29 Jul 2024 Arkansas Symphony Orchestra plans celebration for Stella Boyle Smith Music Center

LITTLE ROCK — 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. 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.

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

The Saturday celebration will feature a unique “sonic” ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a day filled with music both inside and outside the center. The highlight will be performances in Morgan Hall, where ASO musicians will play publicly in the new space for the first time. Family-friendly activities, building tours and food trucks will create a festive, welcoming atmosphere 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. More details on securing tickets to this event will be posted in the coming weeks on the ASO website and its social media channels. 

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.

A full schedule of events, musical acts and other performers for the grand opening week will be released in the coming weeks on the ASO website and social media portals.

“Our task force for the grand opening has been hard at work ensuring the music center’s grand opening is a historic celebration for the City of Little Rock and the entire state,” Robson said. “Our biggest goal that weekend is to make sure the community feels a part of this wonderful new space and can call it home just as we — the staff, musicians and volunteers — will.”

The music center will boast state-of-the-art features for youth and adults who participate in the E. Lee Ronnel Music Academy, including music classrooms and practice spaces. Morgan Hall, named for long-time ASO supporters Susie and Charles Morgan, will serve as a versatile space for rehearsals and concerts, fostering an immersive musical experience. The center will also provide residents from all corners of the state access to performances and music making through a broadcast and recording studio.

ASO broke ground on the music center on Aug. 10, 2023, following years of efforts by community supporters to privately fundraise and identify a suitable location. More than 200 generous donors contributed to the project, including 48 musicians. Major donors include the Stella Boyle Smith Trust, the Morgans, Gus Vratsinas, Terri and Chuck Erwin, the Windgate Foundation, E. Lee Ronnel, Pat Becker and Jim Wallis, Simmons Bank, the State of Arkansas and members of the ASO Board of Directors. Additional supporters include the orchestra, staff, youth orchestra parents, volunteers and numerous community members.

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. To learn more about ASO and the new Stella Boyle Smith Music Center, visit arkansassymphony.org.