Thomas Wilkins (conductor)
Thomas Wilkins (born c.1956) is an orchestra conductor.[1] He is the music director of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra,[2] principal conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra,[3] and family and youth concerts conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.[4]
Early life and education[]
Wilkins was born in Norfolk, Virginia and grew up in a housing project, the son of a single mother and welfare recipient.[4] His inspiration to become an orchestra conductor came from a performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" he attended when he was eight years old.[1]
Wilkins received a bachelor's degree in music education from the Shenandoah Conservatory in 1978, and a master of music degree in orchestral conducting from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1982.[2]
Teaching and conducting[]
Wilkins has taught at North Park University, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Virginia Commonwealth University.[2]
He worked as assistant director of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. He also worked as resident director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Florida Orchestra.[2]
Wilkins became music director of the Omaha Symphony in the year 2005,[2] and family and youth concert conductor of the Boston Symphony in 2011.[4]
Notes[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Braxton, Greg (2009-09-09). "Hollywood Bowl's Thomas Wilkins a classical case of beating the odds". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Thomas Wilkins, Music Director". Omaha Symphony. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
- ^ "About the conductor; Thomas Wilkins". Hollywood Bowl. Archived from the original on 2012-08-25. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Johnson, Akilah (2011-12-04). "Raising the baton; The BSO's first black conductor applies his passion to inspiring a new generation". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
- 1956 births
- Living people
- American male conductors (music)
- 21st-century American conductors (music)
- African-American classical musicians
- Musicians from Omaha, Nebraska
- Musicians from Norfolk, Virginia
- Classical musicians from Virginia
- 21st-century American male musicians
- 20th-century American conductors (music)
- 20th-century American male musicians
- Classical musicians from Nebraska
- Shenandoah University alumni
- New England Conservatory alumni
- North Park University
- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga faculty
- Virginia Commonwealth University faculty
- American conductor (music) stubs