Priya Mitchell has been described as 'one of the foremost violinists of her generation' (The Strad). She studied with David Takeno at the Yehudi Menuhin School and with Zachar Bron in Germany, as well as spending two years with Boris Kuschnir in Vienna.
She was chosen as the British representative in the European Concert Halls Organisation ‘Rising Stars’ Series, performing recitals in Paris (Cité de la Musique), New York (Carnegie Hall), Frankfurt (Alte Oper), Amsterdam (Concertgebouw) and Vienna (Concert House). She has also given highly acclaimed performances with, amongst others, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Ulster Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the Philharmonia.
She has worked with many conductors including Sir Andrew Davis, Yuri Termikanov, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Heinrich Schiff and Richard Hickox.
Outside the UK, orchestras she has worked with include the Belgian Radio and Television Philharmonic, Sinfonia Varsovia, the Polish Chamber Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Deutsche Sinfonie-Orchester.
As a recitalist and chamber musician she has performed extensively at many international music festivals, which recently have included those at Cheltenham, Risor, Lugano, Kuhmo, Trondheim, Schloss Elmau and Kilkenny
In July 2000 Priya launched her own festival – the Oxford Chamber Music Festival – of which she is Artistic Director. The Independent acclaimed it as 'a festival that should really put Oxford on the map of the classical music world,' and the majority of the concerts have been broadcast by the BBC.
Priya’s performances have consistently gained strong reviews from leading critics. Recently Süddeutsche Zeitung commented on the sheer verve of her musicianship in recital with pianist Polina Leschenko.
'The final concert of the festival ‘Piano Non Solo’ was probably the most extraordinary ever presented to the audience at the bosco in Gauting, not so much because its main focus was music of the twentieth-century as because on the platform were two exceptionally talented people, youthful yet mature, who were capable of rising above many conventions… a passionate unconventional recital marked by verve and the sheer joy of making music.’
‘British violinist Priya Mitchell surrendered herself wholly to the music… and it seemed to profoundly take possession of her whilst her sensitivity led her at the same time to pursue the most intense emotional expression.'
