guests received CDs with a compilation of ROCO recordings from previous seasons as well as unique games and puzzles as a nod to Season 14’s theme – Games People Play.
Who: John Bradshaw Jr., Kerry Lynch and Dean Slocum, Jo Ann and Bob Fry, Mary Margaret and Russ Schulze, Julie and Richard Howell, Jeff McParland, Amanda McMillian and Benjamin Holloway, Barbara and Bill Brewer, Beverly and Bill Coit, Jennifer and David Strauss, Helen and Chris Ross, and Nancy and Cletus Dodd.
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