Thu Sep 12 08:36:54 UTC 2024: ## Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Opens New $12 Million Home, Embracing Community-Focused Model
**Little Rock, Arkansas** – The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra is celebrating the opening of its first permanent home in its 58-year history. The Stella Boyle Smith Music Center, a $12 million facility in downtown Little Rock, is a testament to the orchestra’s dedication to community engagement and its success in a challenging landscape for classical music.
The orchestra, facing financial difficulties a decade and a half ago, underwent a dramatic transformation under CEO Christina Littlejohn. By prioritizing community involvement, they have thrived, attracting audiences and securing funding for their new headquarters.
The building’s design reflects this commitment to accessibility. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a glimpse into rehearsals and performances, while a grand piano in the lobby invites visitors to play.
“This is not a do not touch piano,” says music director Geoffrey Robson. “It’s a please play me piano.”
The orchestra’s commitment to community goes beyond the building itself. They have actively engaged with audiences through live streaming concerts and lessons, broadening their reach and attracting younger generations. They have also championed diversity in their programming, featuring works by black composers like William Grant Still and Florence Price, whose Piano Concerto In One Movement marked their first commercial release in over two decades.
The success of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra provides a model for other struggling symphonies across the nation, according to Simon Woods, president and CEO of the League of American Orchestras. “It’s like this building that they have bought to fruition there, which is just a remarkable thing, is a kind of a concrete, literally, realization of all the changes that are going on in our field.”
The new Music Center is a symbol of the orchestra’s journey, demonstrating the power of community engagement in revitalizing classical music. The orchestra is celebrating the opening with a three-day free event this weekend, thanking the community that has supported their growth.
First Piper 