Thilman, who actually wanted to become a teacher, encountered music at the age of 18 and taught himself initially.
In the year 1940, he became the instructor of composition at the "Carl Maria von Weber" School of Music in his hometown, Dresden.
Among his students were composers Friedrich Goldmann and Udo Zimmermann.
In 1960, Thilman coveted the National Prize of East Germany.
Undoubtedly, Thilman oriented his works towards the aesthetics of the Socialist realism.