Leon Bates, Pianist

Recital

Thursday, November 13, 2008
Jane M. Smith Memorial Church
7:30 p.m.

Leon Bates has performed in major concert halls in the United States and abroad. The Los Angeles Times called Bates “fiercely talented and powerful.” His performance with the Slovak Philharmonic elicited this praise from the critic: “Bates sets the standard.....his performance was so skillful and honest, so elegant and warm that it became the standard by which I will forever measure the quality of this piece...”

Recent return engagements include performances in Italy with the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai, Maurizio Billi, conducting and as solo pianist with the Chattanooga Symphony, Modesto Symphony, Napa Valley Symphony, and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, among many others. His new recital program is called “American Originals,” featuring the great American composers of our time.

A versatile and exciting artist, Bates enjoys collaborating with string quartets, wind quintets, singers, and dance companies. In 2007, he received a life-time achievement award from the NANM (National Association of Negro Musicians) for his brilliant musicianship and untiring work with young people. Bates' work with young people is extraordinary. He is a master teacher and often is called upon to give master classes to promising young musicians. In one season, it is not unusual for him to perform over 50 residency programs in conjunction with orchestra engagements and recitals, all the while inspiring, motivating, and delighting America's youth as he opens their hearts and minds to the love of music. Bates is also a favorite on college campuses because of his broad interests beyond the world of classical music.

A Renaissance man, Bates enjoys all the arts, including architecture, dance, theater and music. He is a sports enthusiast and a disciplined body builder, which he feels aids his concentration and maintains his strength for the rigors of a performance career. Lately he has begun composing and finds great satisfaction in this creative aspect of music. One venture is compositions for beginning students, employing a new, progressive teaching method. He has written pieces in collaboration with Janet Vogt for a method book entitled, Piano Discoveries (Heritage Music Press).

A native of Philadelphia, Bates began his formal study of music at the age of six on both piano and violin. While still young, he was recognized for his musical genius and groomed for a concert career. The late Irene Beck formulated his early training at the Settlement Music School, and his advanced study was under renowned pianist Natalie Hinderas at Temple University's Esther Boyer College of Music. Among his awards are the Collegiate Artist Award from the Music Teachers National Association, the National Association of Negro Musicians Competition, the Symphony of the New World Competition and the National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalists Fellowship Grant. His importance to the music world was noted with an honorary doctorate from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va. Bates received the Raoul Wallenberg Humanitarian Award from the Greater New York Wallenberg Committee for his extensive work with children.

In October of 2001, then Governor Tom Ridge presented Bates with the Pennsylvania Artist of the Year Award.

A favorite at summer festivals, Bates has performed in Chicago at Grant Park, at the Lake Tahoe Festival, at the Mann Music Center with the Philadelphia Orchestra, at the Cascade Festival with Murry Sidlin conducting, in Boston and on tour with the Boston Pops, Keith Lockhart conducting. Bates has been soloist at the Hollywood Bowl and returned on four occasions, most notably under the baton of John Maurceri. He has also worked with conductor James DePreist in Oregon and with the New York Philharmonic and he has performed in Chicago and Prague under the baton of conductor, Paul Freeman, on many occasions.