ANTOINE MITCHELL

Antoine Mitchell, the conductor of the Essex Symphony Orchestra from 1984 to 2004, was described by 'Ritmo', a leading Spanish music magazine, as "one of the truly most important of the new generation of English conductors".

He studied at Trinity College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in London - conducting with Maurice Miles and piano with George Rogers. In 1983 and 1984 he studied with Franco Ferrara at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, obtaining the Diploma di Merito, and at master courses led by Carlo Maria Giulini and Paul Badura - Skoda. He has received many prizes and awards for conducting and standards in orchestral performance. He is a member of the Royal Society of Musicians and an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music. He has worked with many orchestras, such as those in the following table:-

In 2005 Antoine moved north from Chelmsford and is now pursuing a career as a pianist, répétiteur and teacher, which he finds very rewarding. He has continued his associations with Essex, conducting the Essex Symphony Orchestra in the EMA concert at Thaxted in April 2005 and accompanying soloists in public performances at Maldon Essex.^**

**The most recent of Antoine's performances in Maldon was on 13th September 2007 at the United Reformed Church. He accompanied Jeremy Ballard (violin) who was playing works by Debussy and Elgar. This lunchtime concert was very well received by an audience which nearly filled the church. After the performance, some members of the Essex Symphony Orchestra met Antoine to talk over old times.