Brett Mitchell, incoming music director of the Pasadena Symphony.
In Friday’s (4/31) San Francisco Classical Voice, Tom Jacobs writes, “Peter Boyer’s New Beginnings is not, technically, new. The composer wrote the celebratory piece in 2000, and … it has been performed widely … But … it’s a highly appropriate choice to open the Pasadena Symphony’s 2024–2025 season in October for two reasons. First, Boyer … was the orchestra’s composer-in-residence a decade ago. Second, the concert marks the start of Brett Mitchell’s tenure as music director…. A native of Seattle, Mitchell served as music director of the Colorado Symphony from 2017 to 2021 and has been artistic director and conductor of Oregon’s Sunriver Music Festival since 2022. As a guest conductor, he has led the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra, among many others. His first season in Pasadena will consist of six programs plus the traditional Holiday Candlelight concert on Dec. 14. While the repertoire is heavy on warhorses, Mitchell has also chosen works by a number of living composers, including Boyer, Mason Bates, and Jessie Montgomery. One theme of the season is pieces inspired by the natural world.” The article discusses the orchestra’s 2024-25 classical season.
