The Biography

Michael Tilson Thomas (December 21, 1944 – April 22, 2026) was an American conductor, composer and pianist. He was artistic director laureate of the New World Symphony, an American orchestral academy in Miami Beach, Florida, music director laureate of the San Francisco Symphony, and conductor laureate of the London Symphony Orchestra. He gave his final performance with the San Francisco Symphony in April 2025 while fighting brain cancer.