CMFAA User Profile

Canadian pianist, teacher and composer Graham Yates has lived in Texas since 2014 where he owns Timbral Music Studios and works as a collaborative pianist. He loves to connect with audiences and students alike to create meaningful experiences through music of many kinds.

He earned a Bachelour of Arts in Music from Trinity Western University in British Columbia studying under Dr. Sandra Joy Friesen, a Debussy and improvisation specialist; and a Master of Music in Piano Performance at Brandon University in Manitoba, under the guidance of Dr. Alexander Tselyakov, a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory.

Mr. Yates is the teacher to around 40 private students, a master clinician for the Houston Area Suzuki Piano Association, a music festival adjudicator, and a member of the College of Examiners at the Royal Conservatory of Music. In 2020, he was nominated for the B. Iden Payne award for Outstanding Music Director for his role in One Ounce Opera’s annual festival of new chamber operas.

His award-winning compositions have been premiered by Austin Chamber Music Center, Inversion Ensemble, Local Opera Local Artists, and Operativo Houston. Selections from his catalogue are available to purchase online.

Mr. Yates loves to share his adventures in music-making with students, audiences and colleagues and wants everyone to know that creativity opens doors to travel, friendship and self-development.