John Mitchell (composer)

John Mitchell (composer)

John Mitchell (born in Hollywood, California on April 26, 1941) is an American classical composer. He is the son of John Stewart Mitchell, pianist and cousin of Canadian novelist W. O. Mitchell and Hungarian-born singer Teresa Hideg Mitchell. He studied music composition at the University of California, Los Angeles with Dr. John Vincent, who succeeded Arnold Schoenberg as professor of composition there. In 1965 Mitchell left UCLA, but he and Dr. Vincent remained close friends until Vincent's death in 1977.

Since 1962 Mitchell has been a church music director, organist, and opera coach. Mitchell is a member of the American Guild of Organists, the American Music Center, and the Center for Promotion of Contemporary Composers. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, artist Vicky Brago-Mitchell, a dog named Chelsea, and five cats (Elizabeth, Adolf, Shelley, Isolde and Babalou).