Graham Mitchell

FRAM Head of Strings, Serge Koussevitzky Professor of Double Bass

Principal Double Bass of English National Opera and accomplished performer

Portrait of Graham Mitchell facing camera, with double bass leaning against shoulder

Graham is the Academy's Head of Strings, Principal Double Bass of English National Opera and regular bassist with the Nash Ensemble.

He was a member of the Philharmonia Orchestra from 1998-2011 and works regularly with the Berlin Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestra of Europe. As a guest principal, Graham has led most of the orchestras in the UK including the London Symphony Orchestra.

Graham has performed and recorded over the years with many soloists and chamber ensembles including Anthony Marwood, James Crabb, Pekka Kuusisto and Imogen Cooper; the Florestan, Gould, and Kungsbacka Piano trios; and the Belcea, Navarra, Elias, and Takács quartets.

In 2007 Graham was invited by Steven Isserlis to perform at the IMS Prussia Cove Chamber Festival followed by a national tour and concert at Wigmore Hall. This resulted in IMS Prussia Cove winning the chamber prize at the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Awards. His recording of Schubert’s Trout Quintet with Paul Lewis and the Leopold String Trio was praised as 'one of the finest modern Trouts available' (The Sunday Times).

Graham plays on a 1750 double bass attributed to Testore. He is extremely thankful to the Stradivari Trust for their support.

Image: The Violin Channel