Michael Tilson Thomas

Michael Tilson Thomas (born December 21, 1944), nicknamed MTT, is an American conductor, pianist and composer. He is the son of Broadway stage manager Ted Thomas, and the grandson of noted Yiddish theater stars Boris and Bessie Thomashefsky.

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Michael Tilson Thomas - December 21 - 1944 - American - Conductor - Pianist - Composer - Broadway - Stage manager - Ted Thomas - Yiddish theater - Boris - Bessie Thomashefsky

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He was born in Los Angeles, California, where he studied at the University of Southern California under Ingolf Dahl among others. In 1969 he made his conducting debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, replacing an unwell William Steinberg in mid-concert. He stayed with the Boston ensemble as an assistant conductor until 1974. He was music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra from 1971 to 1979, and from 1971 to 1977 conducted the series of Young People's Concerts with the New York Philharmonic.

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Los Angeles, California - University of Southern California - Ingolf Dahl - Boston Symphony Orchestra - William Steinberg - Music director - Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra - Young People's Concerts - New York Philharmonic

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From 1981 to 1985 he was principal guest conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, and from 1988 to 1995 he was principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, becoming principal guest conductor thereafter. In 1995 he became music director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is founder of the New World Symphony, Orchestral Academy (based in Miami, Florida) which acts as a training ground for young musicians.

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Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra - London Symphony Orchestra - San Francisco Symphony - New World Symphony, Orchestral Academy - Miami, Florida

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Tilson Thomas has conducted a wide variety of music, and is a particular champion of modern American works, recording the complete symphonies of Charles Ives and the premiere recording of Steve Reich's The Desert Music. He is also famous for his interpretation of Gustav Mahler's works. His compositions include From the Diary of Anne Frank; Shówa/Shoáh, memorializing the fiftieth anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima; Poems of Emily Dickinson; and Urban Legend.

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Charles Ives - Steve Reich - The Desert Music - Gustav Mahler - Hiroshima

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In April 2005 he conducted the Carnegie Hall premiere of Remembrances of Thomashefsky's Yiddish Theater. NPR story

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