Thomas Wilkins (conductor) facts for kids
Thomas Alphonso Wilkins (born around 1956) is an American conductor who leads orchestras. He is the honorary Music Director for the Omaha Symphony Orchestra. He is also the main conductor for the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Thomas Wilkins helps the Boston Symphony Orchestra with music education and community programs. He is also a special guest conductor for the Virginia Symphony.
Early Life and Learning Music
Thomas Wilkins was born in Norfolk, Virginia. He grew up in a neighborhood where many families received support. When he was eight years old, he heard The Star-Spangled Banner played by an orchestra. This moment inspired him to become a conductor.
He earned his first degree in music education from the Shenandoah Conservatory in 1978. Later, in 1982, he received an advanced degree in orchestral conducting from the New England Conservatory of Music.
Teaching and Leading Orchestras
Thomas Wilkins has shared his knowledge by teaching at several universities. These include North Park University, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Today, he holds a special professor position at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. There, he teaches students how to conduct orchestras.
Wilkins has worked with many famous orchestras across the United States. He was an assistant conductor for the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. He also served as a resident conductor for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and The Florida Orchestra. He has led performances with top orchestras like the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has also been a guest conductor for the Philadelphia and Cleveland Orchestras, and many others.
In 2005, Thomas Wilkins became the music director for the Omaha Symphony. He also started leading family and youth concerts for the Boston Symphony in 2011. He retired from his role with the Omaha Symphony on June 12, 2021.
Awards and Special Recognition
After his first season with the Boston Symphony, the Boston Globe newspaper named Thomas Wilkins one of the "Best People and Ideas of 2011." In 2014, he received the "Outstanding Artist" award at the Nebraska Governor’s Arts Awards.
In 2018, Wilkins was honored with the Leonard Bernstein Lifetime Achievement Award from the Longy School of Music. This award recognized his long and successful career. In 2022, he received the Golden Baton Award from the League of American Orchestras. This award celebrates his important contributions to orchestral music.
