What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1323916
Looking forward to 2021 from the perspective of 31 years at KUAF, Kellams doesn't see anything slowing down. "A big concern I have is we're all thinking, 'OK, see ya later, 2020!' That 2021 is going to be this restart. And I think that will be true eventually, but Jan. 2, 2021, isn't going to be much different from Dec. 30, 2020. There isn't going to be a VJ Day or a VE Day when it's just over. So I think at least the next two or three months are going to be just as challenging." So KUAF will continue to exceed its own expectations. — BECCA MARTIN-BROWN D. Riley Nicholson SoNA "A huge part of a role like this is relationship building — with the board, donors, staff, artists and key organizational partners," says D. Riley Nicholson of joining the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas this summer as executive director. "So, at a time when I was essentially starting from scratch, my fear was that the difficulties with connecting in 2020 would significantly and negatively impact the organization. "While it is a huge challenge to foster community and connections despite the lack of large in-person gatherings, it has pleasantly surprised me how supportive everyone has been of both the symphony and me personally, despite being the 'new guy.'" Nicholson, who grew up in Hot Springs, came home to Arkansas this summer after earning a Master of Music in composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and working with several arts organizations there. When he accepted the job with SoNA, he had no idea he'd be reimagining the way an orchestra delivers music to its listeners, not just in 2020 but beyond. "All of these alternative concert experiences that we are producing are not just a stop-gap to hold us over, but rather a strategic test of how we want SoNA to grow and evolve," he says. "We've learned that people really do tune in online and that classical music can go 'viral' if presented in a timely and culturally relevant way (and of course at the highest possible artistic level). "Covid has been a wake-up call and forced us to be flexible. For the most part, I see the industry adapting and making enormous strides to do just that," he adds. "My hope is that we can continue that level of innovation for years to come. "We can't wait to get back to the mainstage at Walton Arts Center, and we will always play the classics (Mozart and Beethoven aren't going anywhere). However, growth for us looks more like additions rather than replacements," he concludes. "My biggest question for the future of SoNA is, what does a synergistic addition to these time-honored methods of presenting music and these time- honored pieces look like? How can we be more equitable to artists, more diverse in programming, and reach a wider audience? This Reimagined Season is a great opportunity to start testing and answering some of these questions." — BECCA MARTIN-BROWN Ken & Casey Weatherford Beer and Hymns The very essence of the Northwest Arkansas chapter of "Beer and Hymns" is togetherness: Music lovers gather in various pubs and bars throughout the region to tip a beer or two and enthusiastically sing their way through a music catalog of classic hymns and See People Page 6 The next installment of Beer and Hymns will take place on Facebook Live at 6 p.m. Jan. 24, says executive director Ken Weatherford. Proceeds will benefit Essentials Outreach. Weatherford has kept the monthly gathering alive even though it's moved online. (Courtesy Photo/ Russell Bloodworth) D. Riley Nicholson came to Fayetteville in the summer of 2020 as the new executive director of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas — and found himself reimagining how an orchestra serves its community. (Courtesy Photo) JANUARY 3-9, 2021 WHAT'S UP! 5 2020 IN REVIEW