Washington D.C.'s Aspen Institute Names Teddy Abrams as Artist-in-Residence for 2025/26

The year-long program will allow Abrams to bring his perspective to the Aspen Institute’s ongoing "Great Conversation"

Founded in 1949, the Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Its Arts Program champions the role of artists and cultural leaders as critical thought leaders, futurists, and changemakers, and encourages its Artists-in-Residence to lead public discussions about the arts.

The organization announced that conductor Teddy Abrams will serve as its Harman/Eisner Artist in Residence for the 2025/26 season. The program selects one person each year and provides them with the opportunity to explore the way that their artistic work might allow them to work on addressing social and civic issues.

Recent Artists-in-Residence at the Aspen Institute have included Hank Willis Thomas, Simon Godwin, Marin Alsop, Oskar Eustis, Rita Moreno, and Edmund de Waal.

A GRAMMY Award-winning conductor, Teddy Abrams has been Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra since 2014. Alongside his musical work, Abrams has led a number of initiatives there — including the creation of the Louisville Orchestra Creators Corps, which provides a fully-funded residency for three composers to receive local housing, a salary, health benefits, and dedicated work spaces.

In the present season, Abrams will make his debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and return to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, and Curtis Symphony Orchestra. Recently, Abrams returned to the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the second consecutive year and conducted NYO2 at Carnegie Hall’s World Orchestra Week.

"I am thrilled and honored to serve as the Aspen Institute’s Artist in Residence this year," Abrams said. "Connecting music with diverse disciplines and collaborating with leaders in different fields has long been a passion of mine, and Aspen provides the ideal platform for interdisciplinary thinking and bold creative ideas to flourish."

"Teddy Abrams uses his music to make people connect, reflect, and wonder," said Michael D. Eisner, Institute Trustee and chair of its Committee on the Arts. "I am excited to share his talents, vision, and creativity with the entire Aspen Institute community."