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Michael Tilson Thomas, 81, Dies; SFS Dedicates Beethoven Ninth

4/23/2026

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Summary

Michael Tilson Thomas Dies

Michael Tilson Thomas died at his San Francisco home on April 22, 2026, at age 81 from glioblastoma.
He led the San Francisco Symphony as music director from 1995 to 2020, a 25-year tenure.
The orchestra won 12 Grammy Awards during his tenure.
He co-founded the New World Symphony in 1987.
The San Francisco Symphony will dedicate its Beethoven Ninth performances on June 18, 20 and 21, 2026, to Thomas.

Summary

Tilson Thomas Innovates

He created the YouTube Symphony Orchestra in 2009, gathering musicians from 30 countries for a live-streamed concert.
He produced PBS’s “Keeping Score,” a global series that used film and narration to explain major composers.
He led the New World Symphony as artistic director until 2021, overseeing a tuition-free academy that prepared over 1,000 emerging orchestral professionals and whose radio series “The MTT Files” won a Peabody Award.

History

Historical Context

In 1987, Michael Tilson Thomas co-founded the New World Symphony to train young musicians for orchestral careers. His leadership at the San Francisco Symphony from 1995 to 2020 garnered 12 Grammy Awards, highlighting its artistic excellence. Thomas's innovative projects, including the 2009 YouTube Symphony Orchestra, transformed audience engagement, ensuring his influence will resonate with future generations of musicians and audiences.

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Michael Tilson Thomas Dies

Michael Tilson Thomas died at his San Francisco home on April 22, 2026, at age 81 from glioblastoma.
He led the San Francisco Symphony as music director from 1995 to 2020, a 25-year tenure.
The orchestra won 12 Grammy Awards during his tenure.
He co-founded the New World Symphony in 1987.
The San Francisco Symphony will dedicate its Beethoven Ninth performances on June 18, 20 and 21, 2026, to Thomas.

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