What is Michael Tilson Thomas?
[[File:Michaeltilsonthomas.jpg|Michael Tilson Thomas|thumb|right|150px]] '''Michael Tilson Thomas''' (born December 21, 1944), is an [[Americans|American]] [[conducting|conductor]], [[piano|pianist]] and [[composer]]. He is the conductor of the [[San Francisco Symphony Orchestra]]. ==Life== Tilson Thomas was born in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]]. His grandparents were well known actors of the [[Yiddish]] theatre. Tilson Thomas studied at the [[University of Southern California]]. After being assistant conductor at the [[Bayreuth Festival]] his first important opportunity came in [[1969]] when the conductor [[William Steinberg]] became unwell during a concert with the [[Boston Symphony Orchestra]]. Tilson Thomas took over conducting the rest of the concert. He stayed with the orchestra as assistant conductor until 1974, making several recordings with them. He was conductor of the [[Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra]] from 1971 to 1979. During this time he conducted a series of Young People's Concerts with the [[New York Philharmonic]]. From 1981 to 1985 he was the main guest conductor of the [[Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra]]. Tilson Thomas started a new orchestra, the [[New World Symphony Orchestra|New World Symphony]], in [[Miami, Florida]] in 1987, to give talented young people a chance to play with a good orchestra. From 1988 to 1995, he was principal conductor of the [[London Symphony Orchestra]], and since 1995 he has been their main guest conductor. In 1995, he became conductor (music director) of the [[San Francisco Symphony Orchestra]]. Tilson Thomas has conducted many styles of music, especially American music such as that of [[Charles Ives]] and [[Aaron Copland]]. He also recorded all nine [[symphony|symphonies]] of [[Gustav Mahler]]. In [[2009]] Tilson Thomas created the YouTube Symphony Orchestra to give a concert that could be watched on [[YouTube]]. The orchestra was made up of young players from 30 different countries.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nycartsandentertainment.com/you