Having studied as pianist, composer and conductor, Martin Yates made his conducting debut with Israel National Opera, conducting La Traviata, La Bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly. He has conducted in opera houses of Gothenburg, Stockholm and Rome, and made his Edinburgh Festival debut conducting Leonard Bernstein’s On the Town. 

He has worked as guest conductor with UK orchestras including London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Scottish National Orchestra. He has worked extensively in Scandinavia with orchestras including Gothenberg Symphony Orchestra, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and Swedish Chamber Orchestra. Internationally, he has conducted Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, China Philharmonic Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. 

Ballet has become significant in Yates’ career. He has conducted Orchestra of the Royal Opera House regularly at Covent Garden for Royal Ballet since February 2004, undertaking tours of the U.S, Asia and Europe. Martin Yates is Principal Guest Conductor of Scottish Ballet Orchestra and works internationally with companies including National Ballet of Japan and Paris Opera Ballet. 

Yates has recorded over 80 CDs with orchestras including Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.