ROCO has received glowing press reviews on both the national and local level for its pioneering education program for children that runs during the full 90 minutes of each concert at the St. John the Divine location. Children 5-10 years old are invited into the concert for one piece and welcomed by the conductor and audience. All children may stay after the concert until 9:30pm for pizza and movies, allowing the parents to go out for post-concert entertainment. A detailed description of the program includes:

• The division of participating children by age group into four rooms: 2 years and under in the nursery, 3-4 years old, 5-7 years old and 8-10 years old;
  
  
• The rotation of a professional music teacher among the rooms, educating the children with a twenty-minute lesson for each group about music during each concert;
  
  
• Humorous instruction in audience etiquette for the oldest children (5-10 years old) who are then escorted into the concert to hear one of the pieces, helping to make the transition into audience members;
  
  
• Supervision by one childcare worker and one adult Junior League volunteer with two paid workers in the nursery with the youngest children ages 2 and under;
  
  
• Using ROCO as a placement venue for The Junior League of Houston. Junior League women serve as one of the assistants in each classroom and are helpers for the ushering of the concert.
  
  
• “ROCOrooters” membership cards for each child and other take-homes such as a t-shirt with the ROCO logo on the front and funny sayings on the back (“I’ll Be Bach!”);

ROCOrooters’ capacity is now recognized as 52 children per concert.

Our ROCOrooters innovative childcare/music education program is offered on the premises during performances at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church by advanced reservation for children 2 months to 10 years old. Parents may drop off children at 4:30 for the 5pm concerts and then pick them up no later than 9:30pm. A small fee per child will include pizza, games and a music program such as instrumental demonstrations along with music-related play and videos.

Childcare reservations are $20 for the first child and $15 for each additional child. To make a reservation, please first visit our purchasing page to process payment for tickets and childcare, or call and leave credit card information on the ROCO line at (713) 665-2700, and then complete the childcare reservations form. Please note that there is a 48-hr cancellation policy. Please contact Kilby Hoskins, General Manager, at kilby@rocohouston.org for more information.

John McParland in the orchestra at the inaugural concert