Martin Bates, B.Mus., G.R.S.M., A.R.M.C.M., has been Conductor and Musical Director of the Heart of England Singers since 1989. He is at present Head of Music and Expressive Arts at John Willmott School in Sutton Coldfield.
He was born in Birmingham and has always been involved in making music both as an accompanist and composer, for a wide variety of performances around the Midlands area. Martin is married to Susan who is the regular soprano soloist for the Heart of England Singers.
Martin studied piano with Constance Warren at Birmingham Conservatoire before going to Manchester where he studied with Hedwig Stein at the Royal Northern College of Music. After completing his music degree course at Manchester University he returned to Birmingham where he became repetiteur for Ex Cathedra. For them he has written several pieces of choral music including "Three Songs for Christmas" which has been published by Banks Music of York.
Martin has written over 50 pieces of music at the present time for a variety of forces, from solo songs, piano pieces, pieces for strings and wind, to pieces accompanied by rock band and orchestra.
His rock musical "King", based on the life of Martin Luther King was performed at Birmingham Old Repertory Theatre and then subsequently on national television presented by Central TV.
"Kaladinka" and "Mrs Malone"were written in response to commissions from Sandvik Vocals Project and Sutton Coldfield Music Festival respectively and are specifically written with young voices in mind. "Kaladinka" was first performed at Birmingham Town Hall with the composer himself conducting.
Commissions have also come from local singers and choral societies, notably the Harborne Festival and Elmdon Choral Society.
"Blessed Are The Peacemakers" was commissioned by Birmingham in its bid to stage the 1992 Olympic and was first performed in Lausanne, Switzerland.
"This Starry Stranger" was commissioned by Jeffrey Skidmore and Ex Cathedra for an educational project and culminated in a Symphony Hall performance where the Sandvik Choir of young voices was joined by Ex Cathedra, Birmingham Schools Chorale, tenor soloist Paul Agnew, the Birmingham Ensemble and the Birmingham Dance Theatre.
Most recently, Martin has written a piece for Leamington Baroque called "Impressions In Spain" which was first performed on March 11th 2000 as part of the Heart Of England Singers' Anniversary Celebrations.
