Zachary Coates
Baritone
Teaching Philosophy
Every singer, regardless of their starting point, has a path toward a freer, more beautiful sound. As a teacher, my role is to support students enthusiastically and thoughtfully as they walk that path.
While each singer is unique—particularly in the way they communicate—I believe that singing is fundamentally a physical activity involving the whole body. Efficient breath support does not stop at the diaphragm; it requires both release and engagement reaching at least to the pelvic floor. Likewise, effective resonance is not located in the forehead—it involves the entire head, front and back. Through a combination of metaphor and anatomical insight, my teaching guides students toward subtle shifts that lead to fuller, easier sounds that integrate the whole body.
Baritone Zachary Coates is a faculty member at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where he teaches song literature, opera workshop, and studio voice. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College and both Master and Doctor of Music degrees from Indiana University, where he was a student of the great Andreas Poulimenos.
A passionate interpreter of song, Dr. Coates has presented recitals across the United States and internationally. His academic interests include the Kunstballaden of Carl Loewe, the interplay of poetry, music, and visual art in turn-of-the-century France, and the powerful and diverse voices shaping American art song today. His doctoral project, A Practical Handbook for Teaching Undergraduate Song Literature, offers adaptable strategies to help educators shape song literature curricula that reflect their individual teaching styles and institutional contexts.
Although his specialty is song, Dr. Coates’s vocal training has included Stanislavski Technique, and he has worked with companies such as Michigan Opera Theater, Opera Philadelphia, Spoleto Festival USA, and Opera North. He has also collaborated with Opera MODO, known for its innovative and inclusive work, both onstage and behind the scenes. His roles include Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Guglielmo and Don Alfonso (Così fan tutte), Sid (Albert Herring), Balstrode (Peter Grimes), Sergeant Sulpice (La fille du régiment), and Dulcamara (L’elisir d’amore). He has also appeared in concert with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
During his graduate studies, Dr. Coates was awarded the Georgina Joshi International Fellowship, which supported a self-designed program of study in England and Germany, including extended lessons with Sir Thomas Allen. He also worked on several occasions with the legendary song coach and pianist Dalton Baldwin. In 2015, he was a participant in the AIMS program in Graz, where he had the privilege of performing in a masterclass led by the great Christa Ludwig.
As an educator, Dr. Coates is committed to creating opportunities for others to sing. He was the organizer of vocal activities for Charles Ives at 150, a national conference celebrating one of America’s most iconic composers. He also runs the annual Indiana SongSLAM, a competition presented in collaboration with Sparks & Wiry Cries, focused on building community through the creation and performance of new art song.
