Praeclara: Artistry in Sound, Motion, and Mind

Praeclara is a performing arts organization dedicated to offering unique and exemplary arts programming to Arkansas audiences. We specialize in combining many artistic genres — including choral, orchestral, operatic, and dance performances — to present unusual takes on popular artistic masterworks. We also collaborate with other community arts organizations to sponsor high-quality concerts and recitals in a variety of local venues. Founded in 2014 by artistic director Bevan Keating and producer Bruce Rentz, Praeclara is supported by Second Presbyterian Church of Little Rock, building on Second Presbyterian’s long tradition of contributions to the arts. Second Presbyterian has long served as a venue for some of the best concerts in the state, including performances by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Little Rock Wind Symphony, and the UALR Community Chorus. In addition, Second Presbyterian’s active music program has also been recognized for its excellence. Its choir has toured Scotland, Canada, Germany, Austria, and Hungary; the music program also staged Amahl and the Night Visitors in 2013. Second Presbyterian has been home to many star vocal and instrumental performers, including international opera star Kristin Lewis. Still other current and former Second Pres musicians share their musical skills and passion as educators in classrooms all over Arkansas. Praeclara unifies Second Presbyterian’s diverse range of offerings under a single umbrella and elevates them still further, strengthening our artistic ties with the community. Our hallmark is productions that are both excellent and rare: excellent because we provide an eclectic, innovative showcase for talented performing artists from around the state, and rare because each Praeclara performance will surprise and challenge our audiences. Praeclara events are designed to stimulate the senses, provoke thought, and start conversations. Praeclara is artistry in sound, motion, and mind.