Louisville Orchestra history

That was evident early in Dean Anderson’s tenure when he, philanthropist Morris Belknap and Herz formed the Chamber Music Society of Louisville in 1938.

Proof that UofL had become a locus of musical life, not just locally but internationally, also can be seen in another of the music library’s unique treasures: a guestbook containing the signatures of hundreds of dignitaries who’ve visited or performed at the school since 1948.

Only ten years after its formation, Maestro Whitney and Charles Farnsley, Mayor of Louisville (1948-1953), conceived an adventurous plan to make the commissioning, performance, and recording of new works for orchestra a centerpiece of the Orchestra’s global mission. It was during this time (1949) that the Philharmonic Society officially changed its name to the Louisville Orchestra.

His dance concerto, Judith, was premiered by international dance superstar and choreographer Martha Graham on January 4, 1950.

The LYO began in the fall of 1958 as an outgrowth of a six-week summer orchestral program sponsored by the Louisville Academy of Music.

One fine day in November 1959, one of the greatest composers of the 20th century stopped by for lunch at the University of Louisville School of Music.

Another notable event was the 1964 founding of the Louisville Bach Society by UofL’s Melvin Dickinson (now emeritus music professor).

Even so, Gardencourt eventually became inadequate for the school’s growing needs and was closed in 1969.

He remained the orchestra’s director for many years thereafter and served as music dean until 1971.

- UofL becoming host site of the Jamey Aebersold Summer workshop in 1977.

The new School of Music building, opened in 1980, was the first facility built specifically for music education at UofL. Students, faculty and performing groups finally had a proper space for their needs.

In a 1983 story in UofL magazine, music graduate Richard Spalding reminisced about the school under Anderson’s influential leadership.

- Awarding of the first Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition to Witold Lutoslawski in 1985.

In a 1987 story she wrote for Inside UofL, Whitney recalled Gardencourt as a “lovely treasure…conducive to serious music study.

Her 1999 appointment as music director of the Kentucky Opera Association solidified the strong ties between UofL and the Louisville arts community.

- Increasing recognition and top-prize awards for UofL’s choral ensembles in the mid-2000’s, as well as the designation of all of the school’s ensembles as A Program of National Excellence at UofL.

In May of 2010, he earned a Masters in Violin Performance at The Juilliard School where he studied with Joel Smirnoff and Masao Kawasaki.

In 2011, at the age of 23, Gabriel became one of the youngest concertmasters of a professional orchestra in the United States when he was appointed Concertmaster of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

In 2013, for the first time in decades, the LO balanced its annual budget — emblematic of its current stable footing, community support, and strong leadership.

Teddy Abrams (2014 – present)