#ROCOvLACO #WorldSeriesChallenge

Houston and Los Angeles chamber orchestras engage in a musical World Series rivalry

Members of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra have entered into a friendly World Series rivalry with their counterparts in Los Angeles.

Photo by Blueprint Film Co.

You know that World Series has galvanized all aspects of the city when it's even extended to chamber music as orchestras from Houston and Los Angeles have entered into a friendly rivalry over the Astros-Dodgers face-off.

It began when when the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, excited about the Dodgers' first World Series appearance since 1988, posted a video of principal horn player Michael Thornton playing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" on Twitter and Facebook, and called out the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra to respond.

No one in LA is immune to @dodger euphoria, including LACO Principal horn player, Michael Thornton. You got anything @ROCOHouston? pic.twitter.com/cA1iu5S8OP

— LA Chamber Orchestra (@LACOtweets)

October 24, 2017

Of course, ROCO took up the challenge by posting a video featuring principal percussionist Matthew McClung on the marimba.

@MatthewMcClung1 says come get some... pic.twitter.com/1uTC5P1jt2

— ROCOHouston (@ROCOHouston) October 25, 2017

Then ROCO followed it up with this upbeat version from principal trumpet player Joseph Foley.

The gauntlet has been thrown! @LACOtweets #ROCOvLACO #WorldSeriesChallenge pic.twitter.com/2skx0sKpez

— ROCOHouston (@ROCOHouston) October 25, 2017sem

Expect more renditions on social media from ROCO and LACO over the weekend, with the hashtag #ROCOvLACO in the #WorldSeriesChallenge.

If the Houston orchestra gets more shares on their videos, LACO will change their Facebook cover photo to "We ❤️ the Houston Astros." ROCO will do the same with a Dodgers theme if the LA orchestra's videos get more shares, so the competition expects to get heated before the World Series ends.

Game on!

music sports

A holiday reopening

Houston's Rothko Chapel sets reopening date after Hurricane Beryl closure

Courtesy of the Rothko Chapel

The Rothko Chapel reopens December 17, 2024.

One of Houston's most-loved and important cultural landmarks is set to reopen on Tuesday, December 17. Damaged during Hurricane Beryl, the Rothko Chapel will resume providing Houstonians with a space to pause and reflect this holiday season.

The Chapel will be open from 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday from December 17 through 22, and from 10 am to 5 pm December 24 through January 5, 2025. Chapel hours on December 25 and January 1 will be noon to 5 pm.

The octagonal chapel features 14 black panels painted by renowned artist Mark Rothko. It attracts visitors from around the world, who come to the space to meditate and take in Rothko's art. Beryl's heavy rains and gale-force winds resulted in leakage through the Chapel’s roof. Part of the ceiling and several walls had water damage, and four of Mark Rothko’s panels were also affected following the storm.

Whitten & Proctor Fine Art Conservation, one of the country’s premier art-conservation firms, led the analysis and assessment to restore the chapel. The water-streaked walls and ceiling have been repaired and repainted. Damaged panels are now undergoing careful restoration off-site. They will be returned to the chapel once the work is complete.

"Since the storm, our focus has been on the complete repair of the building, the restoration of the damaged panels, and on the reopening of the Chapel so the public once again has access to this beloved space for contemplation and meditation,” Rothko Chapel executive director David Leslie said in a statement. “Getting to this point has been a true community effort involving an amazing team of art conservators, scientists, art handlers, volunteers, community partners, and Chapel staff, and we are very excited to reopen in time for the holidays.”

Following the damage left in Beryl’s wake, the chapel hosted a number of fall programs at off-site locations.The first program slated for 2025 is the chapel’s annual MLK Observance, "Sick of War: Discussing Health Impacts of US Militarism.” That will be hosted in the chapel on January 15, 2025.

Earlier this year, the Rothko Chapel announced an extensive expansion campaign, Opening Spaces. The $42 million project will add new buildings just north of the existing Chapel on the other side of Sul Ross St.

Photo by Elizabeth Felicella

The Rothko Chapel reopens December 17, 2024.

rothko chapel openings visual-art hurricane beryl