Gloria Coates

American composer.
Born October 10, 1938 in Wausau, Wisconsin, USA.
Died August 19, 2023 in Munich, Germany
Coates was a woman of many talents. Her early life was marked by her studies with notable figures such as Alexander Tcherepnin, Otto Luening, and Jack Beeson. After her divorce in 1969, she made the decision to relocate to Munich, a city that would become her home. In Munich, Coates embarked on a journey of artistic exploration. Initially, she pursued careers as a singer and a painter. However, her true passion lay in the realm of music composition. Over her lifetime, she composed an impressive 17 symphonies, along with a plethora of works for small ensembles and voice. Coates’ compositions were distinguished by their unique use of orchestral glissandos. This unconventional technique became a defining feature of her work, setting her apart in the world of music. Despite facing resistance from teachers and judges who did not appreciate her originality early in her career, Coates persevered and continued to push the boundaries of music. Her symphonic work “Music on Open Strings”, performed at the Warsaw Autumn Festival in 1978, brought her recognition in Europe. Despite this acclaim, her music was rarely performed or recorded in the United States. Coates passed away from pancreatic cancer in Munich at the age of 89. Her legacy lives on through her innovative compositions and the impact she had on contemporary music.