Teddy Abrams

Teddy Abrams is the Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra, where he has been guiding the orchestra’s artistic renewal since his appointment in 2014. Under his leadership, the Orchestra has emphasized innovative community engagement programs, like free, interactive public concerts at every library branch in Louisville and a two-year tour to bring performances to each county in Kentucky. The result is an orchestra with something for everyone, including Mozart, collaborations with Jim James of My Morning Jacket, and hip-hop songs written by students. In April 2023, Teddy premiered his own composition, Mammoth, with the Louisville Orchestra in Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave. He is now working on ALI, a musical about the life of Muhammad Ali. In 2022, he was named Musical America’s Conductor of the Year.

About Louisville Orchestra

The Louisville Orchestra was created in 1937 as a new model for the American symphony orchestra, with an emphasis on commissioning, performing, and recording new works by contemporary composers. The Orchestra has garnered international critical acclaim, became the first orchestra to establish its own record label, and cemented a place in history for its contributions to contemporary classical music. In 2024, it won a GRAMMY Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo for The American Project.