A MESSAGE FROM THE CREATORS CORPS

TJ COLE, composer

I’ve come to really fall in love with Louisville. I was born and raised in the south (near Atlanta) but have spent most of my adult life in the north. Even though I hadn’t lived in Louisville, I immediately felt a certain kind of comfort and home here. I’ve found connection with so many interesting people, from locals who’ve grown up here to new comers who have migrated in (like myself). There is a particularly special support that I’ve found here, from the other two creators, Lisa and Tyler, from the LO team, from new friends and concert go-ers, from my local baristas and bartenders (shout out to FULL STOP where I’ve had many lattes while editing music).

I’ve honestly been very hesitant to write new works for orchestras, often because they can be quite traditional and conservative in their creative decision making and I have sometimes been met with resistance when asking to try something different. I’m so surprised, in the best possible way, at how open and excited the LO and Teddy are to not only work with composers, but give us the space and time to experiment with and expand upon our craft. We have been given a lot of trust, and it allows us to create and share our best possible work. This is a really special ensemble in a really special community, and I feel a lot of gratitude to be a part of it.

TYLER TAYLOR, composer

I was born and raised here in Louisville, and it was in this city that I discovered music. I started playing the horn in late elementary school and exploring composition just a couple years later. I had incredible teachers who supported and fostered my musicianship throughout my schooling. By the time I was in college, I had studied with several of the horn players from the LO and several of my professors at University of Louisville were also members of the Louisville Orchestra – this orchestra and its members have played a significant role in shaping the musician I have become.

I moved back to Louisville in the Summer of 2020 after having been gone for 5 years to study at Eastman and Indiana University. Of course, there was nothing for anyone at this time and the connections and relationship I had with the city had changed drastically. Even as someone who was raised here, finding community in the aftermath of the events of 2020 was profoundly difficult both musically and personally.

For me, the Creators Corps is a full-circle event that shows what can happen when people make meaningful connection in their community, or in my case, re-connect with their community. I have dreamed of working with this orchestra in this capacity since I was a student at University of Louisville over a decade ago. The orchestra and its musicians have proven time and time again their musical excellence and their commitment to this initiative. It seems rare to find an orchestra that is as willing and open as this one, the Louisville Orchestra!

This position also allows me to help shape the relationship of this orchestra with the community it serves through education programs. I created an after-school composition workshop for Jefferson County Public School students grades 4-12 to help address a gap in musical education I experienced when I was a student. Over the course of this program, students will write pieces that will be workshopped and performed by LO members. This is an incredible, artistically affirming experience that builds strong relationships between the students and the orchestra. Last, I cannot overstate the significance of the camaraderie and friendship I have experienced during this residency –old bonds have been strengthened and new ones have been forged. Lisa and TJ have quickly become close friends and their presence in my life is something I’m incredibly grateful for. I am inspired by their artistry and fulfilled by their finding community in my hometown. I look forward to continued collaboration with Teddy, musicians of the orchestra, and my fellow creators!