thomas wilkins , conductor

Thoma s Wilkins i s the recently named Music Director of the Omaha Symphony. In 2005/2006 he began his sixth season a s Resident Conductor of the Detroit Symphony. Past positions have included Resident Conductor of the Florida Orchestra ( Tampa Bay), and Associate Conductor of the Richmond (VA) Symphony. He served on the music facultie s of North Park University ( Chicago); the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga and Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.

Committed to promoting a life-long enthusiasm for music, Thomas Wilkins brings energy and commitment to audiences of all ages. For his significant contribution to the children of Tampa Bay, he was named 1998 Friends of the Arts by the Hillsborough County Elementary Music Educators. He seeks to cultivate a “vibrant creative imagination” in today’s youth, noting, in a guest editorial in the Richmond News-Leader, “Successful education is not that which teaches our children how to get a job. Education is a success when we teach our children to love learning.”

Thomas Wilkins has guest conducted orchestras throughout the United States, including the Cleveland Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra; the symphonies of Dallas, Baltimore, Houston, Grand Rapids, New Jersey, San Antonio and Oregon; the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Louisville Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, DC. As Resident Conductor of the Detroit Symphony, he leads the orchestra in a variety of programs, including Classical, Special Events, Pops, Young People’s and educational concerts.

A native of Norfolk, VA, Thoma s Wilkin s earned hi s Bachelor of Mu sic Education degree from the Shenandoah Con servatory of Mu sic in 1978, where he now return s each summer to serve a s Orche stral Conductor for that in stitution’ s summer performing art s camp. In 1982 he wa s awarded the Ma ster of Mu sic degree in Orche stral Conducting from the New England Con servatory of Mu sic in Bo ston.

Thomas Wilkins resides in Michigan with his wife, Sheri-Lee, and their twin daughters, Nicole and Erica.