EarRelevant Staff | 15 JUL 2026
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky— The Louisville Orchestra has appointed arts executive, composer and music publishing leader Jude Vaclavik as its new chief executive officer, placing a veteran of both the nonprofit and commercial music worlds at the helm of one of America’s most closely watched orchestras.
The appointment follows a national search and comes as the Louisville Orchestra continues an extended period of artistic and organizational growth under music director Teddy Abrams, whose leadership since 2014 has elevated the ensemble’s national profile through new commissions, recordings, community initiatives and touring.
Vaclavik most recently served as vice president of U.S. Classical Publishing and Promotion at Universal Music Group, where he oversaw one of the company’s classical publishing operations. Earlier in his career, he held positions with Houston Grand Opera, Boosey & Hawkes and The Juilliard School, building a résumé that spans artist management, music publishing, education and nonprofit administration.
Vaclavik succeeds interim executive director Nathaniel Koch, who has overseen the orchestra’s administrative operations since March 2025 following the departure of former executive director Graham Parker. His appointment also marks a transition to the title of chief executive officer, replacing the orchestra’s previous executive director designation.
The CEO position carries unusual prominence within the American orchestra field. Founded in 1937, the Louisville Orchestra earned an international reputation in the postwar decades through its pioneering First Edition Recordings series, commissioning and recording hundreds of works by living composers at a time when few American orchestras were investing heavily in new music. In recent years, Abrams has revived that legacy through initiatives including the Louisville Orchestra Creators Corps, a residency program for composers that has attracted national attention, while expanding the orchestra’s presence throughout Kentucky with its statewide In Harmony: The Commonwealth Tour.
The orchestra has also broadened its recording activities. In 2024 it appeared on the Grammy Award-winning album The American Project, and the organization recently reported a record-setting season that included 19 sold-out performances.
Board Chair Jordan Harris said the search committee sought a leader capable of sustaining the orchestra’s momentum while balancing artistic vision with organizational management. Abrams likewise emphasized Vaclavik’s experience working with artists and arts organizations as the orchestra continues to expand its role within Louisville and beyond.
Vaclavik has long admired the orchestra’s willingness to embrace new music while maintaining connections with its community.
“I’ve admired the Louisville Orchestra for years because it continues to redefine what an orchestra can be,” Vaclavik said. “It honors an extraordinary legacy while embracing new ideas, new music, and new ways of serving its community.”
In addition to his executive experience, Vaclavik maintains an active career as a composer. His music has been commissioned and performed by organizations including the New York Philharmonic, the New York City Ballet Choreographic Institute and The Juilliard School, experience that musicians say gives him an understanding of both artistic and administrative priorities.
Musicians Committee Chair Jonathan Mueller said Vaclavik’s background as both a pianist and composer distinguished him during the search process and demonstrated an understanding of the creative work performed by the orchestra’s players.
The appointment comes as American orchestras continue to redefine executive leadership in the aftermath of the pandemic, with many organizations placing greater emphasis on community engagement, new music, philanthropy and diversified revenue alongside traditional concert programming. Louisville has emerged as one of the more visible examples of that evolution, pairing artistic innovation with statewide outreach while drawing renewed national attention to an orchestra long associated with the commissioning of contemporary music.
Vaclavik now assumes responsibility for translating that artistic momentum into long-term institutional stability, working alongside Abrams as the orchestra enters its next chapter. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Louisville Orchestra: louisvilleorchestra.org
- Jude Vaclavik: judevaclavik.com
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