Michael Tilson Thomas conducts (Photo: Kristen Loken)
Acclaimed conductor, composer, and pianist Michael Tilson Thomas died on April 22, 2026 at the age of 81. Thomas was a leading figure in classical music, known for championing the art form through performance, education, and broadcasting.
Over the last 30 years, his name became closely associated with the San Francisco Symphony. Thomas served as the organization’s music director from 1995 to 2020 and remained music director laureate until his death. His tenure helped elevate the ensemble’s international profile and supported the work of living American composers. He also served as music director, later conductor laureate, of the London Symphony Orchestra, appeared as a guest conductor with major orchestras worldwide, and founded the New World Symphony, a postgraduate training orchestra for emerging musicians.
In addition to conducting, Thomas was a prolific composer and performer. He studied with Ingolf Dahl at the University of Southern California and, early in his career, worked closely with Igor Stravinsky and Aaron Copland. His work blended classical traditions with American musical influences and modern orchestration. Thomas won 12 Grammy Awards and recorded more than 120 albums, spanning core repertoire, contemporary works, and his own compositions.
Michael Tilson Thomas and Leonard Bernstein (Photo: MTT Collection)
Thomas also worked in television, writing and recording music for the BBC and PBS; many of his concerts were broadcast internationally. His American Masters documentary for PBS, which aired nationally and on WTTW in 2020, offered an inside look at his career.
Early in his career, Thomas followed in the footsteps of his mentor, Leonard Bernstein. From 1972 to 1977, he hosted the New York Philharmonic’s Young People’s Concerts on CBS. The two maintained a close professional relationship, regularly exchanging ideas and occasionally performing together.
In 2021, Thomas was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He underwent surgery in August 2021 and later returned to work. Over the next three years, he continued his activities as an arts advocate, including a new position teaching at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
The tumor returned in 2025, prompting Thomas to withdraw from public appearances. His final performance with the New World Symphony took place in April 2025. Later that month, he gave a final performance with the San Francisco Symphony, which also served as a belated birthday celebration.
Thomas was an Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, and a 2019 Kennedy Center Honoree.
A musical excerpt from the conclusion of a Studs Terkel show featuring Michael Tilson Thomas and his father Ted Thomas (Recorded at WFMT 1986).
