Symphony preps for next season
The Fort Smith Symphony has begun selling season tickets for its upcoming concerts that begin in September.
In its next season, the symphony will have six concerts including one free outdoor show on the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith campus.
The performances will mark the symphony's 99th season, so it will act as preparation for the 100th season.
“Not a lot of orchestras at all anywhere can say they’ve been around for 100 years much less one in a town in a city like this so we’re very excited about being supported by the city for a whole century," said Laken Emerson, the director of development, education and community engagement for the Fort Smith Symphony.
People can get tickets online or by phone. Season tickets cost between $160 and $210, but officials are selling them for 35% off. Per concert, depending on the package and seating choice, each ticket can be 35% off the cost of purchasing each individually. The symphony will begin selling tickets to individual shows in August.
“It’s a great mix of programming," said John Jeter, the music director and conductor. "I think we have concerts, I think we tried to do concerts that are, you know, for everyone from, you know, superheroes, film-score concert to an all-American orchestral concert to, of course, Christmas."
The season will kick off with "From the New World" on Sept. 10. The show will feature music by Max Richter, Franz Joseph Haydn and Antonin Dvorak.
The next performance will be "Symphonic Superheroes," showing film scores from superhero movies including "X-Men," "Captain America," "Iron Man," "Wonder Woman" and "Transformers." It will be Oct. 15.
The Christmas concert will be Dec. 3 and will showcase holiday favorites such as "We Three Kings," "The Nutcracker" and "Sleigh Ride."
Jeter said the Christmas performance remains the symphony's most popular show.
The first of the spring concerts will be "What a Rush!" presenting music by Cristina Spinei, Kenneth Fuchs and Howard Hanson.
The free show will be April 1, featuring popular favorites.
The final show of the season will be "Native American Legends," spotlighting music by Louis Ballard, the first recognized Native American concert composer.
“There’s a big interest in our region in Native American history and culture, but this is very unique," Jeter said. "This is kind of a first-time thing. I don’t know of any orchestra that’s really going to focus so much on one historical Native American composer, and he’s really the first guy."
Emerson said people are interested in Native American composers throughout the nation.
‘There’s a hunger for this project specifically nationwide," Emerson said. "Like people are talking about wanting Native American music, wanting to reach that diaspora a little bit more, and so while it’s timely also for this region because of where we are located, it is also nationally timely with the conversations going on here and in Canada."
After each of the paid shows, there will be an after-party at The Bakery District. The symphony began the collaboration last season, and it proved to be a success.
Alex Gladden is a University of Arkansas graduate. She previously reported for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and The Jonesboro Sun before joining the Times Record. She can be contacted at agladden@swtimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Symphony preps for next season
