Part of my big message with all this is that if you are alive, you know all you need to know about the message of classical music, because more than …

- Michael Tilson Thomas

The world changes when there's music in it.

- Michael Tilson Thomas

This extraordinary group has absolutely captivated my imagination, knocked my socks off - what more can I say?

- Michael Tilson Thomas

Being an American musician means being adventurous.

- Michael Tilson Thomas

The big difference between human happiness and sadness? Thirty-seven freakin' vibrations.

- Michael Tilson Thomas

One of my central maxims is how a major part of what a conductor tries to do is get a large group of people to agree on where "now" actually is.

- Michael Tilson Thomas

You can't have Bach, Mozart and Beethoven as your favorite composers. They simply define what music is!

- Michael Tilson Thomas

Classical music is an unbroken, living tradition that goes back over 1,000 years, and every one of those years has had something unique and powerful …

- Michael Tilson Thomas

Classical music is a wonderful 1200 year-old tradition that witnesses everything that it has meant and what it means right now to be human.

- Michael Tilson Thomas