San Francisco renames street in honor of renowned conductor Michael Tilson Thomas

SAN FRANCISCO, U.S. -DECEMBER 15: In a dedication ceremony, a section of Grove Street, situated between Franklin Street and Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco was officially renamed Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) Way. The event, held outside Davies Symphony Hall on Friday (Dec. 15) drew a distinguished crowd, including San Francisco Mayor London Breed, U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi, acclaimed orchestra conductor and pianist Michael Tilson Thomas, his family, San Francisco Symphony leaders, and supporters. The decision to rename the street was solidified by a unanimous board vote, signaling the city's appreciation for Thomas's unparalleled 25-year tenure as the San Francisco Symphony's music director laureate. Mayor London N. Breed, who introduced the legislation for the renaming on October 24, expressed that the decision was made swiftly and with unwavering support. Approximately 100 civic and cultural luminaries attended the ceremony, which featured speeches from Mayor Breed, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and Symphony CEO Matthew Spivey. The event culminated in the unveiling of a new street sign, pointing west from Van Ness. During her speech, Pelosi commended Thomas's multifaceted contributions, stating, "In every generation, in every format, in every country. For all of us, it's personal in our love for Michael and for Joshua." Pelosi emphasized Thomas's role as both a virtuoso maestro performer and an innovative educator who embraced technology to enhance musical learning experiences for young people. However, the celebratory atmosphere was briefly disrupted by half a dozen protesters, who expressed their disapproval of Pelosi's stance on the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Despite the interruption, the ceremony proceeded, with Thomas expressing gratitude for the honor. (Footage by Tayfun Coşkun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)