Michael A. Mitchell is Associate Professor of Music at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan where he serves as Music Program Director and Director of Choral Activities while conducting the Oakland Chorale, the University Chorus, and the Symphony Chorus. In addition, Mitchell supervises the graduate program in choral conducting and teaches choral literature and conducting. For nine concert seasons he served as Artistic Director/Conductor of the Detroit based Cantata Academy Chorale, also leading that group on three acclaimed European concert tours. Dr. Mitchell serves as Resident Guest Conductor of the professional ensemble Academic Choir Ivan Goran Kovacic in Zagreb, Croatia and also was the first American to lecture at the Slovak University of Music and Art in Bratislava, Slovakia. Before coming to Michigan, he taught at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and was a choral director and music supervisor in the public schools in Texas.
Dr. Mitchell studied conducting, music education, and voice at the University of Texas at Austin and received his doctorate in conducting at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, where he served as assistant to the eminent conductor Eph Ehly for three years. His other teachers include Andre Thomas, Jerry McCoy, Patrick Gardner, Mary Breden, Morris Beachy, John Silantien, Leonard Johnson, and Gary Hill. As a doctoral student he was the winner of the UMKC Chancellor’s Award for Academic Merit and was a finalist in the American Choral Directors Association national conducting competition.
His dynamic, energetic approach to music has made him a frequently invited guest conductor and clinician throughout the country. He also has extensive experience as a church and studio conductor, and has received numerous commissions as a composer of choral music. He is a member of The American Choral Directors Association and currently serves that organization as Repertoire and Standards Chair for Ethnic and Multicultural Music for Michigan. He is also a member of the National Collegiate Choral Organization, Chorus America, the American Music Center, The College Music Society, The Michigan School Vocal Music Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
The mission and purpose of the Ethnic & Multicultureal section is to provide a vehicle of communication from the board of directors to the membership. In addition, this section seeks to provide articles on professional topics of interest to Michigan choral directors. Repertoire and Standards committee chairs are required to contribute one article per year, due in September, as part of their responsibilities. We encourage our membership to submit news and articles of interest to the Ethnic and Multicultural Chairman - See R&S Board Directory »
