News
ALL IN recording reaches #1
In our first recording release in nearly 30 years, the Louisville Orchestra reached #1 on the Traditional Classical Chart in Billboard in its debut week. Titled All In, the album was released by the US-based classical label Decca Gold and is the second #1 release for the company since its launch earlier this year.
Graham Parker, President of Universal Music Classics and Decca Gold, says, “We are so thrilled with the success of All In. The city of Louisville fully embraced their orchestra, their music director and the orchestra’s first album in nearly thirty years.”
Released on September 22, All In features a new work composed by Music Director Teddy Abrams, “Unified Field,” as well as Aaron Copland’s Clarinet Concerto with Teddy as soloist. Chanteuse Storm Large joins Teddy and the LO for three songs: a Cole Porter classic, one of her own original works, and a song by Teddy.
Teddy says of the album, “We have selected works that deliberately join together styles of music in a pluralistic – or American — way The strength of our country’s art is both its great diversity of expression and our relationship with populism — the music of the people.”
Vocalist Storm Large, who has collaborated frequently with Teddy and the LO, is a musician, actor, playwright, and author. She has performed with Pink Martini, and appeared with the San Francisco Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony and made her Carnegie Hall debut singing Kurt Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins with the Detroit Symphony, which she also performed with the LO.
The Louisville Orchestra has a long and robust history of commissioning and recording new works, particularly in the early 20th century. Important works by major composers were commissioned, premiered, and recorded for worldwide release on First Edition Records. For generations, these recordings made the Louisville Orchestra revered as a leading voice in contemporary orchestral music around the world. With All In, Teddy and the Louisville Orchestra revive a legacy and continue the quest to be the “Most Interesting Orchestra on the Planet.”
Abrams’s Kids :: A New Generation
In 2015 the LO launched a new youth leadership mentoring program designed for high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing a career in the arts; Abrams’ Kids. The program meets monthly with up to 15 high school juniors and seniors with Music Director Teddy Abrams and LO Director of Education Deanna Hoying to discuss careers in the arts as well as provide opportunities for students to attend rehearsals, meet guest artists and job shadow.
In 2016, a new service component was added as we felt the next evolution in the program was for students to connect their art with their community. Students can partner together or work individually to create an arts service project to be completed before the end of their school year.
Here are just a few of their projects for 2016/17:
- New Albany High School – Silken Strings performed on February 7th to commemorate Black History Month at a local church that has an integrated history with the Underground Railroad. The night was the first night the church reopened its doors to the public after its renovation. The program included the Battle Hymn of the Republic, American Hymn, an arrangement of Largo from Dvořák’s Symphony No.9, and an arrangement of Kumbaya. “From this project, I learned that the community will come together to celebrate history when it is an important part of our culture. Also that pulling together a program is easy as long as everyone is definitely committed to attending. I really enjoyed this instance in volunteering, and I believe that the church is aiming to make this an annual event.”
- Ballard High School – “Flexin’ my Complexion” At Ballard High School, students have taken refuge in the African American Literature class. Those students learn about literature written by African American writers, taught by teacher Teresa Hinkle-Jones. However, they also become a part of the safe community, discovering their voices in writing and in the community. Through in-class projects, poetry slams, showcases, community service, and school politics, the group uses their voices to make a change. Once the teacher Teresa Hinkle-Jones heard of the African Smithsonian museum opening in Washington D.C. she knew she had to bring her passionate students. To help fundraise for the trip, the students decided to put together an Arts Showcase for the dynamic talents of the students. They showcased poetry, photography, baking, performing, and so much more. Together, the students raised enough money to start the journey but were far from their goal. So they started fundraising even harder; from selling candles, ramen, and through bake sales, to setting up donation accounts. In January, still far from where they needed to be (and the trip was only a few weeks away) they decided to go back to square one and hosted a second showcase–during school on February 10th. The cost was $2 per student. The performers (from all over Ballard) showcased their voices through poetry, dancing, step dance, spoken word, as much more. The showcase was an incredible success and raised more than $2,000. My goal had been to motivate my peers to share their art with others and to break any stereotypes by being true to myself. I helped put together showcases not only to raise money but to give the opportunity for teens to perform for others (who wouldn’t see it otherwise). As a result, many students were moved by the showcases and began to ask questions about music, dance, etc. Arts awareness is now the talk of the school.
- Youth Performing Arts School – For the Abrams’ Kids service project, we plan to entertain (piano and vocal music) the residents of the Sunrise of Louisville Retirement Community. The music performed will be appropriate for the residents in the home, as it will be a mix of classical and music from the residents’ generation. This brief recital would be close to an hour in length, and if allowed, we will provide light refreshments to the residents. This project is a satisfying way for us to promote the arts community and provide music to the public.
- Floyd Central High School – After ensemble competitions, it’s rare that students have the opportunities to perform these works for family and friends. So we will be hosting an ensemble performance after ensemble competition to play for friends and family.
- Floyd Central High School – I plan to do some work with my Scout troop for my Eagle award to modify an empty room at Floyd Central into a multipurpose, intimate performance space for use by soloists, small ensembles, speakers, etc.
- New Albany High School – My project will involve me visiting the nursing facilities my aunt and uncle work in and playing piano for the residents during their meal times and or for their church services. I expect a positive outcome and a way to connect with people who may not normally be able to connect with others.
A remarkable group of young people giving back to their community through art!
LO in Our Community: Making Connections
Education and outreach events crowd the calendar here at the LO and, with little fanfare, provide a potent energy to our organization. When Teddy, the musicians or the LO staff members are working with students, other arts organizations or community groups, our purpose of making connections and building Louisville’s musical identity is a driving force.
Here are some of the programs from the 2016-2017 Season:
- Abrams’ Kids – Teddy’s mentoring project for high school musicians meets monthly
- Teddy’s Kids – A conducting program for elementary school musicians that meets twice to prepare youngsters to conducting the LO at a MakingMUSIC education concert.
- Arts & Healing with Kentucky One – LO musicians performing in a variety of locations throughout Kentucky One healthcare facilities from December to February
- Big Brothers Big Sisters School to Work Mentors – Three senior staff members participating monthly with students from Shawnee High School
- #musicplaysback – Teddy, LO violinist Rob Simonds and musician Jecorey Arthur performed for the holidays at the Frazier Rehab Center, the Center for Women and Families, the Americana Community Center and at the Shawnee Boys and Girls Club (in collaboration with Dare To Care)
- In-school masterclasses – Teddy regularly schedules visits to work with school orchestras, bands and choirs. Recent visits have included Fairdale High School, Westport Middle School, Brown School, Floyd Central High School, New Albany High School, Ballard High School; WES-TEC/Blue House and upcoming visits to Catholic Charities ESL School, Oldham County High School and the Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS).
- Collaborations – Whether oriented to promotions, community service or performing, LO partnerships this season have included work with Frazier History Museum, CirqueLouis, Dare to Care, Mom’s Music, and WES-TEC/Blue House in addition to Kentucky Opera and Louisville Ballet.
- MakingMUSIC education concerts – continuing since 1940, the LO performs for school children from across the Metro engaging more than 10,000 4th and 5th graders each year.
- LO in-school ensembles – performing for all 92 Jefferson County Public Schools elementary schools over the course of 2 seasons, small ensembles present carefully prepared educational concerts designed to support curriculum demands of 4th and 5th graders.
We are currently in the planning phase of a project with “Blessings in a Backpack” in conjunction with Mom’s Music as part of our #musicplaysback program. Every child in the program will receive a school-quality recorder plus a lesson from Teddy Abrams on how to play the instrument.
Abrams’ Kids are required to develop a music-based social service project as part of their participation. Currently these high school students:
- …have performed for Black History Month at a local church whose history integrated with the Underground Railroad
- …plan to play for middle school students and at several retirement communities
- …are creating curriculum to help middle school students connect with and interpret classical music
- …are hosting a concert for family and friends featuring music performed by school ensembles in the state music competition
- …are working to modify an empty classroom into a multi-purpose performance space at their school
Deanna Hoying, Director of Education and Outreach, manages these programs and more. Working in conjunction with Teddy, LO musicians and the rest of the LO staff, Hoying juggles myriad events and the information to support each. She’s also constantly “on the lookout” for new ways to bring the LO to the community. For more information about any of these programs, please contact Deanna Hoying at dhoying@louisvilleorchestra.org.
