Nathan Mitchell is the Music Director of the Chequamegon Symphony Orchestra, where he brings energy, artistry, and a passion for building community through music. A conductor, clinician, and educator from Newport, Minnesota, he holds a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education (‘07) and a Master of Music in Applied Conducting (‘23) from the University of Minnesota Duluth.
An experienced music educator, Mr. Mitchell has taught band and orchestra at all levels throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, where he successfully built programs and guided students to high achievement. Ensembles under his direction have consistently earned superior ratings at Minnesota State High School League Large Group contests, and his pit orchestras received Honorable Mentions from the Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Spotlight Education program—the first such recognition in their school’s history. He has also mentored numerous all-state and all-conference musicians.
Mr. Mitchell maintains an active conducting schedule beyond his work with the orchestra. He was appointed Pit Orchestra Director of the Prior Lake Players Theatre and the River Valley Community Band in 2020, leading both groups through innovative virtual performances during the pandemic. His professional development includes participation in prestigious workshops such as the Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute, the Conductors Retreat at Medomak (Maine), the University of Colorado Boulder Orchestra Conducting Symposium, and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Conducting Workshop. He continues to pursue national and international workshops and competitions to refine his craft.
As a trumpet artist, Mr. Mitchell has performed with a wide range of ensembles, including the Sioux Falls Mariachi Band, Grand Symphonic Winds, St. Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Jazz Orchestra, Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps, and numerous opera and musical theatre productions. His performance credits include principal and lead trumpet for Chicago, Shrek, Kiss Me Kate, La Bohème, Rigoletto, Carmen, Lucia di Lammermoor, and opera gala concerts.
He is grateful for the teachers who have shaped his musical journey. His primary conducting mentors include Mark Whitlock, Rudy Perrault, and Rafael Rodriguez, with additional studies under Eugene Corporon, Jack Stamp, Gary Lewis, Larry Livingston, Anna Edwards, Diane Witty, Kenneth Kiesler, Dr. Emily Threinen, and Dr. Travis Cross.
Mr. Mitchell currently lives in Duluth with his wife, Andie. Together, they enjoy the city’s vibrant craft beverage establishments, participating in a local board game club, playing Pokémon Go and cribbage, and searching for beach glass along the shore of Lake Superior. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys camping and hiking, and he also pursues his interest in blending and distilling spirits.
An experienced music educator, Mr. Mitchell has taught band and orchestra at all levels throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, where he successfully built programs and guided students to high achievement. Ensembles under his direction have consistently earned superior ratings at Minnesota State High School League Large Group contests, and his pit orchestras received Honorable Mentions from the Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Spotlight Education program—the first such recognition in their school’s history. He has also mentored numerous all-state and all-conference musicians.
Mr. Mitchell maintains an active conducting schedule beyond his work with the orchestra. He was appointed Pit Orchestra Director of the Prior Lake Players Theatre and the River Valley Community Band in 2020, leading both groups through innovative virtual performances during the pandemic. His professional development includes participation in prestigious workshops such as the Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute, the Conductors Retreat at Medomak (Maine), the University of Colorado Boulder Orchestra Conducting Symposium, and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Conducting Workshop. He continues to pursue national and international workshops and competitions to refine his craft.
As a trumpet artist, Mr. Mitchell has performed with a wide range of ensembles, including the Sioux Falls Mariachi Band, Grand Symphonic Winds, St. Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Jazz Orchestra, Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps, and numerous opera and musical theatre productions. His performance credits include principal and lead trumpet for Chicago, Shrek, Kiss Me Kate, La Bohème, Rigoletto, Carmen, Lucia di Lammermoor, and opera gala concerts.
He is grateful for the teachers who have shaped his musical journey. His primary conducting mentors include Mark Whitlock, Rudy Perrault, and Rafael Rodriguez, with additional studies under Eugene Corporon, Jack Stamp, Gary Lewis, Larry Livingston, Anna Edwards, Diane Witty, Kenneth Kiesler, Dr. Emily Threinen, and Dr. Travis Cross.
Mr. Mitchell currently lives in Duluth with his wife, Andie. Together, they enjoy the city’s vibrant craft beverage establishments, participating in a local board game club, playing Pokémon Go and cribbage, and searching for beach glass along the shore of Lake Superior. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys camping and hiking, and he also pursues his interest in blending and distilling spirits.
