Biography
Mitchell Lutch is director of bands at Central College. In addition to directing the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Pep Band, he teaches courses in instrumental conducting, music education and music appreciation.
In 2012 he received the John Wesselink Outstanding Performance Award at Central. In 2013 he was selected as one of ten faculty members to represent Central College at a Global Education Conference in Spain and Morocco. Lutch received a doctor of musical arts degree in instrumental conducting at the University of Washington where he served as teaching assistant for professor Timothy Salzman. He earned a master of music degree from New England Conservatory where he studied with Frank Battisti, serving as the graduate assistant for the NEC Wind Ensemble and assistant conductor of the Massachusetts Wind Ensemble. His bachelor’s degree in music education is from the University of Lowell.
Artists he has collaborated with in his teaching career include Donald Hunsburger, Eric Ewazen, Dana Wilson, Ellis Marsalis, Frank Foster, Slide Hampton and Marian McPartland. He is past president of the New York State Band Directors Association and has been a guest speaker at several educational institutions including New England Conservatory, Shenandoah Conservatory, Western Washington University and the College of William and Mary. Conducting appearances and research presentations include concerts and conferences throughout the United States, Quebec, London, Japan, The People’s Republic of China, the former Soviet Union, Luxembourg and Mexico.