Remember the film Dead Poets Society? Ford Mylius Lallerstedt at the Curtis Institute of Music is the real thing. He is able to unify the broadest ranges of core educational elements to inspire a creative individual: The science of language and syntactical processing, improvisatory counterpoint, 3,000 years of literature, Schenkerian graphs of operas created from dictation, art and film criticism, and advanced score reading all come together magically in his classes to elucidate how art communicates and connects. Dr. Lallerstedt is also one of the great improvisers and thinkers of the modern era, having recorded a set of 24 preludes and fugues in every key – all improvised in one take (plus hundreds of organ works created the same way)! You leave Lallerstedt’s classes feeling there is so much more in the world to understand. Teachers like him are rare; they have an enlightened insight that opens our minds to connections we've never considered. He has inspired 42 years of students at Curtis and Tanglewood with his gift, and he deeply influenced and motivated me as a musician and human being.
Teddy Abrams is Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra and Music Director & Conductor of the Britt Classical Festival. He serves as Resident Conductor of the MAV Symphony Orchestra in Budapest, which he first conducted in 2011.
Teddy’s 2015-2016 season includes debuts with the Houston, Phoenix and Edmonton Symphonies, and a return to the San Francisco Symphony. Recent guest conducting highlights include engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, and Louisiana and New Mexico Philharmonics. He served as Assistant Conductor of the Detroit Symphony from 2012-2014. From 2008 to 2011 Abrams was the Conducting Fellow and Assistant Conductor of the New World Symphony in Miami.
An accomplished pianist and clarinetist, Abrams has appeared as a soloist with a number of orchestras - including playing and conducting the Ravel Piano Concerto with the Jacksonville Symphony in fall 2013 - and has performed chamber music with the St. Petersburg String Quartet, Menahem Pressler, Gilbert Kalish, Time for Three and John Adams, in addition to annual appearances at the Olympic Music Festival.
Dedicated to exploring new and engaging ways to communicate with a diverse range of audiences, Abrams co-founded the Sixth Floor Trio in 2008. The Trio has performed around the country, establishing residencies in communities in North Carolina, Philadelphia, New York and South Florida; Abrams and the Trio founded and direct GardenMusic, the music festival of the world-renowned Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami.
Remember the film Dead Poets Society? Ford Mylius Lallerstedt at the Curtis Institute of Music is the real thing. He is able unify the broadest ranges of core educational elements to inspire a creative individual: The science of language and syntactical processing, improvisatory counterpoint, 3,000 years of literature, Schenkerian graphs of operas created from dictation, art and film criticism, and advanced score reading all come together magically in his classes to elucidate how art communicates and connects.
Taylor Swift has made herself an icon by completely engaging her fans. She uses her position as a very widely known artist to do something beyond what is expected of a pop artist, such as donating to the Nashville and Seattle symphonies, advocating for musicians’ fair treatment and funding the Taylor Swift Education Center at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The Knight Foundation believes that everyone should have a place to express an amazing idea. To that end, Knight balances artistic project support with city-based arts challenges – egalitarian systems that inspire people in the community to dream big.
Educator Diane Downs believes that everyone can improvise and be a creative musician. With that philosophy, she founded The Louisville Leopard Percussionists, a performing ensemble of young musicians, ages 7–14, who learn to play mallet instruments and drum sets entirely by ear.