A rehearsal space in the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s Stella Boyle Smith Music Center, slated to open in September. Image by WER Architects.
In Thursday’s (7/18) Talk Business and Politics (Little Rock, Arkansas), a staff-written report states, “The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (ASO) will celebrate the grand opening of the Stella Boyle Smith Music Center with a three-day community celebration Sept. 13-15, 2024. The state-of-the-art, $11.75 million facility will be the first permanent home for the ASO in its 59-year history. The weekend festivities will begin with a private event on Friday, Sept. 13, honoring donors. On Saturday, the ASO will open its doors for a full day of public celebration, kicking off with a morning parade from the Riverfront Amphitheater through downtown Little Rock to the music center, near the Clinton Presidential Library … ‘This grand opening weekend will be a one-of-a-kind event that celebrates every type of music—a perfect way to debut this radically welcoming hub of musical activity for all Arkansans,’ said ASO CEO Christina Littlejohn.” Geoffrey Robson is the orchestra’s music director. “The Saturday celebration highlight will be performances in Morgan Hall, where ASO musicians will play publicly in the new space for the first time. There will be family-friendly activities, building tours and food trucks … Saturday evening will feature a free dance party in Morgan Hall … The weekend will conclude with … the inaugural ASO Youth Orchestra rehearsals in the new center.”
