ASO Stella Boyle Smith Music Center Grand Opening!

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra 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 the generous donors who made the center possible. On Saturday, Sep. 14, 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 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum and Heifer International in the East Village neighborhood.

Friday, September 13, 2024

Private donor event honoring the generous donors who made the center possible.

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Outdoors

  • 9:00-10:00 am Parade leading to the new building from Riverfront Amphitheater) (Community Partners to include: Marching Bands, Mexican Dancers, Chinese Dragons, Corvette Club, St. Mark's Choir, ASOYE, String Academy, Community Orchestra, and more)
  • 10:00-10:45 am Media Event & Ribbon Cutting (ASO Brass Quintet)
  • 12:00-3:00 pm Outdoor Festivities and Kids' Activities

Morgan Hall

  • 11:00-11:45 am Inaugural Concert with ASO musicians, ASO Community Orchestra, ASO Youth Orchestra performance
    • Jeremy Crosmer - Fanfare Commission
    • Tchaikovsky - Serenade
    • Florence Price - Andante Moderato
    • Valerie Coleman - Umoja (for Woodwind Quintet)
    • Rockefeller Quartet Demo (excerpt)
    • Riley - In C
  • 12:00-12:45 pm Performance with St. Mark's Choir and ASO musicians
  • 1:00-1:45 pm Ozark Fiddlers
  • 2:00-2:45 pm ASYO Small Ensembles
  • 3:00-3:45 pm "Beethoven Blast" Symphony No. 5 Workshop
  • 7:00-10:00pm Party in Morgan Hall
  • After party at The Railyard

Classroom and Teaching Studios

  • 12:00 - 4:00 pm - Observable Rotating Masterclasses, Private Lessons, Lessons for Adults, Instrument Petting Zoos, and Tours

Sunday, September 15, 2024

  • 12:00-1:00 pm - Prelude Orchestra Open Rehearsal
  • 1:30-3:45 pm - Academy Orchestra Open Rehearsal
  • 4:00-6:30 pm - Youth Orchestra Open Rehearsal

Press

ASO Press Release - July 2024

 

Arkansas Talk Business & Politics - Arkansas Symphony to open permanent home in September

Arkansas Times - Arkansas Symphony Orchestra announces grand opening of future headquarters

Little Rock Soirée - ASO Announces Stella Boyle Smith Music Center Opening Celebrations

Arkansas Money & Politics - Grand Opening Set for ASO's Stella Boyle Smith Music Center

KATV - Arkansas Symphony Orchestra's new music center opening day announced

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - [Photo from Grand Opening Announcement]