Never miss a surprise or a concert!
Never miss a surprise or a concert!
The APO's Evening with the Maestro finally returned in March 2022
We enjoyed a 5-course dinner prepared by celebrated Chef Case Dighero, paired exquisitely with fine wines. Chef Case is a lifelong seeker of the cross-section between cuisine and art. Maestro Steven Byess selected the perfect musical pieces, with the Matt Nelson Trio accompanying each delicious course. It was a true delight for the ears.
This special event honored the exceptional life of Arlene Warner, long time APO supporter and arts lover. We celebrated Arlene's 97th birthday and featured a live auction to benefit the newly created Arlene Warner Scholarship for youth musicians. We hope you join us next time for a night you won't forget!
Case Dighero is an influential component of the culinary community of Arkansas and the High South. An active proponent of the NWA food movement, Dighero owns the project based company, "Edible Culture" that focuses on culinary insights through the lens of writing, television, and entertainment; he is also the co-host of Soul Men of the High South podcast, promoting the food culture and history of the Natural state. Prior to starting EC, he served as Director of Culinary Programs and Events at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, helping to define the philosophy of "High South" for the museum's culinary department.
Joining the Crystal Bridges team in 2010, Dighero established the museum's mantra of modern American comfort food with an emphasis on traditions that hail from the "High South" region of the Ozarks. His "edible responsibility" approach demonstrates a commitment to promoting and celebrating local food culture, featuring fresh ingredients from the Bentonville Farmers' Market and other food artisans in Northwest Arkansas. The robust cuisine of Crystal Bridges not only nourishes, but also tells a story—inspired by the artworks, natural surroundings, and fascinating regional history connected to the museum.
Prior to joining Crystal Bridges, Dighero was the owner/proprietor of Soul Restaurant and Lounge in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Case is also the Food Editor for Citiscapes Metro Monthly Magazine, where readers have enjoyed his stylized epicurean anecdotes for over fifteen years.
In addition to teaching continuing education classes that include courses at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute in central Arkansas, Dighero has chaired and served on several civic and social committees, including his current post on the board of the Ozark Botanical Gardens, Appleseeds Teaching Garden, and currently as Co-Curator for the Sensory Iconoclasts project in tandem with Arts Center of the Ozarks.
