Legendary Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas Passes Away

0:00It's April 23rd from Coast to Coast. This is US News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with the story. Michael Tillson Thomas, the legendary American conductor who shaped classical music for over 50 years, passed away Wednesday at a San Francisco. Home. He was 81. Thomas led major orchestras in Buffalo, Miami, London, and San Francisco, while also composing his own works. He first battled a brain tumor with surgery back in 2021, bounced back to conduct, but announced its return this past February. Thomas wrapped up his career with a final show alongside the San Francisco Symphony in late April marking a poignant close to his stage life. Fans and critics remember him for his bold style and deep impact. He snagged 12 Grammy Awards from 39 nominations and earned Kennedy Center Honors in 2019. Born into a showbiz family in Los Angeles on December 21st, 1944, he started on piano young and studied with giants like Stravinsky and Boles.

1:04Thomas founded Miami's New World Symphony, poured energy into compositions like grace and meditations on Rilka, and shared a long partnership with his, husband Joshua Robinson, who passed earlier this year after a fall. In his own words, from that last concert announcement, his life's Coda fell generous and rich, like the perfect musical rap to an epic symphony.