Ian Mitchell
ProfessionalMembership
As a youngster I studied trombone with Barrie Webb and Cliff Jones, and served as a trombonist, pianist and latterly as a Bandmaster in the British Army from 1985 through to 2014. The one constant aspect of my service was a fascination for composition.
Army bands were a great place to learn. As soon as my hierarchy knew that writing was my main musical fascination, I was tasked with arranging a variety of pieces. Having completed the writing, I would be put in front of the band to proof and rehearse it, and I loved the whole process, it held no fear for me, and my confidence in my own skills grow exponentially.
During my time on the 3-year long Student Bandmaster course at the Royal Military School of Music, I had opportunities to study the capabilities of the various instruments of the band, and graduated with a BA (Hons) in music, specialising in conducting, composition, and analysis, having been awarded prizes for my Symphony for Band and my Chamber Concerto.
As a Bandmaster, I had more access to the band, and so I wrote for every possible occasion. This allowed me to proof new music and gave me more credibility as a writer. I had compositions played on the Trooping the Colour in London, Music on Fire at Sandhurst, Tynwald Ceremony on the Isle of Man, I composed the opening fanfares for the three Viva Music Events at the Cadogan Hall in Chelsea, and many other smaller pieces too.
In my final year of regular service before I became a reservist Bandmaster, I entered into a competition to write a new regimental march for the Corps of Army Music. My march was chosen as the winning entry.
In 2009, I enrolled at Durham University to study composition at Master's level. Over the next five years I studied with Richard Rijnvos, Bennett Zon and Sam Hayden. In 2015 I graduated from Durham with an MMus in composition.
In February 2017 I flew to Muscat, Oman to start work as Composer in Residence for the Bands of the Royal Oman Police. I worked in that post providing new military repertoire (marches, fanfares, processionals, etc.), until February 2021 when I returned home to North Lincolnshire.
Since then I have been writing wind band music for my former colleagues and the bands of HM Forces.
I am very interested in forging new contacts with ensembles or individual musicians. Commissions, collaborations, discussions, or any other potential projects are all of great interest.
Please see my contacts page at:
https://www.ianleemitchell.com/Contact-Ian.php
Also, to access my composition page, please follow this link:
https://www.ianleemitchell.com/composer.php, or click on the tab above.
Army bands were a great place to learn. As soon as my hierarchy knew that writing was my main musical fascination, I was tasked with arranging a variety of pieces. Having completed the writing, I would be put in front of the band to proof and rehearse it, and I loved the whole process, it held no fear for me, and my confidence in my own skills grow exponentially.
During my time on the 3-year long Student Bandmaster course at the Royal Military School of Music, I had opportunities to study the capabilities of the various instruments of the band, and graduated with a BA (Hons) in music, specialising in conducting, composition, and analysis, having been awarded prizes for my Symphony for Band and my Chamber Concerto.
As a Bandmaster, I had more access to the band, and so I wrote for every possible occasion. This allowed me to proof new music and gave me more credibility as a writer. I had compositions played on the Trooping the Colour in London, Music on Fire at Sandhurst, Tynwald Ceremony on the Isle of Man, I composed the opening fanfares for the three Viva Music Events at the Cadogan Hall in Chelsea, and many other smaller pieces too.
In my final year of regular service before I became a reservist Bandmaster, I entered into a competition to write a new regimental march for the Corps of Army Music. My march was chosen as the winning entry.
In 2009, I enrolled at Durham University to study composition at Master's level. Over the next five years I studied with Richard Rijnvos, Bennett Zon and Sam Hayden. In 2015 I graduated from Durham with an MMus in composition.
In February 2017 I flew to Muscat, Oman to start work as Composer in Residence for the Bands of the Royal Oman Police. I worked in that post providing new military repertoire (marches, fanfares, processionals, etc.), until February 2021 when I returned home to North Lincolnshire.
Since then I have been writing wind band music for my former colleagues and the bands of HM Forces.
I am very interested in forging new contacts with ensembles or individual musicians. Commissions, collaborations, discussions, or any other potential projects are all of great interest.
Please see my contacts page at:
https://www.ianleemitchell.com/Contact-Ian.php
Also, to access my composition page, please follow this link:
https://www.ianleemitchell.com/composer.php, or click on the tab above.
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