KC Gates

I met Christopher (Zeke) back in 2011 or 2012 here on Cape Cod, where his grandfather and family have a home in Yarmouth. I was the Artistic Director of Cape Cod Opera, at the time, and was always interested in meeting, auditioning and giving young and emerging artists an opportunity for work, as I had…

There are no words to convey my sadness at this news.  Zeke touched me deeply with his positive energy, creativity, and humor.  The picture of us gathering and sipping green Waldmeister from the Dartmouth Club of Germany’s winning cup is indelibly in my mind.  Such carefree days.  He was taken much too soon and the…

It was an honour to have met and known Chris only for a short time, during a two week period at Dartington International Summer School 2019,  where he was conducting the orchestra in which I played. His charisma and infectious enthusiasm, warmth and humour were clear to all – evidenced by his many tributes –…

For Christopher A great shadow has darkened the sky. The birds have begun their silent mourning. They sense the powerful moment of someone’s passing. Nature knows another spirit has retired from the earth, and we who remain behind veil our faces as we weep uncontrollably. Incomplete explanations force our minds to ask and ask again,…

I’m in total shock after the terrible news that Chris has left us. We’ve worked together at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich. Chris’s smile, positivity, kindness were always so heart warming. We hadn’t been in touch in years, when he randomly wrote me about a month ago to congratulate me on a performance he had…

On behalf of The Royal Ballet Music Department I am sending all our condolences and sadness at the loss of Christopher. He had attended a lecture on ballet conducting at the Royal College of Music given by our Principal Guest Conductor Barry Wordsworth and had started to observe our work at the Royal Opera House….