Teddy Abrams: Music as Service

An interview with conductor, clarinetist, pianist, improviser, composer, and my former boss, Teddy Abrams, music director of the Louisville Orchestra and the Britt Festival in Oregon. We discuss the roots of his eclecticism, his vision for the future of orchestras, and how music can be a driving force for positive change in a community.

Highlights

• Teddy’s background - 8:29
• Listening to music at home - 9:05
• His awakening - 11:26
• Learning about composers - 14:51
• How he became a Jazz pianist - 18:20
• Learning so much - 26:46
• The DNA of an orchestra - 29:06
• We should all be learning - 30:34
• Activating our individuality - 31:33
• How people experience music - 42:58
• Being the creative people for your organization - 49:51
• Conservatories and audition process - 52:06
• Playing an invisible game - 59:20
• Training for musicians - 1:10:19
• Accessibility to our music - 1:19:54
• One of his favorite experiences during the pandemic - 1:21:00
• Talking about religion and journalism - 1:31:56
• Creating a culture that retains talent - 1:44:03
• We should have an aspiration of greatness - 1:45:42
• An idea of what an orchestra is - 1:49:48
• Music brings people together - 1:51:50

Episode Resources

• Connect with Robert Hunt Simonds:
• [email protected] 
• http://roberthuntsimonds.com/
• http://craigwagnermusic.blogspot.com 
• Connect with Teddy Abrams
• https://www.teddyabrams.com 
• https://twitter.com/teddyconducts?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
• https://www.instagram.com/teddyconducts/?hl=en 
• https://www.facebook.com/teddyconducts 
• Teddy, Jim James, and LO musicians on The Tonight Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFYutf2VSqI 
• "Excellence: Can We Be Equal And Excellent Too?" by John W. Gardner: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XG5CDZF/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1