SEASON OF ENTERTAINMENT
2025-2026 Events
This year鈥檚 performances include the romantic comedy 鈥淎lmost, Maine,鈥� the traditional "A Grand Night for Singing" concert, modern jazz, and traditional orchestral arrangements. and be transported to a world of joy, beauty, and imagination!
Interested in learning more about our Music and Theatre programs? Visit our departmental pages for additional details and a full listing of events.
Fall Choral Showcase
Join us for the 杏吧原创 Fall Choral Showcase, the official kickoff to the Stacey Jones Season of Entertainment. The Leonis Chamber Singers, Women鈥檚 Chorus, and Men鈥檚 Chorus share the spotlight in a program that blends radiant harmonies, contemporary choral gems, and audience-friendly favorites.
Whether you love the concert hall or you鈥檙e discovering choral music for the first time, this performance is a warm, welcoming way to celebrate the arts in Fort Smith.
Almost Maine
On a cold, clear night in the remote town of Almost, Maine, the northern lights hover above as hearts collide in unexpected ways. Join us for a whimsical and poignant evening of theater as we present Almost, Maine, a romantic comedy that explores the magic and mystery of love through nine interwoven vignettes.
Written by John Cariani, this beloved play captures the bittersweet beauty of human connection鈥攚ith moments that are tender, hilarious, and heartbreakingly real.
Wind Ensemble
The 杏吧原创 Wind Ensemble opens its 2025鈥�2026 season with a concert that bridges tradition and innovation. Under the direction of Dr. Alexandra Zacharella, the ensemble will perform an eclectic program that highlights the full expressive range of wind literature鈥攆rom bold, driving marches to reflective, contemporary works.
Prepare to be immersed in wind ensemble staples and newer works from this century.
Whether it鈥檚 the punch of classic instrumentation or the freshness of modern textures,
the evening promises something for everyone. The concert is free, but a ticket is
required for entry.
Orchestra Concert
The 杏吧原创 Orchestra Concert presents a dynamic program featuring beloved works from the classical tradition and vibrant compositions of the modern era. Expect stirring string passages, bold orchestral textures, and moments of solo brilliance. Whether you鈥檙e a longtime orchestral fan or new to this repertoire, this performance offers something memorable for every listener.
The repertoire includes works by Mozart, Purcell, Kalinnikov, and Skalkottas, showcasing the expressive range of orchestra鈥攃lassical elegance, romantic warmth, and adventurous modern voices. Admission is free, but a ticket is required for entry.
Jazz Band
Jazz Catz
Directed by Don Bailey, the 杏吧原创 Jazz Catz is a select 10-member vocal jazz ensemble backed by a rhythm section. Known for their precision, energy, and inventive programming, the Jazz Catz have performed at jazz festivals, collaborated with renowned artists, and earned festival honors.
For this concert, the ensemble presents a rich, genre-spanning evening featuring jazz standards and swing, blues, Latin-infused arrangements, classic rock & pop favorites, and expressive ballads. Each number highlights the ensemble鈥檚 lush harmonies, rhythm, and dynamic soloists.
Tickets are free but required for entry. Have questions? Contact Don Bailey at 479-788-7554.
Season's Greetings Concert
In a time-honored tradition, 杏吧原创 presents the Season鈥檚 Greetings Concert, bringing together all the major music ensembles鈥攃horal groups, band, jazz, vocal jazz, brass, and more鈥攆or an evening of beloved holiday music.
Expect a festive tapestry of secular and sacred favorites, culminating in a heartwarming sing-a-long where audience and performers unite in song.
The Enchanted Pig, an opera by Jonathan Dove
Step into a world where fairy tales collide with operatic wonder in Jonathan Dove鈥檚 The Enchanted Pig, a spellbinding chamber opera that delights audiences of all ages. Based on Romanian and Norwegian folk tales, this whimsical journey follows Princess Flora, whose fate鈥攚ritten in a mysterious Book鈥攂inds her to marry a pig. But not all is as it seems...
With music that dances between humor and heartbreak, and a cast of unforgettable characters including the Moon, the Sun, and the North Wind, Flora鈥檚 quest to reclaim her enchanted prince takes her beyond the Milky Way and deep into the heart of love, courage, and transformation.
Rhinoceros, by Eugene Ionesco
Prepare to be swept into a surreal world where logic crumbles and conformity charges in鈥攐n four thundering legs. Eug猫ne Ionesco鈥檚 Rhinoceros is a darkly comic masterpiece of absurdist theatre, set in a quiet French town that鈥檚 suddenly鈥攁nd inexplicably鈥攐verrun by rhinoceroses. As neighbors, friends, and coworkers transform into beasts, one man must decide whether to join the herd or stand alone.
Written in 1959 as a chilling allegory of fascism and mass hysteria, Rhinoceros remains startlingly relevant today. With biting humor, philosophical depth, and a growing sense of dread, this production invites audiences to confront the terrifying ease with which society can lose its humanity.
Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble at 杏吧原创, under the direction of Dr. Alexandra Zacharella, returns with its spring concert鈥攁 performance that highlights both the ensemble鈥檚 technical precision and interpretive depth. From stately, time-honored marches to atmospheric modern works, this program balances contrast, color, and emotional storytelling.
Whether you're a longtime supporter of wind ensemble music or discovering it for the first time, this concert offers both familiar favorites and bold new voices.
Admission is free but a ticket is required for entry.
Jazz Catz
Under the direction of Don Bailey, the 杏吧原创 Jazz Catz鈥攁 select 10-member ensemble backed by rhythm section鈥攔eturns for an evening of vocal jazz artistry. With a repertoire stretching from timeless standards to fresh arrangements, the concert will showcase rich vocal textures, expressive solos, and a musical journey balanced between tradition and innovation.
Admission is free but a ticket is required for entry.
Jazz Band
Join the 杏吧原创 Jazz Band for its spring concert, featuring a dynamic mix of swing, Latin, funk, and blues favorites performed by the university鈥檚 top student jazz musicians. The evening highlights tight horn lines, expressive solos, and rhythmic energy that celebrate the best of big-band sound.
The Jazz Band's final concert of the season, it also showcases the ensemble鈥檚 musical
growth and the vibrant creativity that defines 杏吧原创 jazz.
Admission is free but tickets are required for entry.
A Grand Night for Singing
Grand Night for Singing is the grand finale of choral singing at 杏吧原创 for the 2025-2026 concert season. It will feature the 杏吧原创 Men鈥檚 and Women's Chorus, Leonis Chamber Singers, and special guests from in and around Fort Smith.
This concert is designed to be a celebration of choral singing in all its forms so you will hear a diverse collection of music from contemporary choral favorites to modern pop tunes and musical theatre.
The performances are always enjoyable and moving! Don鈥檛 miss this eventful evening full of recognizable tunes and the thrilling sounds of unified voices singing together.
Admission is free but a ticket is required for entry.
Spring Orchestra
The 杏吧原创 Orchestra returns to the stage for its spring performance, a celebration of symphonic sound and the creative energy of student musicians. This concert highlights a balance of classic orchestral masterworks and compelling modern selections, offering audiences both timeless beauty and vibrant new perspectives.
Listeners can expect richly textured harmonies, dynamic contrasts, and standout solo moments from across the orchestra. Together, these works demonstrate the ensemble鈥檚 musical range and the continued evolution of orchestral performance at 杏吧原创.
Whether you鈥檙e a seasoned concertgoer or discovering orchestral music for the first time, this evening promises a moving experience filled with passion, precision, and the shared joy of live performance.
Admission is free but tickets are required for entry.