Teddy Abrams and The Louisville Orchestra celebrate the award of $3.2 million from the Kentucky General Assembly to continue Kentucky’s statewide In Harmony Tour through 2028, strengthening a groundbreaking initiative that has brought orchestral music directly to 50 counties and 57,000 Kentuckians across the Commonwealth. With this new allocation, total support for the program now reaches $11.8 million, making the legislature the largest independent donor in the Orchestra’s history. Since launching in 2022, the In Harmony Tour has grown into a nationally recognized model for how public investment in the arts can expand cultural access, strengthen communities, and connect people across an entire state.
In Harmony – The Commonwealth Tour of The Louisville Orchestra is a pioneering statewide initiative delivering transformational musical experiences directly to Kentucky communities. Since its launch in November 2022, the program has reached 50 counties across the Commonwealth, bringing live orchestral concerts and community events to audiences across Kentucky while celebrating the rich musical heritage and traditions that unite communities throughout the state.
From courthouse lawns and school gymnasiums to libraries and public parks, the initiative connects Kentuckians with world-class musical performances while fostering civic pride, cultural exchange, and educational opportunity.
The tour featured Kentucky artists including Sam Bush, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Tessa Lark, Ben Sollee, and Chris Thile, alongside Louisville Orchestra musicians in solo and chamber performances. It has also included seven world premieres by composers from the Louisville Orchestra Creators Corps, highlighting Kentucky’s role in shaping the future of American music.
Looking ahead, the tour will include a special engagement featuring Yo-Yo Ma in 2027, bringing one of the world’s most celebrated musicians to communities across Kentucky as part of this statewide cultural effort.
The next performances of the In Harmony Tour will take place this summer, with free outdoor concerts in Glasgow, Shelby County, and Elizabethtown, continuing the Orchestra’s mission to bring live symphonic music directly to communities across the Commonwealth. Registration for these events is now open.
The June program features a lively mix of orchestral classics and American favorites, including Bernstein’s Overture to Candide, selections from Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 and Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5, Copland’s Hoe Down, John Williams’ iconic Star Wars theme, and more, performed by musicians of the Louisville Orchestra alongside guest artists.
“The In Harmony Tour has transformed the way we think about what an orchestra can be,” said Music Director Teddy Abrams. “By bringing music directly to communities across Kentucky, we are building relationships, sharing extraordinary artistic experiences, and demonstrating that orchestral music belongs to everyone. We are deeply grateful to the Kentucky General Assembly for recognizing the value of this work and for making it possible for us to continue expanding it.”
The success of the In Harmony Tour is now drawing attention from orchestras and cultural leaders across the country as a replicable model for how states can invest in the arts as essential public infrastructure. By demonstrating how a statewide orchestra initiative can connect communities, support education, and expand cultural access, Kentucky is helping establish a new national precedent for public support of the arts.
As the tour continues to grow, the Louisville Orchestra will expand concerts, school visits, library programs, and community collaborations designed to ensure that every Kentuckian has the opportunity to experience live orchestral music.