24 Nov 2025 Conway Symphony Orchestra jazzes up the holidays with Cool Yule Holiday Happenin’

Conway Symphony Orchestra swings in the holiday season with guest vocalist Shaleah Adkisson and the Cool Yulers in jazz arrangements of holiday songs, Broadway showstoppers, and Christmas classics at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Reynolds Performance Hall on the campus of UCA. 

The Cool Yulers, a group of 28 young singers and dancers from the Conway area, will take the stage with the CSO and featured guest artist Shaleah Adkisson, with a special appearance by her sister, Kelsie Adkisson. CSO Music Director Israel Getzov conducts the program. “This concert is all about sharing the joy and warmth of the season with our community,” the Maestro said. “Having Shaleah Adkisson join us adds an incredible energy and artistry that will make this holiday performance unforgettable.”

Shaleah will perform a variety of jazz arrangements from “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music to “Cool Yule” featuring tap and jazz dancers from Stage Door Dance Arts and Irby Dance Studio, as well as “Jingle Bells ala Barbra,” and Donnie Hathaway’s “This Christmas.” She will join the Cool Yuler singers for the classic “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and perform the Broadway numbers “Children Will Listen” from Sondheim’s Into the Woods, and the duet “For Good” from Wicked, with sister, Kelsie, also an experienced performer and UCA alum. To add to the concert experience, the orchestra will play selections from Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker,” holiday favorites by Leroy Anderson, and “Concert Suite” from The Polar Express.

Shaleah Adkisson comments, “I grew up going to Conway Public Schools, including Florence Mattison Elementary, Carl Stuart Middle School, and graduated from Conway High School in 2000.” She earned a Bachelor of Music Performance from UCA in 2004. Since then, she’s appeared on Broadway in “Hair,” at Disney World in Festival of the Lion King, and on stage with various symphonies around the country in concerts that tribute Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, and others. Shaleah continues, “This performance will be my first time back on stage in Conway since 2009. I’m thrilled and honored to share the stage with the CSO, and the amazing students featured in the concert.”

Director and teaching artist Ruthann Curry has been preparing the young artists for their time on stage with the Adkissons, in collaboration with Haley Ashford of Stage Door Dance Arts, and Susan Freedle, Anna Claire Davanzo, and Cassidy Jones of Irby Dance Studio. 

“Our great team of Conway Dance teachers, choreographers, and directors is thrilled to debut the CSO Cool Yuler Singers and Dancers, who will take the stage for two numbers,” Curry said. “These talented young artists are so excited to have the opportunity to work with renowned stage performer Shaleah Adkisson and the Conway Symphony Orchestra. Their creative energy sparkles with joy and passion as they learn to share ideas and talents.

“This collaboration is part of the CSO’s ongoing mission to strengthen the sense of community that makes the performing arts so powerful and enduring,” said Curry, who is also president of the CSO Board of Directors.  The Cool Yulers range from 6 to 18 years old. Once Shaleah arrives in Conway, the groups will spend one-on-one time with the artist in rehearsal and coaching.

Conway Corp is providing a limited number of free kids’ tickets for the show. “Conway Corp’s generosity as the 2025–26 CSO in the Classroom sponsor funds in-class demonstrations and provides free tickets to this performance, giving young people a firsthand experience of the orchestra,” CSO General Manager Suzanne Loerch said. 

“Supporting education and community enrichment are central to our mission at Conway Corp,” said Chief Marketing Officer Crystal Kemp. “We’re honored to partner with CSO to help students discover the arts and thankful for the orchestra’s commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences.” The tickets are available with the purchase of a regular adult ticket at the box office only. Limit two per family. Children’s tickets are regularly $17.50, all fees included.

Tickets can be purchased at the Reynolds Box Office on the campus of UCA  by calling 501.450.3265, or at conwaysymphony.org. Adult tickets are $34.50-$57.50. Individual UCA community/faculty/staff adult tickets are $23-$46; Student tickets are $17.50. UCA Student Rush tickets are $9 at the box office only on the Friday before the performance, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 1 hour prior to the event. 

Audience members are encouraged to come early to take pictures in front of the Christmas tree in the lobby of Reynolds Performance Hall. This beautiful, annual display will be enhanced by the CSO Guild with décor added for this event. The box office and lobby doors open at 6:30 p.m., one hour before the performance. 

For additional information on the concert and to buy individual concert tickets go to the CSO website at conwaysymphony.org or the CSO Facebook page facebook.com/conwaysymphony or CSO Instagram at instagram.com/conwaysymphony/.