Maestro Thomas Wilkins, the masterfully skilled principal conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, is also known as the master of the groove, whether it’s to Beethoven, Stevie Wonder, Patti Austin, or Pink Martini. Celebrating his 14th year with the Bowl, Wilkins is a bona fide rock star in Los Angeles and worldwide.
As the universe would have it, Wilkins is now the principal guest conductor of the Symphony that introduced him to his life’s passion. A native of Norfolk, Virginia, the Maestro fell in love with classical music in the third grade after a school visit to hear the Virginia Symphony. The Sentinel’s recap of a vibrant conversation with the celebrated Maestro is below.
Los Angeles Sentinel (LAS): In the documentary, “Beyond the Baton: A Conductor’s Journey,” it is said that you have the gift of taking complicated music and making it simple. That’s quite the compliment. Would you agree with that?
Maestro Thomas Wilkins (MTW): I think so because I don’t get hyper-intellectual. I know how to be, but I don’t believe it gathers anyone closer to music. So, I keep it on a human level.
LAS: Many Angelenos have enjoyed watching you conduct the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. You indeed put yourself into the music. Are you connecting with the orchestra and the audience, or are you feeling the groove of the music?
MTW: It’s all the above. First and foremost, it’s my happiest place of existence as a human being when I’m standing in front of an orchestra. An automatic joy happens as soon as I start to work. Music is an emotionally and spiritually moving endeavor. And I allow myself to be a part of that. You are also showing the audience sometimes when something is poignant and when something is funny.
Leonard Bernstein once said when we’re conducting, we are reminding the orchestra of what it felt like when they first fell in love with music, and sometimes we are reminding the audience of what it felt like when they first fell in love.
LAS: You are so right because your senses are overwhelmed with the beauty of the orchestral sound.
MTW: Yes, it also happens to the conductor and the players onstage. I constantly remind the players of this; we get the opportunity to participate in something bigger than ourselves. It requires a certain reverence, respect, discipline, and dedication. Beauty humbles us, and we get to be a part of it.
LAS: You conduct different music genres and work with various artists. Can you speak to those varied experiences?
MTW: I am known as Mr. Versatility in the business, so I love working with different artists like Reggie Hudlin and Marcus Miller (the Black Music Soundtrack series). I grew up with guys who were jazzers, and we would spend our weekends listening to music. They would play John Coltrane and Miles Davis for me, and I would play Beethoven and Braham for them.
When artists perform with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and hear the word ‘orchestra,’ sometimes they freak out. But when they hear the Bowl Orchestra and realize these guys know what a groove is and are not afraid to prove it, there is a whole new level of comfort and camaraderie created, and it always puts a smile on my face.
LAS: As a Black man in a field where there aren’t many Black and Brown people, what advice would you have for younger persons who will face challenges beyond their control?
MTW: I would say never lose your curiosity about anything and don’t shy away from the thing that is the weak part of you. Be curious and be patient. You have no control over what’s in someone else’s heart. You go about your business based on what’s in your heart. I need to be good rather than famous. I want to be responsible and a lifelong learner. That’s what’s in my heart, so I try and live my life accordingly.
The lies we believe the most are the ones we tell ourselves. Be aware of that and refuse to put up with it. So, get comfortable in your skin and admit what you don’t know; refuse to wallow in the misery of what you don’t have – instead, go for what you want.
LAS: I love that you said music flourished during the pandemic, and beauty had the last word. Were you surprised that music was such a healing force?
MTW: No, I wasn’t, and that’s why orchestras across the country fought to get music into the ears and hearts of people. I tell my conducting students this – we are vessels and servants. We know that music is life-affirming and life-altering. That’s why we became artists.
To learn more about Maestro Thomas Wilkins, visit Hollybowl.com.
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