Thibaudet and Pictures at an Exhibition, Miami

Most people would feel spread thin if they were running orchestras on both sides of the country. But most people aren't Michael Tilson Thomas. One of America's most famous conductors, composers, and tuxedo wearers, Tilson Thomas has remained the artistic director of the New World Symphony since he founded it in 1987, even after becoming musical director of the San Francisco Symphony in 1995. This is because the Miami-based orchestra feeds a need for Tilson Thomas: that of remaining at the forefront of symphonic trends, in a laboratory where top musical graduates can explore performance and compositional opportunities. But new works from students and professionals aren't the only thing on the New World Symphony's docket—every year, ticket holders can expect a thrilling lineup of the classical masters who built the genre.