The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra announced Thursday that the Stella Boyle Smith Music Center – a $11.75 million, 20,000-square-foot space and the organization’s first permanent headquarters since it was incorporated in 1966 — will open in September, a little over a year after construction began on the facility in August 2023.
There’s a private event honoring donors on Friday, Sept. 13, but the bulk of the opening festivities will take place on Saturday, Sept. 14, starting with a morning parade that will begin at the First Security Amphitheatre and end at the new building, which is located near Heifer International in the East Village neighborhood.
Then, there’s a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by musical performances inside and outside the center, family-friendly activities, building tours and food trucks. The day will conclude with a dance party in Morgan Hall, with symphony musicians “performing a journey through various musical eras.” Tours will also be offered on Sunday, when the youth orchestra will christen the new space with their first rehearsals.
Information about how to secure free tickets to the dance party as well as a full schedule of events and performances will be released in the coming weeks, so keep an eye on ASO’s website and social media pages for details.
In addition to a spacious lobby, the Stella Boyle Smith Music Center will house a music academy, a recording studio, practice spaces, instrument storage, a rehearsal/performance hall and administrative offices. For more on the layout, check out the sneak peak we got of construction in April.