4/20/09: Pianist Leon Bates to Make Three Appearances for LSO

Globe-trotting pianist Leon Bates, who thrilled a Lynchburg audience three years ago when he appeared with the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, returns for three appearances next month.

Bates will appear in a solo recital in a private Lynchburg home, talk with young people at Jubilee Center, and perform with the orchestra in a special “Brahms for Moms” Mother’s Day concert.

On May 7, Bates will present “American Originals,” a journey through the music of American composers in musical styles ranging from ragtime to new age, classical and jazz.

Bates will include in his solo program two short pieces that commemorate a pair of area historic sites — Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest and Historic Sandusky. Both works for piano were written by 14-year-old Ida Reeder, the niece of the two owners of the properties when she visited the houses (then private residences) in 1852. Historic Sandusky executive director Greg Starbuck suggested the two pieces — the “Sandusky Polka and Waltz” and the “Poplar Forest Polka” — to LSO executive director Rick Piester, who in turn sent them to the pianist and asked Bates if he would learn them for his Lynchburg visit. Bates, happy to add local interest, agreed.

During the program, Bates explores the genius of composers like Barber, Copeland, Gershwin, and Bernstein. Demonstrating his versatility, Bates also includes the works of African-American composers including George Walker and Nathanial Dett, as well as his own remarkable transcriptions of the works of Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Chick Corea, and Pat Metheney.

This solo recital, a fundraiser for the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, is the second event by the LSO that places great musical artists in intimate settings with music lovers. The first, with cellist Zuill Bailey last year, was very warmly received by a sellout audience.

Tickets to the event, at 7:30 PM on May 7 in a private home in Lynchburg, are priced at $75 and are limited to about 75 people. The evening also includes champagne and desserts.

On May 8 at 4:30 PM, Bates will meet with young people at Lynchburg’s Jubilee Center for Family Development to discuss and demonstrate his activities as a weightlifter and his work as a concert pianist. Leon Bates' work with young people involves over fifty residency programs annually in conjunction with orchestra engagements to inspire, motivate, and delight America's youth as he opens their minds and hearts to the love of music.

While some may view bodybuilding as an odd pastime for a concert pianist, Bates believes it enhances his musical performances. He says that the daily workouts and repetitive lifts help to hone and refine his capacity for discipline and concentration, two talents that are essential to a concert pianist who must perform difficult pieces of music from memory.

Bates also finds that there is a direct relationship between piano techniques and bodybuilding technique. Just as weights and lift positions are used in different combinations to strengthen and define muscles in the body, he explains, varying hand positions, finger movements, and pressure applied to piano keys produce different sounds from the instrument. "To sit on that stage and play a piano recital for two hours requires stamina and concentration, which are necessary to keep your musical focus," Bates says. "The last piece on the program is the one that is the most demanding and dynamic. You don't want to run out of energy as you are coming to the piece that demands the most from you."

On May 10, the orchestra has scheduled an all-Brahms concert, coupled with special discounted Mother’s Day meals at two popular restaurants in the community.

Diners having pre-concert meals at Grace Restaurant, at 2627 Old Forest Road in Lynchburg, or Benjamin’s Restaurant, at 14900 Forest Road in Forest, will receive a 10 percent discount when they show their “Brahms for Moms” concert tickets. More information and reservations for the Mother’s Day meals is available at (434) 386-9666 for Grace and at (434) 534-6077 for Benjamin’s.

For the 4 PM concert at E.C. Glass Auditorium, conductor Bruce Habitzruther has planned three soulful Brahms works — the “Tragic” Overture, the autumnal Symphony #4, and the soaring Piano Concerto #2, featuring the pianist.

Before the concert begins, Bates will join musicologist Robert Maxham for a talk on the Brahms works to be performed. The talk will begin at 3:15 PM in the chorus room at Glass.

A native of Philadelphia, Leon Bates began his formal study of music at the age of six on both piano and violin. His talent was recognized and he was groomed for a concert career. Irene Beck gave him his early training at the Settlement Music School and his advanced study was under Natalie Hinderas at the Temple University Esther Boyer College of Music.

In addition to a full concert schedule, Bates is often called upon to give master classes. He is a favorite on college campuses because of his broad interests outside classical music. He enjoys all the performing arts including dance, theatre, and most types of music. Recently he has begun composing and finds great satisfaction in this aspect of music making.

Recently, Leon Bates has performed with the symphonies of Indianapolis, Oregon, Florida, Rochester, Dallas, Hartford, Baton Rouge, Omaha, Louisville, Winston-Salem, the Orchestra of Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano in Italy, and the Malmo Symphony of Sweden.