Thomas Schippers (9 March 1930 – 16 December 1977) was an American conductor. He was highly regarded for his work in opera. 　　Of Dutch ancestry and son of the owner of a large appliance store, Schippers was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He began playing piano at age four. After graduating from high school at age 13, he attended the Curtis Institute and the Juilliard School.