Symphony of Northwest Arkansas

The Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, known locally as SoNA, is the region's professional orchestra, drawing players from Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers and Springdale and from music schools across the country. Concerts take place at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, a mid-sized hall where the strings carry easily and no seat feels far from the stage. The season here is compact and varied: three classical programs, a pops night, and a holiday concert, led this year by Akiko Fujimoto, Chelsea Tipton and Creston Herron. Programs typically pair a familiar symphony or concerto with something shorter and newer, and the orchestra often features guest soloists. Expect an evening of roughly two hours with one intermission, and an audience that skews friendly and casual rather than formal.