Death

:

January 19, 2003 in Baltimore, MD

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Stephen Kates was a renowned American cellist and music educator who was born on August 7, 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of a violinist and a pianist, and his parents recognized his musical talent at an early age. Kates began playing the cello when he was just six years old, and he quickly developed a passion for the instrument. Kates studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he was a student of Leonard Rose. He also studied with Pablo Casals in Puerto Rico and with Gregor Piatigorsky in Los Angeles. Kates was a gifted cellist, and he quickly gained recognition for his talent. He won numerous awards and competitions, including the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in 1966. Kates made his debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1967, and he quickly became known for his powerful and expressive playing. He went on to perform with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He also performed as a soloist with many chamber ensembles, including the Guarneri Quartet and the Tokyo String Quartet. In addition to his performing career, Kates was also a dedicated music educator. He taught at the Peabody Institute of Music in Baltimore, Maryland, for over 30 years, and he was known for his passionate and inspiring teaching style. Many of his students went on to have successful careers as cellists and music educators. Kates was also a prolific recording artist, and he recorded many of the most important works in the cello repertoire. His recordings of the Bach Cello Suites and the Beethoven Sonatas for Cello and Piano are considered to be some of the finest recordings of these works. Throughout his career, Kates received many awards and honors for his contributions to the world of classical music. He was awarded the Peabody Institute's George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music in America in 2003, and he was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Sadly, Stephen Kates passed away on November 20, 2011, at the age of 67. However, his legacy lives on through his recordings, his students, and the countless musicians and music lovers who were inspired by his talent and passion for music.

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