Symphony of Northwest Arkansas Akiko Fujimoto, Music Director
Modern Mythology: The Music of John Williams Chelsea Tipton, Guest Conductor
November 8, 2026
Modern Mythology: The Music of John Williams Sunday, November 8, 2026 – 2PM Walton Arts Center Chelsea Tipton, Guest Conductor
John Williams
The Cowboys Overture
Theme from Schindler’s List Miho Oda Sakon, violin
Midway March – from Midway Theme from Jaws
The Mission Theme – from NBC News Hymn to the Fallen – from Saving Private Ryan Raiders March – from Raiders of the Lost Ark
INTERMISSION Harry’s Wondrous World – from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone The Chamber of Secrets – from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Adventures on Earth – from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial The Adventures of Han – from Solo: A Star Wars Story The Imperial March – from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back The Jedi Steps and Finale – from Star Wars: The Force Awakens
This concert is generously sponsored by Flowers are given by the Greenwood family in honor of Mary Ann Greenwood 2
Symphony of Northwest Arkansas
SoNA Board & Staff Board of Directors Marti Sudduth, Chair Holly Johnson, Vice Chair Kim Hadley, Treasurer Laura Wilkins, Secretary Grant Davis Malcolm Hayward, M.D. Tom King, Ph.D. Juan Rodriguez Chris Wolf Tod Yeslow Min Yoo, M.D. Board of Advisors Ed Clifford Cynthia Coughlin Reed Greenwood Susan Hui Jill King Peter B. Lane Bill Mitchell Frank Sharp Dick Trammel Staff Ben Harris, Executive Director Akiko Fujimoto, Music Director Natalie Fernandez, Education Director & Personnel Manager Ben Glodowski, Operations & Production Manager Dr. Hannah Monk Truehart, Development Manager Richard Bobo, Music Librarian Terry Hicks, SoNA Singers Director Sarah Pearson, Assistant Conductor Luke Pearson, Accounting Elizabeth Bainbridge, Chorus Manager Contact PO Box 1243, Fayetteville, AR 72702 479.521.4166 info@sonamusic.org Connect www.sonamusic.org facebook.com/sonafan instagram.com/symphonynwa Join our email list Email us at info@sonamusic.org to receive the latest updates.
The Symphony of Northwest Arkansas Chelsea Tipton, Guest Conductor Bob & Becky Alexander Chair
FIRST VIOLIN Miho Oda Sakon, Acting Concertmaster Sandy Edwards Chair
Jill Woodhouse, Acting Associate Concertmaster Cynthia Coughlin Chair
Ramiro Miranda, Acting Assistant Concertmaster Lynn & Joel Carver Chair
Allison Steiner
Pour Jon’s Coffee Chair
Albert Garcia
Michael E. Hill Chair
Thomas Neely
Susan & Anthony Hui Chair
Santiago Posada Marin Carolyn Smart Chair
Austin Rice Hannah Truehart Ben Weir
Lester Lewis Endowed Chair
SECOND VIOLIN Miranda Burns, Acting Principal Mt. Sequoyah Women of Music Chair*
Diane Halliburton, Acting Associate Principal Marshall & Beth Saviers Chair
Karol Rulli
Claire Klinker Chair
CELLO Michael Puryear, Acting Principal Min Yoo Chair
Ashley Allison, Acting Associate Principal The Nichols Family Chair
Amelia Ivory Jennifer Carpenter
Todd Yeslow & Jackie Telfair Chair
Pecos Singer
Min Yoo Chair
Mary Kelly
Elle & Raymond Etheredge Chair
Logan Mabry
Tim & Deborah Ogg Chair
Andrew Thompson
Anonymous Donor Chair
Justin Mohling, assistant
Doug Lindsey
BASS Kassie Ferrero, Acting Principal Peter Lane & Barbara Putman Chair
Jeremiah Rupp, Acting Associate Principal Chris & Carrie Wolf Chair
Will Coppoc
Mary Benjamin Chair
Benji Wilson
FLUTE Ginny Hudson, Acting Principal Bob & Becky Alexander Chair
Cristina Ballatori, Acting Associate Principal Anonymous Donor Chair
Sarah Deay, piccolo
Christine Klinger Chair
Lorilee Erdman, English Horn
Paul Roberts Luna Fennell
Brooke Brander Chair
Ben Korzelius
Carol Sue & Alan Wooten Chair
Carrington Truehart
VIOLA Jesse Collett, Principal
Mt. Sequoyah Women of Music Chair*
Ann Marie Ziegler Chair
Colton Privette
TRUMPET Richard Rulli, Principal
OBOE Margaret Marco, Acting Principal
Bob & Becky Alexander Chair
Kim & Kelly Hadley Chair
Jason Hofmeister
Elle & Raymond Etheredge Chair
Cristian Vega Isabella Adams Rebecca Cutler-Metzger Ilvina Gabrielian Michael Weir
Grace Clark, Acting Associate Principal
HORN Zach Monroe, Principal
Jeff Pugh & Rebecca Levy Chair
Belanna Castillo
Daniel & Chauna Ellis Chair
Caleb & K’Anne Arthur Chair
CLARINET Mason Sangster, Acting Principal Laura & Bruce Wilkins Chair
Alyx Saeva
David & Holly Johnson Chair
Chastine Hofmeister, bass BASSOON Dennis Pearson, Acting Principal
Barbara & Doug Prichard Chair Martha & Drew Frits Chair
Tim Wootton
Grant & Kali Davis Chair
Grant Peters
TROMBONE Cory Mixdorf, Principal Tenor Michael Hollomon & Eric Wailes Chair
Doug Fletcher
Joey Martinez Chair
Justin Cook Jason Hausback, Principal Bass
TUBA Ben Pierce, Acting Principal Justice David Newbern Chair
TIMPANI Paul Keesling, Acting Principal Thad & Melanie Beck Chair
PERCUSSION Amy Hearting, Acting Principal Jeff Pugh & Rebecca Levy Chair
Clarissa Lindsay
Michael E. Hill Chair
Isaiah Sterling Carson Vanduch
HARP Devanee Williams, Acting Principal Bob & Becky Alexander Chair
KEYBOARD Eric Frei, Acting Principal Marti & Kelly Sudduth Chair
Malcolm & Ellen Hayward Chair
Luke Frith
Jennifer & Dr. Kenton Ross Chair
Richard Bobo, contrabassoon
*Mt. Sequoyah Women of Music: Jenny Coogan, Karolyn Farrell, Linda Kelly, Jill King, Lynn Rogers, Jane Scroggs, Jackie Telfair, Laura Wilkins, and Ann Marie Ziegler
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Chelsea Tipton Guest Conductor
Chelsea Tipton II is an acclaimed American conductor celebrated for his musical versatility, engaging leadership, and commitment to music education. He serves as Principal Guest Conductor of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Symphony of Southeast Texas, and is entering his twelfth and final season as Principal Pops Conductor of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. Each summer, he teaches on the conducting faculty of the Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Adrian Gnam International Conductors Workshop and Competition. A highly sought-after guest conductor, Tipton has appeared with many of the nation’s leading orchestras, including the Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony
Orchestra, Czech National Symphony Orchestra, and Virginia Symphony Orchestra. In 2011, he toured fourteen European countries with Sting, collaborating with nineteen orchestras, and reunited with the legendary artist in 2021 with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra. An enthusiastic educator, Tipton has taught and lectured at institutions including Indiana University, Bowdoin College, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and the University of Wisconsin Music Clinic. His honors include the Aspire Award from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Community Spotlight Award from Capital One Bank, and Citizen of the Year from the Neches River Festival. He also conducted the Houston Symphony Orchestra in a memorial concert honoring President George H.W. Bush at the invitation of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. Tipton holds degrees from Northern Illinois University and the Eastman School of Music and remains dedicated to inspiring audiences, students, and communities through the transformative power of orchestral music. Learn more at chelseatipton.com.
About John Williams In a career spanning more than six decades, John Williams has become one of America’s most accomplished and successful composers for film and the concert stage. He has composed music for more than 100 films, including all nine Star Wars films, the first three Harry Potter films, Superman and Home Alone. His 50-year artistic partnership with director Steven Spielberg has produced scores for many of Hollywood’s most acclaimed films, including Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the Indiana Jones films and Saving Private Ryan.
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Symphony of Northwest Arkansas
Williams has received five Academy Awards and 54 Oscar nominations, making him the Academy’s most-nominated living person and the second-most nominated person in Oscars history. His honors also include 27 Grammy Awards, seven BAFTAs, four Golden Globes, five Emmys, the Kennedy Center Honors, the National Medal of Arts and the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award. Williams served as music director of the Boston Pops Orchestra for 14 seasons and is now its Laureate Conductor. His extensive concert music includes two symphonies and numerous concertos commissioned by leading orchestras. In 2025, pianist Emanuel Ax premiered Williams’ newest piano concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood.
Ways to support SoNA Overture Society
Gifts of any size to the Overture Society provide general operating support for concerts, education programs, community outreach, and administrative expenses.
Chair Sponsorships
Chair Sponsorships support the musicians in the orchestra and help SoNA attract and retain the best talent in the region. A gift of $2,500 will support a Principal musician for a season. A gift of $1,750 will support an Associate Principal position, and a gift of $1,000 will support a section musician.
The Maestro’s Circle
Members of the Maestro’s Circle are donors who have committed to multi-year gifts of $5,000 or more annually. Contributions to the Maestro’s Circle help support the financial stability and long-term growth of SoNA.
Legacy Gifts
Planned charitable bequests to SoNA help to ensure that our mission of bringing great music to life in Northwest Arkansas will continue for generations to come. For assistance with bequests, including gifts of stock, please contact Greenwood Gearhart, Inc. at (479) 521-5353.
The Maestro’s Circle Bob & Becky Alexander George & Mary Benjamin The James Burton Blair Family Foundation Bob Bogle (in memoriam) Joel & Lynn Carver Nick & Carolyn Cole Cynthia Coughlin Sandra K. Edwards Daniel & Chauna Ellis
Mary Ann Greenwood (in memoriam) Reed Greenwood Susan Hall Orville Hall (in memoriam) Malcolm & Ellen Hayward Tom & Jill King Greg Lee Hannah Lee (in memoriam) Rebecca Levy & Jeff Pugh
Ellis & Kay Melton David & Pam Parks Mary Lynn Reese Mark & Diane Simmons Kelly & Marti Sudduth Walton Family Foundation
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Corporate, Foundation & Government Partners
Overture Society Gifts listed below have been received or pledged between January 1, 2025 through September 23, 2026, and do not include corporate matches. We make every effort to maintain accurate records. If we have omitted or misspelled your name, please let us know. Concerto $10,000+ Bob & Becky Alexander Mary & George Benjamin Nick & Carolyn Cole Cynthia Coughlin Reed Greenwood Malcolm & Ellen Hayward Thomas & Jill King Jim & Ann McKenzie Rebecca Levy & Jeff Pugh Mark & Diane Simmons The Starr Foundation David H. Stiegler Trust Kelly & Marti Sudduth Bravissimo $5,000 - $9,999 The James Burton Blair Family Foundation Joel & Lynn Carver Sandra K. Edwards Daniel & Chauna Ellis Susan & Orville Hall Dr. Alan & Sherri Lamb Lester Lewis Endowment Ellis & Kay Melton Francis Spencer Millett David & Pam Parks Hollis Rogers Mike & Mary Russell Todd & Melissa Hall Simmons Joyce Stafford Tod Yeslow & Jackie Telfair Min Yoo
Nadine L. Baum Charitable Trust Foundation
North Arkansas Symphony Guild
Support for the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Symphony of Northwest Arkansas
Bravo $2,500 - $4,999 Thad & Melanie Beck Virginia Ann Coogan Hershey & Denise Garner Kimberly & Kelly Hadley Michael Hollomon & Eric Wailes Bob & Linda Kelly Christine Klinger Greg Lee David & Deborah Malone Mike Necessary David & Carolyn Newbern Doug & Barbara Prichard Mary Lynn Reese Lance & Wendy de la Rosa Jason Viator Laura & Bruce Wilkins Carrie & Chris Wolf Ann Marie Ziegler Encore $1,000 - $2,499 Anonymous Caleb & K’Anne Arthur Brooke Brander Jacquelyn Brandli Anita Bukey Ed & Carol Clifford Thomas & Susette Cole Natallia Collins Grant & Kali Davis
John & Kay DuVal Trae & Elle Etheredge William & Joyce Feldman Joel Freund & Carla Crawley Drew & Martha Frits Morton Gitelman & Nancy Garner Lyle & Sue Gohn Howard & Treva Hamilton Ann Henry Michael Hill Art Hobson Anthony & Susan Hui Emmett & Eric Jackson Calvin & Shawna Jarrett David & Holly Johnson Jerre Jouett Elana Kahaykin Claire Klinker Leslie C. Krusen, Jr. Kevin Pierson Peter Lane & Barbara Putman Sabra & William Martin Joey Martinez Marshall McKenzie Jeffrey Metzner Lindsey & Rita Miller Bill & Deeg Mitchell Emily & Chris Moore The Nichols Family Tim & Deborah Ogg Neil & Katie Paine Jennifer & Dr. Kenton Ross Margaret & Dick Rutherford Marshall & Beth Saviers Bob & Diane Shaw Ken & Celia Shireman Carolyn Smart Cynthia & Dewitt Smith Arnold Smith & Kathleen Wong Sally Stone (in memoriam) O.H. & Mary Storey Cheryl & Jeff Thomas Walton Arts Center Margaret Whillock Alan & Carol Sue Wooten Linda Wray Prestissimo $500 - $999 Anonymous Carole & John Ball Kim Bennett Lori Bremer & Wayne Stout Monique Carswell Roy Clinton Gaye Cypert Peter & Tara Elzer Donald & Karolyn Farrell Joan & Bruce Johnson Tom & Karen Kapella Bill & Missy Kincaid Stephen & Cathy Marak Jana & Mac Mayfield Lee & Lynn Moore Michael & Kathy Moss Kirk & Laurie Netherton Nancy Preis Mary Purvis
Lynn Rogers & Jerry Jones Silas Reinagel Kathryn Rubenstein Bill & Judy Schwab Jane Scroggs Mark Smidt Sylvia Smith Brad & Lindsay Vester Mr. & Mrs. William Waitsman Pattie Williams Presto $250 - $499 Robert Adair Ashley Allison Karen Anderson Ashley Appling Max & Margaret Barron Susan Bristow Judy Brittenum Terrye & Patric Brosh June Carter Jack & Grace Cleghorn Fidelma Cobas Kelly Coughlin Tom & Dana Dykman Alan Ellstrand & Karen Byers Tommy & Rebecca Free Gail & Randy Goodrum Lowell & Kathy Grisham Sandy Luetjen Micky & Marybeth Mayfield Bill & Kim McComas Jeanette Millar Dwight & Brandy Mitchell James & Mary Ellen Moore D. Riley Nicholson Jeffrey O’Dea & Ellen Byars Sallie & Thomas Overbey Charles & Carey Pollard William Prettyman & Judy Dunleavy John & Frances Rankin Charles & Ann Rye James & Buffy Scherer Stephen & Colleen Shogren Rebecca Summerlin Loyd & Carol Swope Julia Thorn Dick & Nancy Trammel Allegro $100 - $249 Jamie Beale Louis & Patricia Beland Thomas A. Beller Arlene & Jerry Biebesheimer Kathryn Birkhead Van Brahana Howard Brill Holly Childs Jason Clark Margaret Clark Roy Clinton Courtney Corwin Marsha R. Daniel Suzanne & David Dickey Charity Dye Heath England Debbie Evans James Ezell Peggy Jo Fender Susan Garriss Ian & Donna Hanson Peter & Margo Heinzelmann Andrew Hicks
Vickie Hilliard Caitlyn Hutchison Cole Jensen David Wilson Johnson Stephen Johnson Marsha Jones Tomoko Kashiwagi Erin Kimrey Hugh Kincaid Raquel King Jacqueline King John King & Sally Kelley-King Kari Larson Christopher Lavagnino Molly Longstreth Bill Mandrell Heather Mayo Allison McElroy Bob & Linda McMath Rob & Kathy Merry-Ship Mike & Debbi Mohler Brandon Moore Joseph O’Connell Annette Penney J.P. Peters Julia Peters Martha Ragar David & Jerilyn Renfroe Jim Robken Juan & Karen Rodriguez Ann Rosso Michael & Suzanne Saltz Robert Schur Carl & Rita Sewald Jordan Smith Mark Tocco & Colleen McCarthy Sandi Villinski Cody Vineyard Ashley & Dusty Wardlow Tara Weaver Diana Williams Dina Wood Debut $20 - $99 Vayle Hope Benedict Myra Bolinger Becky Brink Sara Brown Thermon & Karen Crocker Kimberly Duhamel Julie & Dennis Fellers Grimsley & Carol Graham Rebecca Harrison Carolyn Hartman Bryan Huntsman Jonathan Kaan Sharon Kavanagh John & Harriet Mack Catherine McGowan Nancy Miller Patrick & Peggy Moriarity Philip Morin John Parrack Bill & Mildred Rogers Faith A. Sawyer-Tindle Doris Schuldt Winifred Shanor (in memoriam) Sherry Singh Sergio Suarez & Monica Lopez Gallo Irina Tantchou Gene Tweraser Bruno Valdes Sarah & Chandler Wrampe
In Honor of Ben Harris Lori Bremer Hershey & Denise Garner In Honor of Tom King Margaret Whillock In Honor of Ben Harris, Paul Haas, & Terry Hicks Vickie Hilliard In Honor of Dr. Malcolm & Ellen Hayward Tod Yeslow & Jackie Telfair Roy Clinton In Honor of Miho Oda Sakon & the Sequoyah Strings Lori Bremer In Honor of D. Riley Nicholson Mary & George Benjamin Kimberly & Kelly Hadley David & Holly Johnson In Honor of Marti & Kelly Sudduth Tim & Deborah Ogg In Honor of Reed Greenwood Dina Wood In Honor of Isabel Tweraser & Akiko Fujimoto Gene Tweraser Billie’s Friends Bob & Becky Alexander Ted Belden Mary & George Benjamin Phil & Margie Bullock Ann & Jack Butt Nick & Carolyn Cole Virginia Ann Coogan Cynthia Coughlin Sid & Kay Davis Don Deweese Tommy & Kathy Deweese Karen Dobbs Susan & Orville Hall David Fedele & Matthew Herren Reed Greenwood Howard & Treva Hamilton Malcolm & Ellen Hayward Michelle & Jacob Hayward Morriss & Ann Henry Anthony & Susan Hui Stephen Johnson Bob & Linda Kelly Bill & Missy Kincaid Hugh Kincaid John King & Sally Kelley-King Tom & Jill King Peter Lane & Barbara Putman Bill Mandrell Sabra & William Martin Rob & Kathy Merry-Ship Bill & Deeg Mitchell Mike & Debbi Mohler Sarah & Miles Myers Sallie & Thomas Overbey David & Pam Parks Doug & Barbara Prichard Chalon & Dell Ragsdale Mary Lynn Reese William Rosenaur Jennifer & Dr. Kenton Ross Anita Scism Bob & Diane Shaw
Ken & Celia Shireman Carolyn Smart Joyce Stafford Starr Family Foundation Kelly & Marti Sudduth Margaret Whillock David & Pattie Williams Ann Marie Ziegler In Memory of Doug Cummins Tom & Jill King Virginia Ann Coogan In Memory of Don Deweese Tom & Jill King In Memory of Gary Lynn Fast Michael Hill In Memory of Michael Lieber Tom & Jill King In Honor of Orlando Scalia Colleen & Steve Shogren In Memory of Phoebe Goodwin Meredith Abel Nancy Dadigan Virginia Coogan Billie Emert Tom & Jill King Joao Santa-Rita Ann Marie Ziegler In Memory of Mary Ann Greenwood Betty Harrison Nancy Koonce & David Marshall Tom & Jill King In Memory of Robert Ratliff Marti & Kelly Sudduth In Memory of Sally McLemore Hennis Linda Ward Partridge Michael & Martha Ward In Memory of Sara Sharp Betty Harrison Matching Gifts Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund Eli Lilly & Company Foundation The Walmart Foundation In-Kind Support Mary & George Benjamin Spoon & Level Bakery DOXA / VANTAGE Reed Greenwood Malcolm & Ellen Hayward Andrew Chu Finnegan Wyatt Peddler’s Pub Anthony & Susan Hui Joan & Bruce Johnson Jill King Jana Mayfield Romance Diamond Co. Bill & Judy Schwab SoNA Board of Directors Marti & Kelly Sudduth
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Symphony of Northwest Arkansas Akiko Fujimoto, Music Director
The Season Continues at Walton Arts Center A Very SoNA Christmas DECEMBER 12, 2026 2PM & 7:30PM
Fate & Triumph: Beethoven’s Fifth
FEBRUARY 21, 2027 2PM
TWO HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES
SUNDAY MATINEE
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DECEMBER 13, 2026 2PM
APRIL 10, 2027 7:30PM
SUNDAY MATINEE
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