Discover Bill Mitchell

Bill Mitchell, principal tuba, joined the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra in 1995. He began his musical life in junior high school as a trombonist but switched to the tuba in the eighth grade mainly out of curiosity. It was, in fact, the perfect choice. His college career began at East Carolina University from which he graduated with the Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education. Following his dream to become a performer, he went to Baylor University, earning the Master of Music Degree in Tuba Performance. Upon graduation, Mr. Mitchell moved to the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex and began a career as a freelance musician which provided a broad array of musical experiences, from classical to rodeo, jazz to country. He has toured throughout the eastern and mid-western United States and has performed with such groups as the Dallas Wind Symphony, Waco Symphony, Shreveport Symphony, Bluebonnet Brass and Mr. Jack Daniel’s Silver Cornet Band and has accompanied such acts as The Lightcrust Doughboys and Kathy Mattea. Mr. Mitchell is currently on the faculty of Texas A&M University at Commerce and East Texas Baptist University and is completing the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at the University of North Texas. In his spare time, Mr. Mitchell enjoys the shooting sports and studying the Civil War. Considering himself an adopted native of North Carolina, Mr. Mitchell now resides in Plano, TX with his wife, Aryn and daughter, Hannah.