Keith Mitchell - Contributed

'Composing has been a major part of my life since my earlier years ... composing is as essential to me as eating, sleeping, and breathing.'

His friends compare Keith Mitchell's composing talents with those of some classical giants of the past. But then friends do that sort of thing.

Of himself, Mitchell stated, "Composing has been a major part of my life since my earlier years. Even before I had the theoretical capabilities to score my many ruminations and inspired ideas, I would hold the work in my head until I was able to get it out. Composing is as essential to me as eating, sleeping, and breathing."

Yet, he is better known as a singer. More objective critics than his friends, including this Gleaner writer who has heard Mitchell sing at several church functions, agree he gets high marks in that vocal art.

This evening, the general public will have an opportunity to assess his worth as both composer and singer when Mitchell, wearing a third hat for the occasion - that of producer - presents a concert at the University Chapel, Mona.

film-scoring

It is a fund-raiser. Mitchell will use the money to complete a diploma in performance he's currently pursuing at Edna Manley College's School of Music, after which he will probably do the bachelor's in performance at the college. Later, he wants to pursue further study overseas.

In what discipline, he was asked in a Sunday Gleaner interview.

"Well, I would study voice, definitely," Mitchell said. "The jury's still out on what else I would carry with it. I'm interested in film-scoring."

That last interest is in addition to the composing he now does as the 'born composer' he calls himself.

Describing his compositions, Mitchell said, "Most of my music tends to be in the western art music, traditional style - that is, classical, which really refers to a period in music history, so I tend to avoid using that term too loosely. A lot of my earlier compositions were very baroque. As time went on, my music still retained a baroque influence, especially Händelian."

Now 22, Mitchell started singing when he was "very young", and has been in choirs since prep school, though his first musical love was the piano. After attending Ardenne High School, he went to the then Mico Teachers' College for a year (2004 - 2005) and studied music and reading (lite-racy development). From there it was on to the Edna Manley College (EMC).

Now a regular soloist at many different types of functions, "from anniversaries to weddings to funerals," he said he had had many memorable performances. While at Ardenne High, he was part of a mass choir performing at King's House for Queen Elizabeth who was visiting Jamaica.

In his first year at EMC, with only three days notice, he was asked to represent the college at a major function. He did well and among those commending him was his accompanist, director of the School of Music, Roger Williams.

He also performed with the EMC choir at the governor general's annual carol service at King's House in December 2006. The directors were Williams and visiting professor from Kentucky, United States, Dr Kathy Bullock.

Another big event for Mitchell was when he sang in a cantata on the bicentenary of the abolition of legislation associated with the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans. The director was Michael Burnett, an English composer and educator, who composed the work for the occasion. It involved a mass choir and instrumental ensemble comprising many of Jamaica's leading vocalists and musicians, and it was performed in St Andrew and Montego Bay.

classical music

Mitchell said he chose classical music rather than pop because he "grew up listening to classical music".

This evening's concert is not the first he has arranged. He has been part of the planning committee for EMC's classical concerts at the School of Music for the last few years, and last year, at the school he arranged a recital with himself as the main performer.

Those taking part in the concert this evening include Mitchell, as well as Lucette Cargill (soprano), Charles Moore (tenor), Yanique Leiba-Ebanks (piano), Rafael Salazar (clarinet) and members of the Temple of Light's VOICE choir and the University Singers.

It begins at 5 p.m.