ARTS & CULTURE
Text and photos courtesy of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas
Symphony of Northwest Arkansas Launches New Era With 2026-27 MainStage Season
Akiko Fujimoto takes the stage as SoNA’s new music director
A new era is set to begin for the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas with its 2026-27 MainStage season — the first under newly appointed music director Akiko Fujimoto. Tickets and subscriptions are now on sale for six concert programs at Walton Arts Center.
“We could not be more excited to begin a new era of SoNA with Akiko Fujimoto as our music director,” said SoNA Executive Director Ben Harris. “After a long season of searching, we are thrilled to have found a conductor who displays outstanding musicianship on the podium, a deeply thoughtful approach to programming and a remarkable ability to connect with the audience.”
Fujimoto was selected following SoNA’s 2025-26 “Season of Discovery,” which featured six guest conductors, including four finalists for the music director position. She first conducted SoNA in January 2026, leading the orchestra in Across the Silk Road: Scheherazade, before being announced as its new artistic leader in May.
“My first season with SoNA is one giant love letter to Northwest Arkansas,” Fujimoto said. “I’ve curated a season of masterpieces that celebrate the artistry of our musicians while reflecting the beauty, imagination and energy of Northwest Arkansas.”
The season begins Oct. 3 with Rites of Renewal: The Firebird. Inspired by ritual, celebration and transformation, the program includes Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture, Copland’s spirited Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo and the exhilarating Bacchanale from Saint-Saëns’ Samson and Delilah. Stravinsky’s legendary The Firebird Suite will bring the evening to a powerful conclusion.
On Nov. 8, guest conductor Chelsea Tipton will take audiences on a cinematic journey with Modern Mythology: The Music of John Williams. The Sunday matinee will feature a selection of iconic film and television music by the great, living American composer, from the heart-pounding sounds of Jaws, E.T. and Star Wars to the moving melodies of Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan.
The magic of the holidays returns Dec. 12 with two performances of A Very SoNA Christmas. Guest conductor Creston Herron will lead SoNA musicians, the SoNA Singers and special guest soloists in a joyful program filled with holiday favorites. Then, on Dec. 13, SoNA assistant conductor Sarah Pearson leads The Snowman: A Family Concert, featuring the beloved animated film The Snowman with its enchanting orchestral soundtrack performed live.
The season continues into the new year Feb. 21, 2027, with Fate & Triumph: Beethoven’s Fifth. Opening the program is Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers, inspired by Beethoven’s enduring spirit of resilience. Van Cliburn International Piano Competition medalist Sean Chen then joins SoNA for Prokofiev’s dazzling Piano Concerto No. 3, before Fujimoto and the orchestra culminate the concert with Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 5.
SoNA closes the season April 10, 2027, with Eternal City: Pines of Rome, a program inspired by the beauty and grandeur of the natural world. Wagner’s Forest Murmurs evokes the mystery of the woodland while William Grant Still’s The American Scene: A Mountain, a Memorial, and a Song paints a vivid musical portrait of the American landscape. SoNA concertmaster Winona Fifield then takes the spotlight in Vaughan Williams’ beloved The Lark Ascending, followed by Dobrinka Tabakova’s Orpheus’ Comet. And Respighi’s spectacular Pines of Rome brings the season to a thrilling close.
All performances take place in Walton Arts Center’s Baum Walker Hall. Single tickets start at $42. Full-season subscriber packages start at $195 and include all five MainStage concerts (excluding The Snowman), offering prime seating options and savings of approximately 10% per ticket.
Sampler subscriptions start at $114 and allow patrons to choose three or four MainStage performances at a reduced cost. Discounted student subscriptions are also available, and children under age 18 receive free admission with a paid adult ticket, subject to limited availability. Tickets for The Snowman are $10.