SFCM is pleased to announce that alumnus Teddy Abrams ('05) will deliver the commencement address for the class of 2026. The 2026 SFCM Commencement ceremony, which honors the accomplishments of this year's graduates, will take place on Friday, May 22, at Herbst Theatre in the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center.

Abrams, a Bay Area native who graduated from SFCM with a degree in piano performance at the age of 18, has been hailed by The New York Times as a "maestro of the people ... breaking the mold of modern conductors." Two decades after completing his studies at SFCM, Abrams will return to San Francisco to deliver the keynote address at the 2026 commencement ceremony and to receive a Doctorate of Music, honoris causa.

"I am thrilled and humbled to receive an honorary doctorate from my beloved San Francisco Conservatory of Music in May," Abrams says. "I have a lifetime of memories at SFCM, from my earliest chamber music experiences as a part of the Pre-College when I was nine years old, to my piano performance degree that I earned studying with the incomparable Paul Hersh," Abrams says. "The many SFCM faculty who went above and beyond to guide me as a young musician will always be heroes and dear mentors to me, and I owe so much of my life in music to the education and camaraderie I was so lucky to receive during my student years. I have watched with great pride in the intervening period as SFCM has grown into a globally-influential creative center, making brilliant strategic moves that have brought the institution to the center of American musical life. It is a tremendous honor to revisit my alma mater to celebrate the school's achievements and to share my enthusiasm and encouragement for musical impact with the 2026 graduating class."

SFCM President David Stull states, "Teddy is the quintessential modern music director and has been an innovative force in the profession since his career began. We are honored to bestow upon him this well-earned degree in acknowledgement of his exceptional work as an artist and creator, and as an exemplar of all that is possible through resilience and imagination. On behalf of the Conservatory, I congratulate him on his many dynamic achievements."

Abrams' musical achievements, including his GRAMMY Awards and being named Musical America's 2022 Conductor of the Year, extend beyond his own artistic endeavors. Since his appointment as Music Director in 2014, Abrams has played a pivotal role in advancing the Louisville Orchestra's artistic revitalization and its commitment to innovative social initiatives. He has spearheaded several major projects, including the Louisville Orchestra Creators Corps—a pioneering composer residency program—the In Harmony Tour, a significant community engagement effort supported by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the Louisville Orchestra Rap School. Through these initiatives, Abrams is significantly strengthening relationships between the orchestra and the diverse communities across Kentucky.

"Teddy embodies everything we hope our students achieve at SFCM: imagination, musical excellence, and a deep commitment to sharing music with others," said SFCM Orchestra Music Director, Edwin Outwater, who has worked with Abrams since he was 14. "It has been extraordinary to watch his evolution. For Teddy, artistic success isn't just about personal achievement; it's about how the audience receives the music. His unique focus on community shows us a path forward to sustain classical music in the 21st century. I'm certain his formative years in San Francisco helped shape that spirit, and it's incredibly rewarding to see him now inspiring the next generation." 

Conferring degrees to 162 undergraduate, postgraduate, and graduate students, SFCM's 2026 Commencement will also feature a welcome by Executive Vice Chair, Board of Trustees David Kremer, remarks by SFCM President David H. Stull and Provost Jonas Wright, student speeches, and musical performances.

About Teddy Abrams

The winner of a GRAMMY Award and Musical America's 2022 Conductor of the Year, Teddy Abrams has been the galvanizing force behind the Louisville Orchestra's extraordinary artistic renewal and innovative social impact since his appointment as Music Director in September 2014. His Kentucky achievements include the Louisville Orchestra Creators Corps, a trailblazing residency initiative for composers; the In Harmony Tour, a grand-scale community-building project funded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky; and adventurous collaborations with artists including Chris Thile, Jim James, Jack Harlow, Storm Large, and Jecorey "1200" Arthur, with whom Abrams founded the Louisville Orchestra Rap School.

Beyond Louisville, Abrams has conducted the Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Cincinnati, National, Houston, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Vancouver, and Phoenix Symphonies; the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; the Buffalo and Los Angeles Philharmonics; and the Minnesota, Florida, and Sarasota Orchestras—all in North America—as well as the Helsinki and Luxembourg Philharmonics and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in Europe. He will debut with the Atlanta Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Ottawa's National Arts Centre Orchestra, and London's BBC Symphony Orchestra in the 2025-26 season before starting a new role as Artistic and Executive Director of California's Ojai Music Festival in September 2026.

Abrams is an award-winning composer. His recent compositions for the Louisville Orchestra include his rap opera, The Greatest: Muhammad Ali; a piano concerto for Yuja Wang, which they recorded for Deutsche Grammophon's The American Project, winning the pianist and himself a GRAMMY Award; and Mammoth, premiered with Yo-Yo Ma and Davóne Tines at Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park. Abrams' recording of his piano collection Preludes was released on New Amsterdam Records in 2025. He is now at work on a Broadway musical, ALI, and an orchestral history of the state of Kentucky.

About SFCM Commencement Ceremony

Friday, May 22, 2026, 1:00 PM PST 
Herbst Theatre
Located in: San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center
Address: 401 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102

In-person tickets will be made available to Graduates for their friends and families. This year's commencement will also be livestreamed on SFCM's event page.

Additional commencement week events are planned to recognize the Graduating Class of 2026 and to celebrate with their families. All relevant commencement activity information and details will be shared directly with the students graduating, and friend and family members should reach out to their graduate for all pertinent information.

Press Contact:
Wendy Norris / Norris Communications
Tel. (415) 307-3853
jraql@abeevfpbzzhavpngvbaf.ovmzib.snoitacinummocsirron@ydnew