A special highlight of USC Thornton’s Trojan Family Weekend programming, Grammy Award-winning conductor, composer, and musical innovator Teddy Abrams joins USC Thornton Professor Nate Sloan for an onstage conversation during USC Thornton’s weekly Forum class. One of the most dynamic and forward-thinking figures in American music, Abrams has earned widespread acclaim for reimagining what an orchestra can be, breaking down boundaries between musical genres, and bringing adventurous new artistic collaborations to audiences around the world. As Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra, Abrams has transformed the ensemble into a nationally recognized center for musical innovation, collaborating with artists ranging from Yo-Yo Ma and Yuja Wang to rapper Jack Harlow and My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James. Named Musical America’s 2022 Conductor of the Year and hailed by The New York Times as a “maestro of the people,” Abrams won a Grammy Award for The American Project, his recording with pianist Yuja Wang featuring his own piano concerto. His work spans classical music, jazz, hip-hop, musical theater, and community-driven projects, reflecting a belief in music’s power to connect people across cultures and traditions. Abrams will come to USC Thornton fresh from having conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall the night before in Seasons of America, featuring internationally acclaimed violinist Ray Chen and the world premiere of Abrams’s new violin concerto. Introduced by Dean Jason King at the USC Thornton event, Abrams will sit down with Sloan for a wide-ranging conversation about his creative journey, his collaborations with some of today's most exciting artists, and his vision for the future of music. His boundary-defying career embodies USC Thornton’s Beyond Category ethos, offering an inspiring perspective on what it means to be a musician, creator, and artistic leader in the 21st century. This event is open to Trojan Family Weekend registrants only. Registration for Trojan families and guests can be found on the Trojan Family Weekend platform.