He is responsible for training young musicians who are interested in competing for music and arts scholarships.
PASADENA, CA, January 18, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- William "Billy" Mitchell has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Drawing on over five decades of expertise, Mr. Mitchell specializes in music education. Since 2002, he has built a prolific career as the founder and director of the Scholarship Audition Performance Preparatory Academy. In this capacity, he is responsible for training young musicians who are interested in competing for music and arts scholarships. Additionally, the program focuses on areas with high percentages of at-risk youth, who are often not able to afford formal music training, thus denied the proper introduction and the many benefits of art and music. In 2010, Mr. Mitchell founded the Watts-Willowbrook Conservatory and Youth Symphony, serving the communities of Watts, Compton and South Los Angeles.
Mr. Mitchell initially began his vocation as a jazz pianist and a back-up musician to such artists as Gloria Lynn, Ester Phillips, Randy Crawford and Linda Hopkins, to only name a few. He currently performs with the LA Jazz Orchestra Unlimited, headed by guitarist, Kenny Burrell. In his career related endeavors, he has recorded numerous solo albums, including the "Blue City Jam," the "Night Theme," "Faces," "In Focus," "Live All Night Long," "Passion," "The Traveler" and a series of four CD projects for LA based group, "Circle of Friends. In 2001 he authored "The Gigging Musicians," which is considered a must-read for artists, teachers, managers, and producers. Mitchell continues to produce projects for various up and coming artist in the Los Angeles area.
Prior to embarking on his professional journey, Mr. Mitchell pursued an education at Morehouse College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science in 1968. He currently performs with the Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited, under the direction of jazz icon, Kenny Burrell, and heads up the Circle of Friends, which is a Los Angeles based jazz group that features some of the most outstanding musicians on the scene. Mitchell has appeared at many international festivals, including the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Playboy Jazz Festival, the Heineken World Music Festival, and countless club appearances around the world.
Well regarded for his contributions to the field, Mr. Mitchell has received multiple awards, including the Nica Award from the California Jazz Foundation in 2020, the Jazz Heroes Award from the Jazz Journalist Association in 2020 and the Local Heroes Award from the Union Bank and KCET Radio. Morehouse College Alumni Association, to name a few. He credits his professional accomplishments to his perseverance, hard work has enabled him to serve as a musician for over 50 years and an educator for more than 30 years. Reflecting on a long career, he attributes much of his success to his upbringing in a goal-oriented environment and to his dedication to strive for greatness. Looking toward the future, Mr. Mitchell aspires to continue developing the Youth Symphony I Watts and hopes to further assist emerging artists and music groups achieve success.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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