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Leon Bates also likes to divide his time and effort into a hobby other than music. He was an avid body builder breaking stereotypes of concert pianists. He regularly went to the gym six days a week for two hours despite his rigorous and demanding pianist schedule. This great musician has performed with numerous orchestras and symphonies. Bates is classified as a renaissance man who enjoys a wide variety of dance, theater, and music. He also enjoys watching and following sports programs.

Sterotypes/Performances
Leon Bates divided his time growing up between two oddly correlating passions, the art of music and the physical task of body building. According to Karima A. Haynes, Leon Bates grew up shattering stereotypes. Defying the typical “skinny piano player physique” stereotype ever since he could lift weights, Leon Bates has linked body building into a resourceful tool that contributes to his career as a pianist. Routine body building workouts has generated a mental discipline within Leon Bates, enhancing his self-discipline, focus, and mental concentration. Leon Bates also claims that the two disciplines have similar corresponding benefits. Bates is quoted saying, “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” (Haynes qtd Bates 164). He used his unorthodox training techniques to tour the world, performing with multiple symphonies including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Detroit Symphony and the Boston Symphony. In Europe, he has performed with the Vienna Symphony, the Basel Symphony, the Radio-Orchestra of Dublin, the Strasbourg Symphony, Orchestra Sinfonica dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Malmo Symphony of Sweden and more. What is to be considered as one of the more glorified performances Leon Bates has ever been a part of would be with Lorin Maazel, and the Orchestra of France . This concert was in celebration of the 500,000th piano built at Carnegie Hall. The event itself was held at La Scala in Milan. He has also composed prominent pieces of music with the accompaniment of Janet Vogt for a method book entitled, Piano Discoveries (Heritage Music Press).

History/Career
Leon Bares was born in the heart of Philadelphia, where he progressed in the study of music, more specifically the Piano and Violin at the young age of six. Bates started progressing into a young artist as an understudy of Irene Beck. He also was a student of Natalie Hinderas at the Esther Boyer College of Music at Temple University which is located in Philadelphia . Now grown up, Mr. Bates is considered to be a master teacher, teaching classes to those with potential of growing up to be future renowned artists themselves. Leon Bates over the years has preferred string quartets, wind quintets, singers, and fellow dance companies to keep his performances fun, new, and different each time you see him perform.

Work with young people/Awards
Leon Bates prides himself with his ability and opportunity to help the young community receive an education in music. Consistently, Leon Bates is included in over fifty charily events with relation to his career is music such as orchestra events and recitals in an effort to install a passion for music in the hearts of young children. Leon Bates is also coveted around numerous college campuses worldwide because of the gift he brings to the campuses and the mutual appreciation from both the audience, and Leon Bates. This musician has been recognized by countless awards including earning the Philadelphia Orchestra Senior Auditions as a student in his hometown. His most prideful award that he earned throughout his career as a pianist is the NANM (National Association of Negro Musicians) which was presented to him in 2007. This achievement was given to Bates because of his masterful musical talent coupled with his influence and work with young people. He also has been invited and performed in numerous amounts prideful venues adding to his prestigious list of awards and accomplishments. These performances include appearances at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and Philadelphia’s Academy of Music.