Arkansas Symphony Orchestra to open permanent home in September

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 in Little Rock’s East Village neighborhood.

“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. “We’re thrilled to invite the entire community to experience the transformative power of music in our new home.”

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 on the music center’s grounds.

“The Stella Boyle Smith Music Center is not just the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s new home, but a place where music of all kinds and for all Arkansans will live, grow and thrive,” said ASO Music Director Geoffrey Robson. “This space will amplify our ability to bring world-class performances and educational opportunities to our community, and we want to celebrate that with music lovers of all ages.”

Saturday evening will feature a free dance party in Morgan Hall, showcasing ASO musicians performing a journey through various musical eras. While this event is free, space will be limited.

The weekend will conclude on Sunday with additional tours of the building and the inaugural ASO Youth Orchestra rehearsals in the new center, underscoring the ASO’s commitment to music education and community engagement.

While ASO performances will still be held at Robinson Center, the Stella Boyle Smith Music Center will provide the opportunity for additional community gatherings and allow ASO to grow its programs.

The Stella Boyle Smith Music Center was designed by WER Architects of Little Rock; Bailey Construction & Consulting LLC of Little Rock is the general contractor.