Meet Alecia Lawyer

20 years ago, parishioner Alecia Lawyer began a God-inspired journey to create an orchestra. This fall, ROCO is celebrating 20 years of shaping the future of classical music. Alecia shares how authentic relationships and connections have been key in her life at St. John the Divine and her journey with ROCO.

How did you come to St. John the Divine?

Alecia: We came to this church because of Larry Hall [former rector of St. John the Divine]. During the first sermon we heard, he banged on the pulpit while saying, “and God said, ‘Larry’”. My husband, also named Larry, jumped out of his skin! We loved the Spirit of the church, especially the emphasis on outreach. Everybody here really puts their work and their money where their faith is. We began to find community and became deeply involved.

Later, we moved abroad, and after returning to Houston for my husband’s job, we also returned to St. John the Divine. I focused on fully involving ourselves in Houston: I volunteered for the Holocaust Museum and at Texas Children’s Hospital, our children attended First Steps Montessori and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and were acolytes and Eagle Scouts at St. John the Divine. My husband and I were part of an impactful Wednesday night Bible study called Homebuilders which forged important relationships. Those people are still some of our closest friends and part of the fabric of our community at St. John the Divine.

What led you to begin ROCO?

Alecia: Many people do not know that orchestral positions are tenured lifetime jobs, so they are not available often. In fact, I heard that it is 50% harder to get into an orchestra than a major league baseball team! However, after returning to Houston, I had many musical experiences here. I taught at the University of Houston, was a DJ at KRTS a radio station, taught private oboe lessons, and was part of three different orchestra start-ups. I also auditioned all over the nation for various concerts and organizations. After some time, I thought God was telling me I would not be an oboist in Houston and prepared to become a real estate agent. Then I had a phone call from former Director of Music John Gearhart and then Associate Director of Music Steve Newberry. They told me that there was a plan to renovate the church. When I met with them to see the plans, I heard God say, “Start an orchestra.” I went to Larry Hall for his blessing, and my husband, Larry Lawyer helped me write my first business plan. And I started it.

What stands out to you as you look at the beginning of ROCO?

Alecia: Everything we’ve done is human first and about connection. Other groups focused first on what pieces they wanted to play, and I focused on who I wanted to play with. To be human first is to create a space where artists can be truly vulnerable on stage and bring the messiness of their lives with them. It’s offering childcare and music education during and after concerts. It’s starting concerts at 5 pm and ending by 7 pm, keeping the lights up, and encouraging people to interact with their phones. It’s creating a multi-generational space where a 30-year-old, a 99-year-old, and a 9-month-old are all valued.

Looking back, do you see God preparing your path?

Alecia: Absolutely, hands down. The fact that I was a DJ, that I was in the pageant world back in the day, that I went to Juilliard all were part of preparing me for ROCO. It was like God almost led by the nose! At our first concert, we had a few hundred people because of all the pathways God had led me through. He had prepared me for that literal stage moment, to be at that spot, in a place of comfort and love, seeing Christ while I was playing and offering full acceptance to the orchestra and audience. People can feel that even when it’s not said aloud.

Tell us about your 20th Anniversary Concert on September 28.

Alecia: ROCO is famous for its commissions from living composers. We will have done 150 of them by the end of this  season! We will play Holst’s The Planets with great animation projected on screens beside the orchestra and a piece called Constellations by our composer-in-residence Viet Pong, a Vietnamese composer. Then, we will do an organ and orchestra piece commissioned for St. John the Divine, our acoustic home. John the Revelator is based on the famous Gospel Blues piece and will feature St. John the Divine Director of Music Steve Newberry on the organ. As part of our effort to remove barriers, we will continue to offer our pay-what-you-wish tickets.

How do you see ROCO as part of our vision to be A Light for the City?

Alecia: I think we were one of the first groups that broke open the potential for our remodeled space. We went out into the city to bring people in as part of their journey. We have shown a light on our church through ROCO while taking our church into the city and world through our broadcasts on all seven continents and through 1.1 million audio and video streams. You see those views from space of light spreading out from cities. I feel that spreading light shares the vision of what we’re trying to do.