What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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enthusiastic and supportive of SoNA, but also is willing to think out of the box, especially during these strange times." The season continues with "Colors of the Harp," featuring SoNA harpist Alisa Coffey, at 6 p.m. Oct. 16 in the same location. The program covers a wide scope of music history, showcasing her virtuosity through the music of composers like Franz Liszt, Domenico Scarlatti, Benjamin Britten and Henriette Renié. Then the orchestra takes a more virtual turn, with Solos from Home, which offers opportunities for each artist to record a short solo of their choosing, beginning in mid-October. And over the holidays, the SoNA Singers will make special virtual appearances under the direction of Terry Hicks to be posted online and shared via social media. SoNA will also schedule two full virtual concerts, the first in early November and the second in the spring of 2021. Nicholson says he and Haas wanted to craft programs that "touch on themes that feel current." "For example, with the string orchestra program, we wanted to present music that bridges eras and plays with the perception of time," he explains. "Given all the disruption and isolation, we need music's ability to poignantly ground us in present time and space more than ever. Another example is our full [spring] digital program, 'Latency Canons' — this piece repurposes video latency, usually an unwanted thing, into something beautiful and intentional. Anyone who has ever tried to sing happy birthday on Zoom knows exactly what video latency is!" And "while we're not ready to share exact details, more outdoor performances in the spring are definitely part of the plan," Nicholson adds. "Of course, this will depend on the status of the pandemic, but we hope to pepper the spring with different types of outdoor performances around Northwest Arkansas to reach a range of audiences. Hopefully, the groundhog doesn't see its shadow in 2021!" The musical choices were "absolutely shaped by the circumstances we're living through," says Haas, "but we've grasped this opportunity to rethink a lot about how we engage with the public, and we're aiming to retain this amped-up level of virtual and online engagement even as we reintroduce our regular mainstage concerts and a return to a semblance of normalcy." As a stranger in a strange land, Nicholson is grateful for a dedicated SoNA fan base. "One of the fantastic things about this reimagined season is that we will be offering many virtual experiences, like our November string orchestra concert for example, for free," he points out. "However, that means more than ever, we're relying on the generosity of our community to support our musicians. Those who are able to donate, whether that gift is small or large, are enabling us to not only weather this crisis, but evolve and grow so that we can emerge stronger than ever." Brought to you by Parks for the People "I have to give credit to everyone who helped me — the SoNA Artistic Advisory Committee was invaluable, as was Riley," says Maestro Paul Haas of making music choices for the reimagined 2020-21 season. "We had some inspiring brainstorming sessions, and all of us are excited about where we've ended up." "For those who already know and love SoNA, this reimagined season is a chance to get to know our orchestra in a new and deeper way," says Executive Director Riley Nicholson. "It's also a chance for us to creatively connect with our community and reach new audiences who might not feel comfortable at this time in the confines of a concert hall." (Courtesy Photos/SoNA) SoNA Continued From Page 3 4 WHAT'S UP! OCTOBER 11-17, 2020 COVER STORY