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Nicole Mitchell

About Me

Nicole Mitchell has been celebrated for bringing a exciting new approach to flute improvisation. A former President of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), Mitchell is the founder of the critically acclaimed Black Earth Ensemble and Black Earth Strings. Top Flutist in Downbeat magazine's critic's poll and Jazz Journalists Association 2011, Mitchell has performed with creative luminaries including George Lewis, Anthony Braxton, Lori Freedman, Miya Masaoka, James Newton, Bill Dixon, Roscoe Mitchell and Muhal Richard Abrams. She also works on ongoing projects with Anthony Braxton, Ed Wilkerson, David Boykin, Hamid Drake and Arveeayl Ra. Nicole Mitchell is one of few African American women to take the path as a creative instrumentalist, composer, bandleader and an educator. With her ensembles and as a featured flutist, she has been a highlight at art venues and festivals throughout Europe, the U.S. and Canada. Mitchell was also awarded “Chicagoan of the Year 2006” by the Chicago Tribune, and has been named Jazz Flutist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association (2008, 2010). Mitchell does a variety of music residencies, workshops and panel discussions in Europe, Canada and the U.S. with a focus on creative music. Mitchell is thankful to mentors and teachers including: Fred Anderson, Jimmy Cheatham, Donald Byrd, Brenda Jones, James Newton, George Lewis, John Eaton, Ernest Dawkins, John Fonville, Susan Levitin, Mary Stolper, John Sebastian Winston and Edward Wilkerson. Nicole Mitchell currently is a Assistant Professor at University of California: Irvine, teaching improvisation, composition and related courses for the Integrated Composition, Improvisation and Technology program.    

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