SoNA Announces New Executive Director
Symphony of Northwest Arkansas Board Names Ben Harris to Top Leadership Post
FAYETTEVILLE, ARK., (September 19, 2023) — The Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA) is delighted to announce that Ben Harris has been named the new Executive Director of SoNA. The position was previously held by D. Riley Nicholson, who departed SoNA in July after announcing he’d be moving to California to lead the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.
Harris will be responsible for the overall leadership of the symphony and administration, encouraging excellence in performance with the goal of serving the whole Northwest Arkansas community. He will be involved in the organization’s diversity and educational programs, extending throughout the greater Northwest Arkansas region, and will oversee the implementing and planning of major initiatives and policies.
A professional musician, educator, composer/arranger, and booking agent, Ben Harris joined the SoNA family in 2012, serving as Production Manager, then Director of Operations and Annual Giving, and most recently, General Manager. During his tenure he has demonstrated his expertise, unwavering commitment, and faithfulness to the entire SoNA community.
“I can’t think of a better match for our symphony,” says SoNA Music Director Paul Haas “Ben has the charisma, charm, and grace — not to mention the work ethic — to lead SoNA into a new era. We’re becoming more and more integrated into communities across Northwest Arkansas, expanding as we do so, and Ben’s deep knowledge of both the inner workings of SoNA and key stakeholders across the region make him the obvious choice to lead the charge. Personally, I’m a huge fan of Ben’s, and I have been ever since he began working with us. I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together.”
The Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA), previously named the North Arkansas Symphony (NASO), was founded in 1954 and has provided more than 65 years of musical performances and educational opportunities. SoNA is a resident company of Walton Arts Center, and presents classical and pops performances across Northwest Arkansas, with an annual combined audience of 25,000.
“It is truly an honor to be entrusted with the position of Executive Director of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas.” Harris says. “I have worked for SoNA in various capacities for more than a decade, and I am immensely proud of the work we have done to benefit our community through music, education, outreach, and stellar performances. I feel incredibly fortunate to lead an organization with such an engaged and supportive Board of Directors, a dynamic and powerful staff, our brilliant Music Director Paul Haas, and the amazing musicians who make up our orchestra.”
SoNA’s presenting partners and selected appearances include Crystal Bridges, the Momentary, CACHE, The Medium, Art on the Creeks, the Bentonville Film Festival, Bentonville Public Library, Butterfield Trail Village, Cross Church, Community Creative Center, Fayetteville Public Library, Fayetteville Roots Festival, John Brown University, The Jones Center, Mercy Health Foundation, Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel, Siloam Springs Public Library, Springdale Public Library, TheatreSquared, Trike Theatre, the University of Arkansas, Walton Arts Center, the Walmart AMP, and the Walmart Museum.
SoNA is dedicated to expanding the definition of what an orchestra can be and who it serves. Through SoNA Beyond, the symphony goes beyond the mainstage with creative and inclusive concert experiences that reach the entire region, from small pop-up community experiences to large-scale collaborations with arts partners like Crystal Bridges. SoNA is also committed to inspiring and supporting the next generation of artists, civic-minded leaders, and audiences. Through the SoNA Mentors program, educational concerts throughout the region, the free tickets for youth program, and more, SoNA serves more than 2,000 students per year.
A nonprofit organization, SoNA receives philanthropic support from foundations, businesses, and individuals, including a number of donors who have pledged generous multi-year support to establish an endowment for long-term sustainability. SoNA has an active Board of Directors and Board of Advisors composed of community leaders from throughout Northwest Arkansas.
“Ben Harris is a professional musician and administrator with all the talents to lead SoNA to new heights as an organization,” says Marti Sudduth, SoNA Board Chair. “We are very fortunate to have him as our new Executive Director and look forward to many years of leadership together.”
SoNA will kick off its 2023-24 season on September 23, 2023, with Great Romantics, featuring works from Leonard Berstein and Sergei Rachmaninoff. More information, including the full season lineup and ticketing options, can be found here. From Bernstein to Beethoven, the upcoming season truly has something for everyone.