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Dear friends,

Just heard some sad news. Mike Thornton, former principal tubaist of the Cincinnati Symphony has past away at 59. Mike had retired a few years ago and moved back to his home town in Va, I believe.

I met him on occasion while filling in for him a couple years before moving to Japan. He was a nice guy. Nice examples of his playing can be heard on several CSO recordings throughout the years.

R.I.P Mr. Thornton

Regards,

Pete Link

He was one of the absolutely nicest, kindest and generous people I ever met in this business.

tubalex wrote:He was one of the absolutely nicest, kindest and generous people I ever met in this business.

+1. A great musician and a great human being.
I first heard Mike in 1978 or 79 - Mahler 2nd, Lawrence Foster conducting. A group of students drove up from Louisville. I think they asked me to come along so everyody could ride in my van!
He was playing his Alexander (recently came up for sale on TubeNet). When I heard the first entrance, I thought "That's what I want to sound like". Sought him out backstage afterwards, and he couldn't have been nicer to a punk college kid. I ended up taking lessons with him for the next six months. A good teacher, he helped me to straighten out some kinks in my playing and also passed along a few tricks of the orchestra trade.
After lessons he'd get me a ticket and I'd catch the CSO concert that night before driving back to Louisville. Got to hear a lot of wonderful music.
I'm sorry to hear of Mike's passing. 59 is too young. RIP, Mike, and thanks for everything.

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RIP Mike Thornton. He taught at UK for a couple years in the early 90's when Skip Gray was playing in the Orchestra della RAI in Torino, Italy. I've heard nothing but good things about the man. His passing makes me realize I haven't listened to the Cincy Symphony Orchestra when he held the tuba chair. Going to go buy some recordings ASAP... I can tell I am missing out on the legacy he's left behind to students, colleagues and musicians nationwide.

Sad news. I have heard Mike Thornton live and on Cincy recordings. Great player who will be missed!

In honor of Mike Thornton I am going to pull out and listen the Mahler 3 recording they did. I loved his tuba sound very much and am sad to hear the news.

Aside from hearing Mike play with the CSO he also ran the orchestral rep class during my final year at CCM. He was a wonderful musician and one of the nicest guys you would ever meet.


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Such very sad news. Michael Thornton was one of the most selfless and encouraging teachers I have ever had. My sincere condolences to his family. Rest in peace Mike.