Teddy Abrams

Teddy Abrams is a Grammy Award-winning conductor, composer, and pianist known for his leadership as music director of the Louisville Orchestra. Under Abrams's direction, the orchestra has gained national attention for innovative programming and community engagement. Abrams was named Musical America’s Conductor of the Year and has been profiled by major media outlets including CBS Sunday Morning, NPR, The New Yorker, and The New York Times, highlighting his influence in the classical music industry.

Abrams's career includes collaborations and projects that bridge genres and disciplines. His works include the immersive theater piece "Mammoth," performed in Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park with Yo-Yo Ma, and a piano concerto for Yuja Wang, featured on the Grammy-winning album "The American Project." He is also the composer of "ALI," a Broadway-bound musical about Muhammad Ali, and the rap opera "The Greatest: Muhammad Ali." Abrams's initiatives such as the Louisville Orchestra Creators Corps and the In Harmony community tour are designed to foster creativity and accessibility in orchestral music.

Beyond Louisville, Abrams has guest conducted orchestras across North America and Europe, including the Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles Philharmonics, as well as the Helsinki and Luxembourg Philharmonics. He also serves as music director and conductor of the Britt Festival Orchestra. Abrams is recognized for his public speaking and advocacy for the arts, with a focus on inspiring audiences, supporting new music, and building connections between orchestras and their communities.