Audio: Houston Symphony (community concerts) interview

Brett Mitchell spoke with St.John Flynn on today's edition of KUHF's "The Front Row" about the Houston Symphony's upcoming "Sounds Like Fun!" programs, a series of community concerts led by Mr. Mitchell at various venues throughout greater Houston. To listen to this interview, please click here.

Review: "A Ticklish Affair for HSO’s Opening Night"

The People's Critic has published a review of the Houston Symphony's opening night concert at its summer home at the Mitchell Pavilion, a family-friendly program led by Brett Mitchell. "The casually dressed young conductor, Brett Mitchell, was well-chosen to address the younger members of the audience, as he had an infectious enthusiasm and evident joy while explaining the humorous, 'fun' side of the classical selections on the program." To read the complete review, please click here.

"Conductor Brett Mitchell learns from the feedback"

The Houston Chronicle has published a story about Brett Mitchell and his new position as American Conducting Fellow of the Houston Symphony. The article also previews of several of his upcoming performances with the orchestra, and details his upcoming month in Europe with Kurt Masur, with whom he will study as a recipient of the inaugural American Friends of the Mendelssohn Foundation scholarship. To read this article, please click here.

Review: "The pacing of the piece was magical"

Chuck Klaus of syracuse.com has published a review of a performance of Kevin Puts's Einstein on Mercer Street at the Skaneatles Festival: "Brett Mitchell conducted, and the pacing of the piece was magical." To read the complete review, please click here.

* * * Brett Mitchell named American Conducting Fellow of the Houston Symphony * * *

Brett Mitchell has been named American Conducting Fellow of the Houston Symphony, beginning September 2007. This fellowship, spearheaded by the American Symphony Orchestra League, "assists in the development of exceptional conductors in the early stages of their careers, seeking to improve their qualifications to become music directors of American orchestras." For more information on this appointment, please click here.

Preview: "Noted composer Kevin Puts to visit School of Music"

"Northern Today" has published a preview of composer Kevin Puts's upcoming multi-concert residency at the Northern Illinois University School of Music, a project spearheaded by Brett Mitchell. For more information, please click here.

"NIU Philharmonic invited to perform concert at Illinois Music Educators Association convention"

Northern Illinois University has issued a press release detailing the NIU Philharmonic's upcoming performance at the Illinois Music Educators Association convention, their first at the conference in over a decade. For more information, please click here.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung follows Brett Mitchell throughout Solti Competition

The Frankfurter Allegemine Zeitung has published a story following Brett Mitchell's progress in the various rounds of the third Georg Solti Conducting Competition, taking place now in Frankfurt, Germany. To read this story, please click here.

Review: "PNME stresses music over theater with premiere of Stock's 'Hostage'"

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has published a review of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble's most recent subscription performance, including the world-premiere performance of founder David Stock's "Hostage," which Brett Mitchell led "impeccably." To read the complete review, please click here.

Preview: "NIU Philharmonic to perform Mahler's beloved first symphony"

"Northern Today" has published a preview of the Northern Illinois University Philharmonic's upcoming performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 1, which will be the Philharmonic's first performance of a Mahler symphony in a dozen years. To read this preview, please click here.

"NIU School of Music professor of conducting to help lead Orchestre National de France"

Northern Illinois University has issued a press release issuing news of Brett Mitchell's appointment as Assistant Conductor of the Orchestre National de France. To read this release, please click here.

Review: "Ensemble season finale a feast for eyes, ears"

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has published a review of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble's season finale. " Mitchell began the program with an immensely appealing performance of Kamran Ince's 'Hammer music'…that went way beyond technical assurance to create a vibrant world in sound." To read the complete review, please click here.

Review: "New Music Ensemble shows off versatility"

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has published a review of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble's most recent subscription concert. "PNME founder David Stock's 'Sonidos de la Noche' was expertly led by associate conductor Brett Mitchell, drawing precise and well coordinated evocative sonorities..." To read the complete review, please click here.

Review: "PNME whirls, circles and flows"

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has published a review of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble's most recent subscription concert. The paper credited Brett Mitchell's "solid (and nicely unobtrusive) direction" for maintaining "the sense of precise ensemble" in performances of Ross Bauer's "Oda al Olor de la Leña," Mathew Rosenblum's "Circadian Rhythms," and the world premiere of Jeffrey Nytch's "...and the wind spoke." To read the complete review, please click here.

"Young Conductors Show Off Their Training With the NSO"

The Washington Post has published an article about the 2005 National Conducting Institute, a three-week, hands-on training program for young conductors with the National Symphony Orchestra led by music director Leonard Slatkin in which Brett Mitchell participated. To read more, please click here.

Review: "Effortless precision"

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has published a review of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble's most recent subscription concert, praising Brett Mitchell's performances of David Stock's "A Little Lightmusic" and David Lang's "Sweet Air": "Both [works] are intricate to the point of being potential train wrecks, but, under Mitchell's direction, the ensemble played with effortless precision." To read the complete review, please click here.

Review: "Good music takes center stage in Saturday night concert"

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has published a review of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble's most recent subscription concert. "Brett Mitchell led a superb performance [of Joseph Schwantner's 'Music of Amber'] that achieved the composer's creative intentions in part through careful attention to dynamics, both in bold strokes and nuances of blending." To read the complete review, please click here.

Wall Street Journal: "Following His Lead: Young Conductors Learn from Masur"

The Wall Street Journal has published an article about Kurt Masur's first annual conducting seminar at the Manhattan School of Music, at which Brett Mitchell was one of five young conductors selected to study with the Maestro. Mr. After the culminating concert (on which Mr. Mitchell shared the second half with the Maestro, leading Brahms's "Variations on a Theme by Haydn"), the Journal observed, "Classical music may be embattled today, but amid the flurry of embraces, cheering and floral tributes in this Upper West Side auditorium, I recall Mr. Mitchell's comment that 'this experience has taught us a clearer understanding of just why we...make the sacrifices we make to dedicate ourselves to music.' And for one precious moment one wants to believe that there really is a bright future for these young hopefuls." To read the complete article, please click here.

Austin Chronicle: "Two UT School of Music doctoral candidates chosen to learn conducting from Maestro Kurt Masur

The Austin Chronicle has published an article about Brett Mitchell and follow University of Texas conducting student Adam Boyles, two of only seven young conductors personally selected by Maestro Kurt Masur to participate in his first annual conducting seminar at the Manhattan School of Music earlier this month. To read the complete article, please click here.

Season recap: "Revamped New Music Ensemble's season ends"

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has published an article looking back at the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble's 2003 summer season, singling out associate conductor Brett Mitchell for providing "assured and vital leadership." To read the complete article, please click here.