The San Francisco Symphony (SFS) has announced a special memorial concert to honor its former Music Director, the late Michael Tilson Thomas, who was affectionately known as MTT.
On October 2, 2026, SFS’s “A Concert for MTT” will feature many of Tilson Thomas’ longtime friends and collaborators alongside the SFS and SFS Chorus.
Among the artists are the conductors Teddy Abrams and Edwin Outwater, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, vocalist Audra McDonald, pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Yuja Wang, and more, reflecting the lasting relationships MTT cultivated throughout his decades-long career.
The concert program, featuring works from MTT’s lifetime of music-making and 25-year tenure with SFS, will also be interspersed with a mix of personal tributes and anecdotes, archival footage, and recordings.
Under MTT’s leadership, the SFS has achieved artistic acclaim, expanded its global reach, and championed contemporary and American music.
Tilson Thomas made his debut with SFS in 1974 at the age of 29 and led nearly 1,800 concerts over the course of his 52-year relationship with the Symphony.
As Music Director from 1995 to 2020, MTT oversaw the launch of the Symphony’s own recording label, SFS Media, which released numerous GRAMMY Award-winning recordings. He also introduced the Keeping Score music education resource among many other community engagement initiatives.
To attend “A Concert for MTT,” click here. General admission tickets will become available on July 18.
“Michael didn’t just lead this orchestra. He reimagined what an orchestra could be, and he did it here, with these musicians, for this city,” says SFS CEO Matthew Spivey.
“Working alongside him shaped how all of us understand our purpose. His loss in April was deeply felt, but his influence is woven into the San Francisco Symphony at every level, and it will be for generations,” Spivey adds. “On October 2 we get to do the thing Michael loved most: gather, listen, and celebrate together. That so many of his friends, collaborators, and students are coming to make music in his honor tells you everything about the man and the bonds he built.”