ASO Reschedules Masterworks, River Rhapsodies Concerts Due to Inclement Weather

LITTLE ROCK, AR. (Jan. 20, 2026) — To avoid expected inclement weather, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is moving the third production of the 2025-2026 Stella Boyle Smith Masterworks season, “Rebirth and Revolution,” to a single show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, at the Robinson Center, and it will postpone the next concerts of its River Rhapsodies: Bank of America Chamber Music Series to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, and 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, at the ASO Stella Boyle Smith Music Center in Little Rock’s East Village.

The ASO was originally scheduled to perform the Masterworks concert on Saturday, Jan. 24, and Sunday, Jan. 25. National Weather Service officials on Tuesday reported a significant chance of snow accumulation in Arkansas, including in Little Rock, on Friday and Saturday, with temperatures below freezing.

Masterworks

The Masterworks concert will include a performance of Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 5” and feature guest violinist and concertmaster Alexander Kerr of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

“While we regret the inconvenience this change may cause our patrons, the safety of our musicians, staff and audience must always come first,” ASO Music Director Geoffrey Robson said. “We are deeply grateful to our ticket holders for their understanding, and we thank our musicians, guest violinist Alexander Kerr, and the Robinson Center team for their flexibility and professionalism as we navigate these circumstances together.”

As usual, all concert ticket holders are invited to a pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m. on the upper tier of the Robinson Center. This talk will feature insights from Associate Conductor Valery Saul, guest artists and musical examples to enrich the concert experience.

Tickets are for general admission seating and cost $25. Thanks to Bank OZK, all Arkansas kids 18 and under receive free admission with the purchase of an adult ticket. Tickets can be purchased online at arkansassymphony.org, at the Box Office in the Robinson Center an hour and a half before the concert, or by phone at (501) 666-1761, ext. 1.

Artists

Geoffrey Robson, Music Director
(bio: arkansassymphony.org/about-aso/music-director)

Alexander Kerr, violin
(bio: arkansassymphony.org/alexander-kerr)

Program

Sergei Prokofiev — “Violin Concerto No. 2,” featuring violinist Alexander Kerr
Dmitri Shostakovich — “Symphony No. 5,” featuring Kerr

River Rhapsodies

The River Rhapsodies production, “From Roots to Revolution,” was originally scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27, and Wednesday, Jan. 28. The River Rhapsodies series features small ensembles performing music curated by ASO musicians in collaboration with Music Director Geoffrey Robson.

Tickets are $30 (subject to change); $15 tickets are available for students and/or military with a valid ID. Tickets can be purchased online at arkansassymphony.org, at the Box Office in the ASO Stella Boyle Smith Music Center beginning one hour before the concert, or by phone at (501) 666-1761, ext. 1. Patrons can buy drinks at a cash bar and are invited to bring their drinks into the hall.

Artists & Program

(available bios/photos at the links)

Arnold Schoenberg — “String Quartet No. 1”

• Geoffrey Robson, violin
• Katherine Williamson, violin
• Tim Macduff, viola
• David Gerstein, cello

Intermission

Johannes Brahms: “Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34”

• Rockefeller Quartet
• Haeshin Shin, piano

About The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra is the leading employer of professional performing artists in Arkansas and is celebrating its 60th season in 2025-2026. The ASO recently opened its first permanent home, the ASO Stella Boyle Smith Music Center, in the East Village between Heifer International and the Clinton Presidential Library. The state’s first music center is a radically welcoming hub of musical activity for all Arkansans, housing programs of the E. Lee Ronnel Music Academy, a broadcast studio, and the River Rhapsodies Chamber Music Series. ASO is the resident orchestra at Robinson Center and performs over 60 concerts yearly for more than 165,000 people through its Stella Boyle Smith Masterworks Series, First Orion Pops Series, River Rhapsodies Chamber Music Series, and numerous concerts throughout Arkansas. The E. Lee Ronnel Music Academy reaches over 30,000 Arkansans in over 200 schools from ages 4 to 104 through the string academy, youth ensembles, bucket band, community orchestra, the annual Children’s Concert, and more. In 2020, over 1 million people in over 30 countries viewed the ASO musician-led Bedtime with Bach series. The ASO employs 13 full-time musicians, over 70 part-time musicians, and 18 administrative staff members with an annual operating budget of $4 million. The ASO is a member of the League of American Orchestras and a partner orchestra of the National Alliance for Audition Support, an unprecedented national initiative to increase diversity in American orchestras. For more information about the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, call 501-666-1761 or visit www.ArkansasSymphony.org. Program notes, artist bios, and high-resolution headshots available upon request.

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