Michael Tilson Thomas
Former Principal Guest Conductor
Michael Tilson Thomas was Music Director Laureate of the San Francisco Symphony, Conductor Laureate of the London Symphony Orchestra, Co-Founder and Artistic Director Laureate of the New World Symphony, and Distinguished Professor of Music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He was a 12-time Grammy Award winner and conducted the major orchestras of Europe and the United States.
Born in Los Angeles, he studied conducting and composition with Ingolf Dahl at the University of Southern California and, as a young musician, worked with artists including Igor Stravinsky and Aaron Copland. In his mid-20s, he became Assistant Conductor—and later Principal Guest Conductor—of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He subsequently served as Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic, Principal Guest Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.
In 1987, he 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. He worked with more than 1,200 NWS Fellows, many of whom have gone on to major musical careers.
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Michael Tilson Thomas on Spotify
Listen to Michael Tilson Thomas on Spotify.
Podcast: Celebrating MTT with Brian Lauritzen • LA Phil 2024/25
KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen delves into Celebrating MTT.
A Celebration for a Maestro: MTT
Podcast: Michael Tilson Thomas Leads Tchaikovsky with Russell Steinberg • LA Phil 2023/24
Conductor Russell Steinberg discusses Michael Tilson Thomas Leads Tchaikovsky.
Podcast: MTT Conducts Mahler 9 with Brian Lauritzen • LA Phil 2022/23
KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen delves into Mahler’s Symphony No. 9.
Podcast: Prokofiev and MTT with Thomas Neenan
Professor of music at Caltech, Thomas Neenan, discusses music by Prokofiev, Michael Tilson Thomas and Fauré.
Mälkki, Salonen, and MTT: 100 Years of Shakespeare at the Phil
The innovative staging of Shakespearean works, the music of the Finnish master, and the unique role of the Principal Guest Conductor are all important parts of the LA Phil’s history.
