Soprano Carol Vaness, who has performed at major theaters, opera houses and concert halls around the world, will open UALR’s  2011-2012 Artspree season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Building.

UALR’s performance series will present five performances throughout the season, all in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall. Tickets are $20 general admission, $80 for the season, $10 for non-UALR students, and free for UALR students. Group discounts are available. For tickets call 501-569-8993, for more information go to ualr.edu/artspree.

Vaness, who sang opposite Luciano Pavarotti in his celebrated final operatic performance, will be assisted by baritone Christopher Grundy and accompanied by pianist James Davis.

Ben Sears and Brad Connor, producing directors of American Classics, will present “Top Hat: A Tribute to Fred Astaire” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14. The duo are founding members of the Boston Association of Cabaret Artists (BACA), an organization promoting awareness and performance of cabaret in the Boston area.

Sears and Conner are known for their research in the music and lyrics of Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, and Hollywood. In 1996 they rediscovered a long-lost Irving Berlin song from 1916, “Santa Claus: A Syncopated Christmas Song.” During their search for the Berlin song they also found an unknown Jerome Kern tune, “A Syncopated Christmas Carol,” which they also premiered and recorded. Other research has led to the creation of a program of songs by “Girl Gershwins,” including Dana Suesse, Kay Swift, and Ann Ronell.

On Monday, Jan. 30, 2012, guitarist Johannes Möller will perform on the Artspree stage. In 2010, he awarded first prize in the Guitar Foundation of America’s Concert Artist Competition, which is often considered the most prestigious guitar competition in the world.

As part of this prize, he will perform over 50 concerts throughout the United States – including a Carnegie Hall debut in the Weill Recital Hall – Canada, Mexico, South America, and China.

The Caswell Sisters – Rachel and Sara – are a jazz violin and vocal duo who will perform on the Artspree stage on Monday, March 12. Their repertoire includes a selection of songs ranging from the “Great American Songbook” to contemporary jazz to their own compositions.

Cellist Tess Remy, violinist Judith Lee, and pianist Christopher Cooley, will round out the Artspree season with a classical piano trio performance on Monday, April 16.