If rock ’n’ roll is all about breaking the rules, then you shouldn’t be afraid of unique renditions of rock classics with a little flair – where violin, cello and bass take the part of electric guitar and electric bass.
Starring in this very act is Renegade Orchestra, a group of classically trained musicians who perform rock hits with just as much liveliness and spirit as the originals, using their musical virtuosity to make up for the lack of noise and distortion.
Renegade Orchestra is returning to Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City on March 29 for their annual show. Tickets are on sale now and are sure to sell out fast.
Giving us more insight into Renegade Orchestra is founder, Rebecca Roudman:
“I play cello in orchestras, string quartets and other classical groups all over the place. This means I get to meet tons of amazing orchestra musicians. These folks are fun, creative and, above all, amazing at their instruments. Inspired by their playing and general coolness, I formed the Renegade Orchestra with my partner/conductor Jason Eckl, to feature these amazing folks.”
Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City forms the perfect backdrop for this performance. An old opera house with ornate classical architecture, it seems to exude orchestral music as you walk around it, but with Virginia City’s independent Western spirit and libertine history, rock ‘n’ roll fits it just as well. As Rebecca says,
“Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City is a great place to perform for a couple of reasons. The first is that the crowd that comes out is one of the most fun we play for every year—they clap, holler, and dance and maybe some of them get a little drunk. This doesn't happen at a lot of orchestra concerts. The second reason is that Piper's was made for live music. The stage slants forward to let the audience see better, there is a ton of space on the giant stage, and there are really fun opera boxes that the audience can sit in. It's a casual and fun experience.”
Renegade Orchestra has a rooted history with Piper’s and the Reno-Tahoe area. They have a relationship with members in the Reno symphony as well as the people who attend their performance in Virginia City each year:
“When we come to Piper's Opera House half the musicians will be our regular folks from the Bay Area and half will be our friends from the Reno Symphony.
Each year that we play at Piper's we ask the audience to request songs to be played next year. A lot of our set this time around will feature songs that the audience asked for a year ago.
There are also a ton of surprises – special songs, new songs and maybe even some rouge string players in the audience.”
As Rebecca makes clear, a Renegade Orchestra event is more akin to attending a rock concert than a classical show:
“The Renegade orchestra is the opposite of a stuffy classical symphony. We want people to dress casual, have a drink, clap along and have fun."
When we do Renegade Orchestra shows, musicians aren't kept backstage. Before the show, at intermission, and after the show, we'll all be out talking to folks.
"If you don't like going and seeing an orchestra, I can almost guarantee that you'll love our show. This is a rock and roll experience and there are no formalities or silly rules.”
But that’s not to imply that they are amateurs – these are professional musicians that you have likely heard on your favorite rock albums already.
“The Renegade Orchestra is made up of musicians who have played with everyone including Carlos Santana, Joan Baez, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and tons more. You've heard them on movie soundtracks, on Grammy award winning albums and everywhere else.”
Don’t miss the opportunity to see them perform live at Piper’s Opera House on March 29! Get your tickets here.
For more events and happenings in the region, visit events listings in Carson City and Reno.
