Maryland lawmakers give tribute to Tuckwell

"The idea was to honor him because there's no question he was the man who put the Maryland Symphony on the map and the symphony could have easily failed without him," said Sen. Donald F. Munson, R-Washington, who helped arrange the tribute.

Munson said it also was a way to demonstrate that the state's cultural riches are not limited to the metropolitan areas.

"I want people down here to understand there's some incredible life outside the beltway," Munson said.

Tuckwell said he was "deeply moved" by the reception he received, one that included standing ovations from lawmakers in both General Assembly houses, speeches and proclamations.

"I'm really clogging up the works here," he joked.

Tuckwell, an Australian native, said the day was particularly important because he became a United States citizen last May and being honored by his state government was a matter of great pride.

"It's something I did not know about or certainly did not anticipate," he said of the tributes.

Tuckwell's career as a horn player ended last month, but he hasn't retired as a conductor. He will continue to lead the MSO for another year before a resignation he announced last year takes effect.

Thursday's events will stay with him always, he said.

"This is one of those things that's going to come back in my mind periodically," he said.