Michael Tilson Thomas, who played a central role in founding and shaping the Pacific Music Festival, passed away on April 22 at the age of 81. Alongside Leonard Bernstein, Tilson Thomas served as co-Artistic Director for PMF's founding in Sapporo in 1990, helping to lay the foundations of the festival, which are still in place today. He provided crucial support to PMF during the difficult period following Bernstein's death, ensuring that those early years became a formative period in the festival's history. He served as Artistic Director from 1990 to 2000, devoting himself wholeheartedly to teaching young musicians. In 1995, the 50th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, he conducted the world premiere of his own work Shówa/Shoáh with the PMF Orchestra in Hiroshima, sending a message of peace to the world. In 1999, he led the PMF International Orchestra, consisting of PMF alumni from around the globe, in celebration of PMF's 10th anniversary. His final performance at PMF was for the 20th anniversary in 2009, with the young musicians of the PMF Orchestra. We are left with an inexhaustible wealth of his deeply moving performances and cherished memories.

The passion for music that Tilson Thomas passed on to so many young musicians lives on in the PMF alumni who perform in orchestras around the world. We will strive to carry his legacy forward through our continued commitment to the arts and to music education.
May he rest in peace.

April 24, 2026
PMF Organizing Committee