BAIRD Coffee Series
The Baird Coffee Series distills the splendor of our evening performances into daytime concerts that are both accessible and refreshing. Paired with complimentary coffee provided by Heine Brothers’ Coffee, these concerts feature abridged versions of our Classics performances, condensed into shorter, intermission-free concerts. This season, experience the pastoral beauty of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, the fiery virtuosity of Yuja Wang, and the emotional depth of Mahler’s Ninth Symphony. Jonathan Biss takes the stage for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9, and Teddy Abrams performs Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue in celebration of its 100th anniversary. Each performance is a specially crafted musical delight to start your day.
Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony
Friday, October 24, 2025 | 11:00 AM
Whitney Hall at The Kentucky Center
Teddy Abrams, conductor
Tessa Lark, violin
Anthony Green, Ev’ry Time I Blink
Chelsea Komschlies, A Hidden Sun Rises
Lisa Bielawa, Violin Concerto No. 2: Pulse (World Premiere)
Beethoven, Symphony No. 6
Teddy Abrams leads Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony, a timeless tribute to nature. Tessa Lark brings her signature artistry to the world premiere of Lisa Bielawa’s Violin Concerto No. 2, alongside bold new Creators Corps works by Anthony Green and Chelsea Komschlies.
Yuja Wang & Teddy Abrams Return
Friday, November 21, 2025 | 11:00 AM
Whitney Hall at The Kentucky Center
Teddy Abrams, conductor
Yuja Wang, piano
Liszt, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
Ligeti, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra
Bartók, Concerto for Orchestra
Yuja Wang and Teddy Abrams reunite! From Liszt’s dazzling Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 to Ligeti’s spectacular Piano Concerto and Bartók’s thrilling Concerto for Orchestra, this concert is a showcase of virtuosity and energy.
Teddy Conducts Mahler’s Ninth
Friday, January 16, 2026 | 11:00 AM
Whitney Hall at The Kentucky Center
Teddy Abrams, conductor
Mahler, Symphony No. 9
Mahler’s Symphony No. 9 is a an emotional and introspective work that balances longing, turbulence, and transcendent beauty. Teddy Abrams and the Louisville Orchestra bring this monumental symphony to life in a performance that captures its depth and intensity.
Sounds of a New Nation
Friday, February 20, 2026 | 11:00 AM
Whitney Hall at The Kentucky Center
Teddy Abrams, conductor
Jonathan Biss, piano
Schuman, Chester from New England Triptych
Billings, Part-Songs and Fuguing Tunes
Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 9
Ives, A Symphony: New England Holidays
Celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States, this program highlights works by Schuman, Billings, and Ives. Pianist Jonathan Biss brings elegance and brilliance to Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9, a work composed the same year the U.S. declared independence.
Rhapsody in Blue
Friday, April 24, 2026 | 11:00 AM
Whitney Hall at The Kentucky Center
Teddy Abrams, conductor
Anthony Green, New Work (LOCC World Premiere)
Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue
John Luther Adams, An Atlas of Deep Time
Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue meets bold new sounds featuring the world premiere of Anthony Green’s latest work, alongside John Luther Adams’ An Atlas of Deep Time—a sweeping exploration of Earth’s geological history.
Special thanks to our series sponsor, Baird
With significant support from:
Complimentary coffee provided by:
