Classical & Opera

Arkansas Chamber Singers
The Arkansas Chamber Singers (ACS) is vocal ensemble dedicated to performing and promoting classical and conte...
Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, based in Little Rock (Pulaski County), provides opportunities for the residen...
Gretha Denise Boston (1959–)
Gretha Denise Boston is a celebrated mezzo-soprano and Tony Award–winning actress. She made her Carnegie Hal...
Sarah Caldwell (1924–2006)
A member of the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame, Sarah Caldwell was an internationally recognized American...
Classical Music and Opera
Although Arkansas is generally better known for its blues, gospel, folk, country, and rock and roll performer...
Louis Thomas "Moondog" Hardin Jr. (1916–1999)
aka: Louis T. Hardin
Louis Thomas “Moondog” Hardin Jr. grew up and learned to play t...
Barbara Ann Hendricks (1948–)
Barbara Hendricks is an internationally recognized leading lyric soprano. Whether performing light soprano rol...
Hot Springs Music Festival
The Hot Springs Music Festival is a non-profit organization whose dual mission is, first, to provide exception...
Hazel Shanks Hynson (1903–2005)
Hazel Shanks Hynson was a classically trained pianist who served as the choir director at Arkansas Baptist Col...
Marjorie Florence Lawrence (1907–1979)
Marjorie Florence Lawrence, an Australian native and star soprano with the Metropolitan Opera Company of New Y...
Kristin Allison Lewis (1975–)
Opera singer Kristin Lewis of Little Rock (Pulaski County) is recognized for her richly hued voice capable of...
Mary Sybil Kidd Lewis (1897–1941)
Mary Sybil Kidd Lewis was possibly the most publicized singer of the 1920s. Using her childhood training, she ...
William Francis McBeth (1933–2012)
William Francis McBeth was a world-renowned composer and conductor. He was the Trustees’ Distinguished Unive...
Robert McFerrin Sr. (1921–2006)
Robert McFerrin Sr. was an African American baritone opera and concert singer who became the first Black male...
James Henry (Jimmy) McKissic (1940–2013)
Jimmy McKissic was a world-renowned pianist from Pine Bluff (Jefferson County) who spent much of his life in F...
Bonnie Montgomery (1979–)
Bonnie Montgomery is a singer, songwriter, and musician from Arkansas. A classically trained singer and pianis...
Charlotte Moorman (1933–1991)
aka: Madeline Charlotte Moorman Garside
Charlotte Moorman was a cellist, avant-garde performance artist, an...
Samuel Conlon Nancarrow (1912–1997)
Samuel Conlon Nancarrow composed innovative music and produced a body of work largely for player piano. Accord...
William David Newbern (1937–)
William David Newbern, who chased the twin passions of music and law, devoted a career to soldiering, teaching...
Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point
Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point is a summer program that trains opera singers and stages performances...
Florence Price (1887–1953)
Florence Beatrice Smith Price was the first African American woman composer to have a symphonic composition pe...
Wilbur Carl “Skip” Redwine (1926–1987)
Wilbur Carl “Skip” Redwine was a composer and songwriter from Marshall (Searcy County). Skip Redwine was b...
Thomas Stacy (1938–2023)
Thomas Stacy was one of the world’s most accomplished masters of the English horn, performing with the New Y...
William Grant Still (1895–1978)
William Grant Still grew up in Little Rock (Pulaski County) and achieved national and international acclaim as...
Blanche Thebom (1915–2010)
Blanche Thebom was a world-renowned operatic soprano, opera director, and educator. With her trademark six-foo...
William Caesar Warfield (1920–2002)
William Caesar Warfield was a noted African-American bass-baritone concert artist who had an extensive career ...
Sterling B. Williams (1941–2013)
Dr. Sterling Williams was a groundbreaking leader in the field of obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) who serve...
Ferdinand Zellner (1831–1919)
Ferdinand Frederick Zellner lived in Fayetteville (Washington County) from 1852 until 1863 and wrote a piece o...