Louisville Orchestra’s Teddy Abrams reads baseball book ‘Teammates’
Abrams, music director for the Louisville Orchestra, reads “Teammates,” a book about baseball, Jackie Robinson and Louisville native Pee Wee Reese.
Courtesy Teddy Abrams
- Jude Vaclavik has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the Louisville Orchestra.
- Vaclavik has an extensive background in music publishing, artist development, and nonprofit leadership.
- He will partner with Music Director Teddy Abrams to build on the orchestra’s recent momentum.
- The appointment follows a period of record audiences and a 2024 Grammy Award for the orchestra.
An internationally respected arts leader whose career spans music publishing, artist development, education, composition, and nonprofit leadership has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the Louisville Orchestra.
Following a national search led by the Louisville Orchestra Board of Directors, Jude Vaclavik was introduced as the Orchestra’s new CEO at a news conference on July 15 at Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St. Vaclavik joins the orchestra following leadership roles at Universal Music Group and a distinguished career that has included Houston Grand Opera, Boosey & Hawkes, and The Juilliard School.
“Jude brings a rare combination of artistic insight, business acumen, and entrepreneurial thinking,” Board Chair Jordan Harris said in the news release. “As the Louisville Orchestra continues to grow its impact locally and nationally, we were looking for a leader who could build on our historic momentum while staying true to the innovative spirit that has defined this organization for generations. Jude is exactly that leader.”
Vaclavik, who takes over the position after former CEO Graham Parker departed in February 2025, will partner with Music Director Teddy Abrams and the Louisville Orchestra’s musicians, board, staff, and supporters to build upon one of the most dynamic periods in the organization’s history while advancing its vision for the future.
“Jude shares in the belief that orchestras can be engines for creativity and community,” Abrams said in the release. “He brings a remarkable understanding of artists, audiences, and the evolving landscape of our field, along with a genuine passion for helping bold ideas become reality. I’m excited to partner with him as we continue building an orchestra that is creating the future of music from Louisville.”
Under Abrams’ leadership, the Louisville Orchestra has earned national acclaim for artistic excellence and innovation, including a 2024 Grammy Award for “The American Project.” In addition, the Orchestra recently completed a landmark season marked by record audiences, 19 sold-out performances — the highest number of sold-out concerts in its history — and continued growth in statewide community engagement through initiatives including In Harmony: The Commonwealth Tour.
Vaclavik’s appointment reflects a natural alignment between his career and the Louisville Orchestra’s identity as one of America’s leading champions of new music, the release states. Through its landmark First Edition Recordings project, the Orchestra commissioned and recorded hundreds of works by living composers, helping shape the course of American classical music. Today, that legacy continues through the Louisville Orchestra Creators Corps, recording projects, commissions, and community-based initiatives that position Louisville as a national center for musical innovation.
“I’ve admired the Louisville Orchestra for years because it continues to redefine what an orchestra can be,” Vaclavik said in the release. “It honors an extraordinary legacy while embracing new ideas, new music, and new ways of serving its community. Few organizations have contributed more to the future of this art form, and I’m honored to help lead its next chapter alongside Teddy, the musicians, board, staff, and supporters who have built such remarkable momentum.”
Vaclavik most recently served as Vice President of U.S. Classical Publishing and Promotion at Universal Music Group, where he led one of the fastest-growing classical music publishing businesses in the world. Throughout his career, he has worked alongside leading composers, artists, conductors, and performing arts organizations worldwide, developing new works, cultivating artistic partnerships, and expanding audiences for classical music.
A composer himself, Vaclavik has received commissions and performances from organizations including the New York Philharmonic, New York City Ballet Choreographic Institute, The Juilliard School, and leading universities and ensembles across the United States.
“What stood out to us during the search process was how much Jude understands musicians and our artistic needs,” Louisville Orchestra Musicians Committee Chair Jonathan Mueller said in the release. “As a pianist and composer, he has firsthand experience with the creative process and is committed to maintaining artistic excellence. We’re looking forward to working together to propel the mission of this community asset.”
Looking ahead, the new CEO sees tremendous opportunity to deepen the Louisville Orchestra‘s impact both locally and globally.
“The opportunities ahead are extraordinary,” Vaclavik said in the release. “We will continue bringing world-class artists to Louisville, investing in new music through initiatives like the Creators Corps, and creating experiences that inspire deeper connections with our community. The Louisville Orchestra has earned a national reputation for innovation and artistic excellence, and I look forward to helping share that story with audiences here at home and around the world.”
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.courier-journal.com ’
