[Maestro
Thomas Wilkins (Omaha.com)]
Thursday
January 19, 2012
By
Michael Kelly
WORLD-HERALD COLUMNIST
“The conductor of the
Omaha Symphony jokes that his talent for flapping his arms came from
his father — who waved his arms to help pilots park commercial
airliners. Maestro Thomas Wilkins spends a lot of time at airports,
but not on the tarmac. Though Omaha is home, he flies around the
country often, much in demand to conduct other symphonies. This week
he led the Philadelphia Orchestra in a Martin Luther King Day
tribute. He is the principal guest conductor of the Hollywood Bowl
Orchestra. And he recently became the first African-American
conductor in the 131-year history of the Boston Symphony, where he
leads youth and family concerts.
“I snagged him for a half-hour Wednesday as he
prepared to rehearse with the Omaha Symphony for Sunday's family
concert, 'The Thrill of the Orchestra.' He recalled his first
orchestral thrill, a class field trip to hear the Norfolk, Va.,
symphony when he was 8. 'I think back to it all the time,' Wilkins
said."
“Wilkins conducts
the symphony's classical 'masterworks,' but also enjoys family
concerts. Sunday's 2 p.m. event at the Holland is affordable —
$9.75 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under if purchased in
advance; $3 more at the door.” “Wilkins said he never talks down
to children, and tells them the best thing they can bring to the
concert hall is their imagination. His goal is to 'raise a new
generation of concertgoers — not because they are ticket-buyers,
but because they love music.'"
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