Music Makes A City Now

Short Form Episodic Web Series

Music Makes A City Now: Louisville begins with the arrival of a rising star, 27-year-old conductor and composer Teddy Abrams, as he moves to Louisville, Kentucky to become the youngest Music Director of a major American orchestra. Bursting with energy and ideas, Abrams embarks on an ambitious plan to usher in a modern renaissance for the orchestra and the city.

Follow Abram’s whirlwind debut season with the orchestra — from his chaotic move-in day at his newly purchased fixer-upper downtown to the opening night of the symphony and his embrace of the city’s vibrant local music scene. Charming and unpretentious, Abrams demystifies the world of classical music as he shows what it takes to keep personal and civic artistry alive in the 21st century.

A colorful array of guest artists join Abrams for a variety of performances and deep conversations including folk music favorite Aoife O’Donovan, icon Bonnie “Prince” Billy, local hip hop artist Jecorey “1200”Arthur, world famous virtuosos Joshua Bell and Yuja Wang, and Abrams’ mentor, the renowned conductor Michael Tilson Thomas. Together, they bring down traditional barriers and highlight the universal meaning of music across all genres and audiences.

Production Details:

Series Producer/Director:
Anne Flatté

Series Producer:
Philip Wilder

Co-Director/DP:
Stephen Kertis

Executive Producer:
Owsley Brown III

Production Company:
Owsley Brown Presents

EPISODE 1

Moving to Louisville

In the premiere episode of Music Makes A City Now, 27-year-old conductor and composer Teddy Abrams moves to Louisville, Kentucky, to become the youngest Music Director of a major American orchestra.

EPISODE 2

Opening Night

The intensity builds as Teddy Abrams and the Louisville Orchestra rehearse and perform their Opening Night concert.

EPISODE 3

Teddy Meets the Town

Music Director Teddy Abrams plays music around Louisville to spread the word about the orchestra and why he loves to improvise in different musical styles. From the city's open streets event CycLOUvia to the home of the Kentucky Derby (Churchill Downs), Teddy meets the citizens of Louisville.

EPISODE 4

Carmina Burana in Louisville

Teddy Abrams, the Louisville Orchestra, and a community cast of hundreds come together to create a powerhouse performance of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana.

EPISODE 5

Big Fiddle

Teddy Abrams brings composer and violinist Jeremy Kittel and his original work “Big Fiddle" to the Louisville Orchestra along with crossover cellist Ben Sollee.

EPISODE 6

All Together Now

Teddy Abrams and a unique mix of Louisville musicians come together to create #MMAC14, a landmark community concert at Tim Faulkner Gallery. Featuring Bonnie Prince Billy, Tiny Elephant, Kyle James Hauser, 1200, A Lion Named Roar, and the University Chamber Orchestra.

EPISODE 7

Sixth Floor Trio

Teddy and old friends light up Louisville with their genre-blending side project, The Sixth Floor Trio.

The trio, which includes four musicians—Teddy Abrams, Harrison Hollingsworth, Johnny Teyssier and Gabriel Globus-Hoenich—met in 2005 while studying at the Curtis Institute of Music.

We followed them for a day in the city to see how their exuberant embrace of all kinds of music connects with audiences across generations—and learned some fun facts about Teddy along the way.

EPISODE 8

Music is Alive

Teddy Abrams gathers world-class musicians including folk songstress Aoife O’Donovan, classical musicians, bluegrass artists and a maraca virtuoso for an experimental festival at Fairchild Garden in Miami, Florida. Here, the artists “embrace the chaos” as they collaborate, workshop and perform pieces that defy musical labels and engage audiences of all ages.

EPISODE 9

First Symphony

By commissioning the innovative young composer Sebastian Chang to compose a new work for the Louisville Orchestra, conductor Teddy Abrams offers his audience the rare chance to be the first to hear a symphony world premiere.

EPISODE 10

New World Symphony

Teddy Abrams returns to guest conduct for a week at Michael Tilson Thomas’s orchestral academy in Miami Beach, Florida. See how his deep connection with the students, the building and his mentor culminate in larger than life performances of pieces that turn this state-of-the-art symphony hall inside out.

EPISODE 11

Joshua Bell in Rehearsal

Sit in on rehearsal with violin virtuoso Joshua Bell, guest conductor Teddy Abrams and the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. See what happens when two musical forces work together for the very first time on Max Bruch's Scottish Fantasy.

EPISODE 12

Season Finale

Music Director Teddy Abrams’ first season with the Louisville Orchestra comes to a high-energy close with a triumphant Day of Music and Block Party Concert. Drumlines, xylophones and young musicians all have their moments to shine-- this is no time for stuffy conventions. Featuring musical mash-ups from guest artists Time for Three, and Beethoven’s epic Symphony No. 5.

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