Ingeborg Bronsart von Schellendorf: Overture to Jery und Bätely ( ROCO)

ROCOs Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation In Concert series continued with a celebration of Friends, on February 18 at the Lucian and Nancy Morrison Theatre at Brockman Hall for Opera Rice University This concert truly showcased the orchestra, as the ensemble performed conductorless, with Artistic Partner and Concertmaster Scott St. John leading from the chair. Underlining themes of friendship and hope, the concert featured the premiere of Brian Raphael Nabors Upon Daybreak, a ROCO cocommission as part of New Music USAs Amplifying Voices initiative, inspired by Maya Angelous poem A Brave and Startling Truth, along with Antonin Dvoraks early favorite Serenade for Strings, Joachim Raffs vivacious Sinfonietta, and the overture to the opera Jery und Bätely by Ingeborg Bronsart von Schellendorf. Completing the program, the resilient AfricanAmerican spiritual Keep Me From Sinking Down spotlighted Scott St. John, in Samuel ColeridgeTaylors powerful orchestral setting featuring solo