Coates, Leon, 1937-2023

Composer, pianist, organist and conductor, b. Wolverhampton and brought up in Nottingham and Derby.
Lived in Edinburgh and worked as lecturer in the Faculty of Music at the University of Edinburgh from 1965 until 2002.
Studied at St John's College, Cambridge where John Exton was his composition teacher.
He was for some years organist of St Andrew's and St George's Church, Edinburgh and harpsichordist with the Scottish Baroque Ensemble.
Leon appeared frequently in Reid Concerts and contributed to the University organ recital series.  As a harpsichordist he was a member of 'Kist of Music' and as pianist of the Merlyn Trio.  He has often appeared as a piano accompanist - most frequently with his wife, the soprano, Heather Coates for whom he has written a number of songs.