David Mitchell is an active music educator, percussionist, and adjudicator. Currently, he is Assistant Professor of Music, Department Coordinator, and Director of Instrumental Activities at King University. Previously, he was Inter, Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies at Polk State College. Mitchell was the Assistant Director of Southeastern University drumlin, where he worked closely with Brian Blume in the music department. He also has experience as an instructor at East Tennessee State University.
Mitchell was featured as the vibraphone soloist with the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra in Williams’ Escapades in 2023. Another performance highlight was being honored as a featured soloist for Science Hill High SChool’s 2016 PASIC Showcase Concert in Indianapolis, IN. Mitchell often performs with Johnson City Symphony Orchestra and Symphony of the Mountains (Kingsport, TN). He was formerly the principal percussionist for the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra, reserve percussionist for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and he regularly performed with the Orlando-based Contemporary chamber ensemble, Alterity Orchestra. He was formerly a percussionist in the Imperial Symphony Orchestra and the principal percussionist for the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra. Mitchell is a founding member of the Tri-Star Wind Ensemble and he founded the Teen Percussion Group, made up of percussion specialists associated with the East Tennessee region that perform percussion ensemble concerts regularly.
Contributing to the art of percussion through the commission of new compositions is one of David’s passions. Examples of these contributions include I Leave You the Real World by David Skidmore, Spur by I can Trevino, and Distances by Baljinder Sekhon. He led a consortium to commission a new solo work by Dave Marie written for marimba, vibraphone, unpitched percussion, and audio track, which he premiered in March 2017.
David Mitchell currently resides in Bristol, Tennessee, with his wife, daughter, and son. For more information, visit:
www.davidmitchellpercussion.com
- Doctor of Musical Arts, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Mast of Music, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Bachelor of Music, East Tennessee State University