Canadian pianist Augustine Yates shines as both a composer and performer. His music values improvisation and focuses on interplay within the ensemble. The emphasis on improvisation allows for different types of musical conversation, where musicians may perform a written-out role, improvise together, or improvise on specific motifs. Due to the combination of through-composed forms and freely improvised sections, his music emphasizes the dichotomy of spontaneity and control. Yates is a soloist, chamber musician, and composer who enjoys a career in classical and jazz music. He frequently performs in venues across Canada, such as The Rex, Lula Lounge, Burdock, and numerous Canadian jazz festivals. His debut record of original compositions, An Open Window, released January 21, 2022 and was Nominated for Jazz Recording of the Year during the 2022 YYC Music Awards. Yates has performed and recorded with many ensembles, including The Augustine Yates Piano Trio, The Dennis Kwok Jazz Orchestra, Eulogy Eulogy, and The Rob Lee group. Yates began his classical piano studies through the Royal Conservatory of Music, ultimately earning his ARCT diploma, one of the highest degrees offered through the Royal Conservatory. During his high school years, he became enamoured with jazz and began to study the art form. Yates holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Humber College in Toronto. His primary teachers have included many of Canada’s finest musicians, such as Brian Dickinson, Robi Botos, and Adrean Farrugia.