Atina Coates,
Artistic Director
Welcome to our new Artistic Director
Atina Marie Coates was born in Driggs, Idaho. Her first interest in choral conducting was at the early age of 4 watching her mother conduct their local church choir where Coates would hide under the table to conduct. Music, playing the piano, and singing were an essential part of her youth and high school experiences. By the age of 19, Coates was conducting her first church congregational singing and choir. Coates has enjoyed many years of service in music to both the community and her church.
Coates earned her Bachelor of Music Education K-12 degree from Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2006. While earning her degree, Coates conducted under Dr. Randall Kempton as one of his student assistants in the University Choir. Coates spent 3 semesters with mentor Kendell Nielsen teaching music theory and editing a theory textbook. After graduating with her bachelor’s, Coates continued her voice education by studying voice with Kristine Ciesinski for 12 years. During that time, Coates also studied voice with Drs. Jon Linford and Andrew Gilchrist. Teaching voice in both a group and one on one setting has been an important part of her career. Continuing her love of choral art, Coates studied conducting under Drs. Kevin Brower, Rebecca Lord, and Dallin Hansen. Coates was one of four conductors of the Rexburg Upper Valley Women’s Choir in 2010 and was hired at Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2011 to teach voice and direct the Women’s Chorus (then called the Women’s Glee choir).
Coates is now in her eleventh-year teaching at BYU-Idaho, where she has been privileged to work with thousands of students. Coates was recently named the new Artistic Director for Anam Cara Chamber Choir in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She joined Anam Cara as a singer in 2014 and served as president of the non-profit choir from 2016-2020. Coates loves collaborating with other musicians and eagerly anticipates this opportunity to interact with the community is this new role. The joy Coates feels sharing her love and passion for music is a hallmark of her years in music. Coates is married to Dan Coates. Together they have four children and four grandchildren.