Embracing her Texan roots, Juilliard and SMU graduate Alecia Lawyer calls her work “Wildcatting in the Arts,” boldly drilling new wells of possibility in the traditionally rigid field of classical music. As the Founder, Artistic Director, and Principal Oboist of ROCO, Houston’s deeply local and globally relevant 40-piece professional ensemble, she is on the cutting edge of how classical music is created and experienced. She champions accessibility and advocates for a human-first approach to arts experiences. Intent on dissolving genre lines, she reimagines concert spaces and incorporates programs to engage multi-generational audiences in fresh, meaningful ways.
Alecia is a passionate advocate for new and diverse voices, leading initiatives that commission and premiere works from underrepresented composers. Her forward-thinking approach includes strategic use of technology to deepen audience engagement and expand the reach of live performance.
Hailed as “The Johnny Appleseed of arts nonprofits” by the Houston Chronicle, she was one of Musical America’s Top 30 Influencers and Houston’s Top 50 Most Influential Women. Alecia is in demand as a speaker at the Center for Anticipatory Intelligence at Utah State University, tech radio shows, and the Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of Houston. She appears regularly on podcasts and lectures nationally on arts innovation.
Beyond ROCO, Alecia is a driving force in the broader arts ecosystem. She is a Founding Board member of the Houston Center for Musical Arts, a transformative initiative for the city’s musical infrastructure. She serves on the boards of the Houston Youth Symphony, the Eden Arts Festival, and the Texas Music Festival, and is an artistic advisor for the St. Barth Music Festival in the French Virgin Islands. Her leadership is further recognized through her fellowship in the American Leadership Forum, involvement in Texas Women for the Arts, and her alumna status with the Aspen Executive Seminar.
As an F. Lorée oboe artist, Alecia performs internationally and coaches artists on career development and performance. At home, she shares life’s adventures with her husband Larry and their two fabulous sons, often exploring the open road on weekend Harley rides.