Lamont School of Music Marketing & Communication Manager Advances School’s Reputation for Excellence, Community Engagement

Angela Mitchell, Marketing & Communication Manager of the Lamont School of Music. Photo by Hannah Fulk.

Lamont Marketing & Communication Manager Angela Mitchell knows a thing or two about how to captivate an audience. An opera and musical theatre performer who grew up in rural Wisconsin singing in the school choir, her first real “break” came when she landed the role of the strawberry seller in the musical “Oliver,” singing the lyric “ripe strawberries, ripe” as loud as she could. “It was the first time people said ‘oh, she has a nice solo voice,’” she recalled, laughing. 

She pursued a dual degree in business and music at the University of Minnesota, reflecting her twofold pragmatic and artistic nature. After interning with Deloitte Consulting and for a classical music radio program produced by American Public Media, she landed a job with Deloitte right out of college. 

Mitchell lived a fast-paced corporate life for two years before deciding to pursue a master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Houston, while interning with Houston Public Media’s classical radio program where she later worked full-time. 

She met her future husband Brett Mitchell when he conducted an opera she sang in and later relocated with him to Cleveland when he assumed the assistant conductor position for The Cleveland Orchestra. Mitchell worked as producer and overnight host for classical radio station WCLV, where she honed her storytelling skills by “sharing something interesting about each piece of music and composer.” Her performances in opera and musical theatre likewise took off in Cleveland, and the couple married there. 

Four and a half years later, they relocated to Colorado when Brett was named director of the Colorado Symphony. Mitchell joined the Lamont School of Music in 2018 and worked in an admissions role for four years, often traveling to meet potential students. 

Transitioning to work from their home nestled in the foothills in Genesee when the pandemic hit, the Mitchells converted their living room into a recording studio and started streaming their recitals on their YouTube channels. Their Christmas recital in 2020 brought comfort and joy to growing numbers of followers during one of the darkest periods of the pandemic. They welcomed their first child Will, a year later, on Christmas Eve 2021, and continue to perform together virtually and in-person. 

Newly returned from parental leave later that year and ready to dive deep into fresh opportunities, Mitchell landed her current position and has been busy managing the school’s website, social media, monthly newsletter and event promotion ever since. 

She thrives on variety and is “most excited about rolling out advertising in our concert programs beginning in the upcoming school year,” she said. “We’ll be selling ad space to local businesses and arts organizations, providing a new revenue stream for Lamont.”  

Mitchell finds her ever expanding role continually challenging. “It feeds my personal mission as a musician,” she said. “I’m able to advance music in our community by marketing our students, faculty and ensembles’ extraordinary events and accomplishments. I find it incredibly rewarding to grow the reputation of the Lamont School of Music and showcase all that our people are doing.” 

She added that she’s recently channeled her storytelling skills into Lamont’s YouTube channel where “you’ll find maybe forty or so faculty feature videos. Interviewing, finding B-roll and audio and mixing it all together is so creative and fun.” 

Moving into the upcoming school year, she’s ready to embrace the changes ahead. “We’re all walking into a new world,” she said. “I’m looking forward to welcoming and getting to know Lamont’s new Director Brian Pertl, our new CAHSS Dean and our new Provost.”

Now a mother of two (having welcomed the couple’s daughter Rose in 2024), she admits it’s a lot to juggle. “There’s never a dull moment or much time to kick back but my in-laws moved here a year ago, and we also have childcare right in the neighborhood. It really does take a village to make it all work but it’s just a season of life and I wouldn’t have it any other way — it’s my favorite phase so far.” 

She has nothing but gratitude for that village and the life she shares with her husband, children, family and friends. “What an honor and blessing it is to get to raise these children. I’m so proud of the life we’re building, this family, this home we’re creating here in the trees surrounded by all this beauty and wildlife — we even have our own elk herd! It takes me back to my childhood in rural Wisconsin running around outside all the time. I’m so lucky that we’re able to give that to our kids.”