Michael Tilson Thomas, award-winning conductor and composer, dies aged 81

Renowned artist, who won 12 Grammys, died at home after being diagnosed with an aggressive type of brain cancer

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Michael Tilson Thomas, a leading American conductor for a half-century who headed orchestras in Buffalo, Miami, London and San Francisco while also composing, died on Wednesday.

He was 81.

Tilson Thomas https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-health-arts-and-entertainment-tumors-1951f5be0bf9ef538508cfefba687908">had surgery for a brain tumor in 2021 and resumed his career, then said in February 2025 that the tumor https://apnews.com/article/michael-tilson-thomas-conductor-brain-tumor-8cea941de59e3f05e1d47e6aa4debf6e">had returned. He conducted his final concert with the San Francisco Symphony in April 2025 and died at his home in San Francisco, spokesperson Connie Shuman said.