Background
Thomas, Michael Tilson was born on December 21, 1944 in Los Angeles, California, United States. Son of Theodor and Roberta Tilson Thomas.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Other Work
- Chief conductor Ojai Festival, 1967, director, 1972-1977, conductor, director New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Columbia Broadcasting System-television, 1971-1977, visiting conductor numerous orchestras, United States, Europe, Japan, recording artist Sony Classical/Columbia Broadcasting System Masterworks, since 1973, opera debut, Cincinnati, 1975, conductor American premiere Lulu, Santa Fe Opera, 1979, principal guest conductor Gershwin Festival London Symphony Orchestra, Barbcan Center, 1987. Composer: Grace-A Song for Leonard Bernstein, 1988. Composer: (for Empire Brass Quintet) Street Song, 1988.Composer: (for orchestra and narator Audrey Hepburn and New World Symphony) From the Diary of Anne Frank, 1990. Co-artistic director Pacific Music Festival, since 1990, commissioned for Concerts for Life's European premiere United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, 1991, conducted Mozart Requiem, —.
Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas, American conductor, composer. Fellow: American Academy Arts & Sciences.
Education
Studies with Ingolf Dahl, University Southern California. Student in conducting, Berkshire Music Festival, Tanglewood, Massachusetts. Doctor of Laws, Hamilton College.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), D'Youville College, 1976.
Career
Assistant conductor Boston Symphony Orchestra, 1969, associate conductor, 1970-1972, principal guest conductor, 1972-1974. Also Berkshire Music Festival, summer 1970, 74. Music director, conductor Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, 1971-1979.
Principal guest conductor Los Angeles Philharmonic, 1981—1985. Music director, principal conductor Great Woods Center Performing Arts, 1985-1988. Founder, artistic director New World Symphony, Florida, since 1988.
Principal conductor London Symphony Orchestra, 1988—1995, principal guest conductor, since 1995. Music director San Francisco Symphony, since 1995.
Achievements
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Michael Tilson Thomas has been listed as a noteworthy conductor, composer by Marquis Who's Who.
Works
Other Work
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Chief conductor Ojai Festival, 1967, director, 1972-1977, conductor, director New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Columbia Broadcasting System-television, 1971-1977, visiting conductor numerous orchestras, United States, Europe, Japan, recording artist Sony Classical/Columbia Broadcasting System Masterworks, since 1973, opera debut, Cincinnati, 1975, conductor American premiere Lulu, Santa Fe Opera, 1979, principal guest conductor Gershwin Festival London Symphony Orchestra, Barbcan Center, 1987. Composer: Grace-A Song for Leonard Bernstein, 1988. Composer: (for Empire Brass Quintet) Street Song, 1988.Composer: (for orchestra and narator Audrey Hepburn and New World Symphony) From the Diary of Anne Frank, 1990. Co-artistic director Pacific Music Festival, since 1990, commissioned for Concerts for Life's European premiere United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, 1991, conducted Mozart Requiem, —.
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Membership
Fellow: American Academy Arts and Sciences.
Connections
- Father:
- Theodor Thomas
- Mother:
- Roberta Tilson Thomas
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Born
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Nationality
American
Awards
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Named Musician of Year, Musical American, 1970, Conductor of Year, 1994. Named one of America's Best Leaders, United States News & World Report, 2008. Recipient Koussevitsky prize, 1968, Grammy award, Carmina Burana with Cleveland Orchestra, 1976, Gershwin Live with Los Angeles Philharmonic, 1983, Ditson award, 1994, American Music Center award, 2001, Grammy award, Mahler Symphony Northern 3 with San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, 2004, Classic FM Gramophone award for Artist of Year, 2005, Grammy awards for Best Classical Album and Best Orchestral Performance, Mahler Symphony Northern 7 with San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, 2007.Named Musician of Year, Musical American, 1970, Conductor of Year, 1994. Named one of America's Best Leaders, United States News & World Report, 2008. Recipient Koussevitsky prize, 1968, Grammy award, Carmina Burana with Cleveland Orchestra, 1976, Gershwin Live with Los Angeles Philharmonic, 1983, Ditson award, 1994, American Music Center award, 2001, Grammy award, Mahler Symphony Northern 3 with San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, 2004, Classic FM Gramophone award for Artist of Year, 2005, Grammy awards for Best Classical Album and Best Orchestral Performance, Mahler Symphony Northern 7 with San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, 2007.