Louisville Orchestra Continues In Harmony Kentucky Tour with Teddy Abrams and Fiddle Virtuoso Michael Cleveland (Feb 27–March 9), Plus Creators Corps Premieres and Much More This Winter & Spring

“A pioneering force in new music.”

— Billboard on the Louisville Orchestra

(January 2024) — Music Director Teddy Abrams and the Louisville Orchestra (LO) continue their tenth season together in characteristically ambitious fashion, further developing some of their most important initiatives this winter and spring. The historic multi-season “In Harmony” statewide tour continues with virtuoso fiddler Michael Cleveland and his band, Flamekeeper, performing with the orchestra at six destinations around Kentucky (Feb 27–March 9). In the spring are performances (May 10 & 11) dedicated to premiering new works by the newest participants in the LO Creators Corps – Alex Berko, Tanner Porter and Nkeiru Okoye – and each of the composers will also have a work featured on a separate upcoming program. Other highlights this winter and spring include Abrams leading both Mahler’s “Tragic” Sixth Symphony (April 26 & 27) and a gospel and klezmer program titled “Together in Song” that features the St. Stephen Mass Choir led by Kevin James, klezmer clarinetist David Krakauer and a stellar array of vocal soloists and instrumentalists (Jan 13 & 14); and a special choral event with guest conductor Eric Whitacre conducting his own compositions and Mozart’s Requiem (March 22 & 23).

Abrams inaugurated his tenure with the orchestra at the start of the 2014-15 season. With his combination of talent, energy, vision, drive and extraordinary commitment to community engagement, he has succeeded during his near-decade as Music Director in fostering “a renewal of purpose at one of America’s most resilient orchestras” (New Yorker). “Combining music-making with public service and orchestrating community in every corner of the city and state” (PBS Newshour), he has helped the Louisville Orchestra “reclaim its reputation as one of the most innovative in the United States.” (New York Times).

Abrams reflects:

“It is so hard to believe that this is my tenth season with the LO, but that milestone invites reflection on the story we’ve been trying to tell these past ten years. We’ve spent that whole decade asking what it means to be a public service – to serve the community and use the power of our music and the talents of our musicians to make life better for everyone here in Louisville. We’ve never doubted that music has that power, partly because it’s constantly reinventing itself: there are always new ways for it to connect with people and new people to connect with.”

“In Harmony” statewide tour

This spring sees the culmination of the “In Harmony” statewide tour, a two-year musical journey bringing orchestra musicians to dozens of communities across the Commonwealth of Kentucky, made possible through a partnership with the Kentucky General Assembly in conjunction with the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet. A recent feature story on PBS NewsHour discussed the “In Harmony” tour in the context of Abrams’s entire tenure with the LO, pointing out that despite the notable achievement the tour represents, in many ways it is just the latest in the non-stop series of community engagement initiatives during his transformative decade at the helm of the orchestra. Continuing this season’s focus on native Kentucky composers and performers in new and traditional works, this spring’s tour program features Grammy-winning virtuoso fiddler Michael Cleveland and his band, Flamekeeper, performing with the orchestra at venues in Corbin, Frankfort, Paducah, Bowling Green, Danville and Fort Knox (Feb 27–March 9).

Creators Fest season finale

Another recent initiative is the “Creators Corps,” a first-of-its-kind program that deeply integrates artists into the city of Louisville and the orchestra, as three Creators are selected each year to move to Louisville for the upcoming season and live in the Shelby Park neighborhood for at least 30 weeks. The Creators serve as LO staff members, receiving an annual salary, health insurance, housing, and custom-built studio workspaces. Throughout their residencies, the Creators compose new works to be performed by the orchestra, participate in educational and community engagement activities, and become active, engaged citizens of Louisville. The 2023-24 season concludes with “Creators Fest” performances that showcase world premieres by the three Creators Corps composers – inspired by their residency in Louisville – that have been composed specially for the Louisville Orchestra (May 10 & 11).

More winter/spring highlights and Grammy nomination

Abrams leads two more programs this season. First up is “Together in Song,” a genre-bending mix of gospel and klezmer music featuring performances, compositions and arrangements in various combinations by the St. Stephen Mass Choir led by Kevin James, klezmer clarinetist David Krakauer and his longtime collaborators trombonist Fred Wesley and Canadian rapper Socalled; accordionist Dmitri Gaskin; and vocalists Anthony Russell, Angela Brown and Jason Clayborn (Jan 13 &14). Abrams also leads the orchestra in Mahler’s “Tragic” Sixth Symphony later in the spring (April 26 & 27). Guest conductor Eric Whitacre takes the podium for a performance comprising both his own compositions and Mozart’s Requiem (March 22 & 23). Abrams and the LO are also proud to have been nominated for a 2024 Grammy Award for “Best Classical Instrumental Solo” for their most recent release, The American Project, featuring the conductor’s own Piano Concerto with its dedicatee and Abrams’s longtime friend and collaborator, Yuja Wang, as soloist.

About the Louisville Orchestra

The Louisville Orchestra was created in 1937 and sprang up in a time of need, just after the Ohio River Great Flood and in the wake of the Great Depression. Robert Whitney was invited to conduct the newly established orchestra, then known as the Louisville Philharmonic, and arrived from Chicago that same year. With its formation, the goal was to create a new model for the American symphony orchestra, as it was conceived through an ambitious effort that emphasized innovation through the commissioning, performance, and recording of new works by contemporary composers. The Louisville Orchestra garnered international critical acclaim, became the first orchestra to establish a record label, and cemented a place in history for its contribution to contemporary classical music. In its first two decades, the Louisville Orchestra commissioned/recorded up to 52 new works annually and ultimately created 150 vinyl recordings (LPs) of more than 450 works. The Louisville Orchestra continues to be recognized as a cornerstone of the Louisville performing arts community. Music Director Teddy Abrams has helmed the Louisville Orchestra since 2014, and the Louisville Orchestra has returned to its origins of commissioning new music and recording, having released two albums under the prestigious Decca Gold label. A wide variety of immersive and innovative concert performances and educational programming continue to receive national attention. Recent press coverage includes articles and mentions in the New Yorker, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and on CBS Sunday Morning. Accolades include three invitations to perform at Carnegie Hall; the Leonard Bernstein Award for Excellence in Educational Programming; the League of American Orchestras 2019 Ford Musician Awards for Excellence in Community Service; and 19 American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) awards for adventurous programming in use of contemporary music.

High-resolution photos are available here.

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Louisville Orchestra winter-spring 2024
Jan 13 & 14
Louisville, KY
CLASSICS SERIES
“TOGETHER IN SONG”
Teddy Abrams, conductor
David Krakauer, klezmer clarinet
Fred Wesley, trombone
Socalled, loops
Dmitri Gaskin, accordion
Anthony Russell, vocals
Angela Brown, soprano
St. Stephen Mass Choir
Kevin James, director
Jason Clayborn, vocals
COPLAND: Music for the Theatre (selections)
TRAD.: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
Dmitri GASKIN/Anthony RUSSELL: Stranger
David KRAKAUER/Kathleen TAGG: Concerto: The Fretless Clarinet, III. Ancestral Grooves
Nkeiru OKOYE: I Am Moses, The Liberator
TRAD.: Der Heyser Bulgar (a la Abraham, Inc.)
Carlos SIMON: Four Black American Dances (two movements)
Fred WESLEY, David KRAKAUER, Joshua DOLGIN: Moskowitz Remix
Dmitri GASKIN/Anthony RUSSELL: In Der Fremd
Richard SMALLWOOD: Procession of Levites/Anthem of Praise
Dmitri GASKIN/Anthony RUSSELL: Zion
Jason CLAYBORN: You’re All I Need
Dmitri GASKIN/Anthony RUSSELL: Rosie
Dmitri GASKIN/Anthony RUSSELL/André WILSON: Done Made My Vow

Jan 13: Whitney Hall

Jan 14: St. Stephen Church

Feb 27–March 9
“IN HARMONY” TOUR
Teddy Abrams, conductor
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
DVORAK: Slavonic Dance No. 1 in C
BIZET: Selections from Carmen
Carlos SIMON: Four Black American Dances, IV. Holy Dance: Mysteriously
Alex BERKO/Tanner PORTER: TBA
COPLAND: “Buckaroo Holiday” from Rodeo
Michael CLEVELAND: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper set with orchestra

Feb 27: Corbin, KY (Corbin Arena)

Feb 28: Frankfort, KY (Western Hills High School)

March 2: Paducah, KY (Carson Center for the Performing Arts)

March 5: Bowling Green, KY (SKyPAC)

March 8: Danville, KY (Norton Center for the Arts)

March 9: Fort Knox, KY (Fort Knox)

March 22
New Albany, IN
NIGHTLITES AT THE OGLE
“MAGNIFICENT VOICES”
The Ogle Center at Indiana University Southeast
Eric Whitacre, conductor
Louisville Chamber Choir
Kent Hatteberg, choir director
Eric WHITACRE: Lux Aurumque
Eric WHITACRE: The River Cam
Eric WHITACRE: Selections from The Sacred Veil
MOZART: Requiem in D minor, K. 626

 March 23
Louisville, KY
CLASSICS SERIES
“MAGNIFICENT VOICES”
Whitney Hall
Eric Whitacre, conductor
Louisville Chamber Choir
Kent Hatteberg, choir director
Eric WHITACRE: Lux Aurumque
Eric WHITACRE: The River Cam
Eric WHITACRE: Selections from The Sacred Veil
MOZART: Requiem in D minor, K. 626

April 11-13
Louisville, KY
MUSIC WITHOUT BORDERS
“BRIDGING BEATS”
Teddy Abrams, conductor
Louisville Orchestra Rap School
MOZART: Symphony No. 25 in G minor
EASTMAN: Stay On It
REAL YOUNG PRODIGYS, arr. GLOBUS-HOENICH: Crown; Rumble

April 11: The Jeffersonian

April 12: St. Vincent DePaul Family Success Center, Shelby Park

April 13: California Community Center

April 18
Louisville, KY
LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA GALA
Whitney Hall
Teddy Abrams, conductor
Louisville Chamber Choir
Kent Hatteberg, choir director
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125

April 26
Louisville, KY
COFFEE SERIES
“MAHLER 6”
Whitney Hall
Teddy Abrams, conductor
MAHLER: Symphony No. 6 in A minor, “Tragic”

April 27
Louisville, KY
CLASSICS SERIES
“MAHLER 6”
Whitney Hall
Teddy Abrams, conductor
MAHLER: Symphony No. 6 in A minor, “Tragic”

May 10
Louisville, KY
COFFEE SERIES
“CREATORS FEST”
Whitney Hall
Teddy Abrams, conductor
Three world premieres from Creators Corps members Alex BERKO, Tanner PORTER and Nkeiru OKOYE

May 11
Louisville, KY
CLASSICS SERIES
“CREATORS FEST”
Whitney Hall
Teddy Abrams, conductor
Three world premieres from Creators Corps members Alex BERKO, Tanner PORTER and Nkeiru OKOYE

© 21C Media Group, January 2024