Brett Mitchell
Widely recognized as an engaging communicator known for his vivid musical leadership, Brett Mitchell has earned consistent praise for his performances on world-class stages, establishing himself as a leading voice in American classical music.
Mitchell currently serves as music director of the Pasadena Symphony and artistic director & conductor of Oregon’s Sunriver Music Festival. He previously held tenures as music director of the Colorado Symphony and Associate Conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra, and held conducting positions with the Houston Symphony and the Orchestre National de France.
In May 2025, Mitchell stepped in for his New York Philharmonic subscription debut on less than 24 hours’ notice. He led three acclaimed performances of Kevin Puts’s The Brightness of Light with Renée Fleming and Rod Gilfry, followed by Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé with the New York Philharmonic Chorus.
A prolific guest conductor, Mitchell’s 2026–27 season features debuts with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, as well as return appearances with The Cleveland Orchestra, Houston Symphony, and San Francisco Symphony. He has also led the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, the major orchestras of Detroit, Indianapolis, Minnesota, and Nashville, as well as the New Zealand, Vancouver, and Edmonton symphonies.
Also an accomplished pianist, Mitchell was named a Steinway Artist in 2025. He concertizes regularly at the keyboard and is widely recognized for his original solo transcriptions of iconic film scores, a repertoire he also champions on the podium, having led live-to-picture productions of more than two dozen of the world’s most celebrated films.
Born in Seattle, Mitchell holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and Western Washington University. He studied with Leonard Slatkin at the National Conducting Institute and was mentored by Kurt Masur and Lorin Maazel.