Dr. Mitchell teaches instrumental music and music education, and is conductor of the University Orchestra. He frequently appears as a lecturer, clinician, and conductor in the United States and abroad. In recent years, he has guest-conducted in Bulgaria, England, Czech Republic, and Poland and now has a number of CD recordings. He is also a frequently-published writer and his newest book is Gustav Holst: A Comprehensive Biography. He attended Millikin University and earned his doctorate at the University of Illinois, where his principal conducting teacher was Harry Begian. Before joining the UMass Boston faculty, he held teaching and conducting positions at the University of Georgia, Carnegie Mellon University, and Hanover College.