John Mitchell is a freelance saxophonist with over 30 years experience. As an accomplished woodwind musician he has performed as a session musician with many Irish based acts, theatre companies, big bands and Jazz bands over the years.
He has been actively involved in the theatre scene in Northern Ireland for many years as a musician and Musical Director. Show credits include – Phantom Of The Opera, Les Miserables, West Side Story, Legally Blonde, Grease, Our House, Chicago, and Matilda among others. He regularly acts as MD for local amateur dramatics associations.
John became Musical Director for The South Ulster Community Band in 2010, performing regularly as Conductor and MD. He has conducted major, large orchestral works and overtures such as Leonard Bernstein’s ‘Candide’, Aaron Copeland’s ‘Appalachian Spring’ and Karl Jenkin’s epic choral work ‘The Armed Man – A Mass for Peace’ and has a huge passion for film scores and orchestral overtures.
Alongside touring UK & Europe with The Bjorn Identity John is currently Musical Director for the PM Big Band, a 24 piece big band, and also performs as a saxophonist, clarinettist, lead soloist. The PM Big Band, along with their vocalists, bring the sound of Swing, Big Band and Jazz to enthusiastic audiences across NI.
John and his passion and versatility means he is very much in demand, performing with wedding & function bands. John has performed with the Bjorn Identity since November 2015 and has very much enjoyed their recent European tours of Germany and Austria. He continues to enjoy the excitement and thrill of performing in front of a live audience with The Bjorn Identity Abba Tribute Show.