Michael Tilson Thomas, the beloved American conductor, composer and educator who reshaped the cultural life of San Francisco and expanded the reach of classical music for new generations, has died, aged of 81.
Born on 21st December 1944, in Los Angeles into a family of performers, Tilson Thomas seemed destined for a life in the arts. He studied conducting and composition with Ingolf Dahl at the University of Southern California and, as a young musician, worked with composers including Igor Stravinsky and Aaron Copland.
His early breakthrough came in 1969 when he stepped in at short notice to lead the Boston Symphony Orchestra, earning immediate acclaim for his poise and musical insight. He later became the BSO’s Principal Guest Conductor and subsequently served as Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic (1971-79), Principal Guest Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic (1981-85) and Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra (1988-95).
In 1987, Tilson Thomas co-founded the New World Symphony, a postgraduate orchestral academy in Miami Beach dedicated to preparing young musicians of diverse backgrounds for leadership roles in classical music. Its work continues today.
Tilson Thomas served as Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony from 1995 to 2020, a transformative 25-year tenure that elevated the orchestra to international prominence. Under his leadership, the orchestra became renowned for its adventurous programming, championing American composers alongside the European canon. He became one of the best communicators about classical music since his mentor, Leonard Bernstein. His “Keeping Score” project, which included educational initiatives and television programmes, made classical music accessible to millions. Whether speaking from the podium or addressing viewers at home, he conveyed a deep belief that music belonged to everyone.
MTT had a particular affinity with the music of Gustav Mahler, whose symphonies he recorded to great acclaim. Throughout his career, Tilson Thomas was an active composer, with major works including From the Diary of Anne Frank, premiered with narrator Audrey Hepburn, and Meditations on Rilke.
In recent years, Tilson Thomas faced serious illness. In 2021, he disclosed that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer, called glioblastoma multiforme. He returned to the podium, but in 2025 it was announced that his brain tumour had come back. His final public appearance was on 26th April 2025, when he conducted the San Francisco Symphony. His husband Joshua Robison died earlier this year in February.
