Kates, Stephen (Edward)
Kates, Stephen (Edward)
Kates, Stephen (Edward), American cellist and teacher; b. N.Y., May 7, 1943. He studied at the Meadowmount School of Music (1961–62), with Piatigorsky at the Univ. of Southern Calif, in Los Angeles (1964–67), and with Leonard Rose and Claus Adam at the Juilliard School of Music in N.Y. (diploma, 1969). He made his N.Y. debut in 1963. After winning 2nd prize in the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (1966), he appeared as soloist with leading orchs. in the U.S.; also was active as a chamber music artist and recitalist. He taught at Ohio State Univ. in Columbus (1969–72), and then was a member of the cello and chamber music depts. of the Peabody Cons, in Baltimore (from 1974). He also conducted master classes, and was president of the Violoncello Soc. (1983–87). His repertoire extends from Bach to contemporary music. He commissioned and gave the first performance of Claus Adam’s Cello Concerto (1973).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire