Celebrating the stories and dreams of marginalized cultures, especially Black and Latine voices, brings me excitement and purpose. I love playing my part in decolonizing classical music with programming by and collaboration from diverse musicians committed to presenting an expansive palette of musical styles and cultural traditions. My passion for and research in Black and Latine flute traditions disrupts and speaks against the deeply-rooted and damaging “dominant” narratives of our global past, rooted in white supremacy and patriarchy, that have sought to marginalize and exclude other cultures—ALAANA (African, Latine, Asian, Arab, and Native American), LGBTQIA2S+, etc.—for the purposes of power, position, and privilege. Commissioning and programming classical music works by womyn and people of color broadens the genre’s traditional scope for audiences and empowers the next generation of musicians.

The story of how I became a classically trained flutist is both common and distinctive. Like many K-12 students in my hometown of Anchorage, Alaska, I first started instrumental music education on my very first recorder back in 4th grade. Then, in my school district, 6th grade was the time to choose a band or orchestra instrument. I’ll always remember walking into my hometown music store, aptly named The Horn Doctor, and hearing a flute in person for what felt like the very first time. I loved the sound, bought my first album of Hubert Laws (I eventually got to meet this pioneering Black flutist), and was hooked! You could say the flute chose me.

Guest presenters include arts entrepreneur and digital media marketer Ceylon Mitchell II, cultural strategist Durell Cooper, Brooklyn College professor and author of Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Performing Arts Workforce (2020) Dr. Tobie Stein, President of Walker International Communications Group Donna Walker-Kuhne, composer George Lewis, Director of Arts at the Dodge Foundation Sharnita Johnson, and more.

When most people think of Latin or African inspired music, chamber music may be the least genre that one would first consider.  Last night at the Bowie Center for Performing Arts that notion was put to rest by presenting an exceptional program that featured chamber music from the Afro-Latino canon.  

When Ceylon Mitchell M.M.’16 first came to the University of Maryland for graduate school, he arrived with a strong passion for music. During his time at UMD, he gained something more — a love of multimedia production.

Ceylon was selected as a 2018 Forty Under 40 Honoree in the Arts & Humanities category.

The Young Alaskan Artist Award Gala Reunion Concert will feature eight prior winners performing on one stage for one night only along with a special tribute to the late Senator Ted Stevens.

Easton Middle School Musicians benefit from University of Maryland’s Potomac Winds Ensemble as part of a new Artist-in-Residence Program.

The University of Maryland’s Potomac Winds Woodwind Quintet will perform the first of four visits for Easton Middle School students on Oct. 4 and 5.

The collaboration between the Potomac Winds music collective and the Argentine Tango Club challenged and changed everyone’s cultural perspective, personal artistry, and musical expectations.

Potomac Winds selected as a finalist in the 2016 Misbin Family Memorial Chamber Music Competition presented in partnership with Washington Performing Arts.

Ceylon Mitchell to lead PVYO Flute Choir

“Gimme a Band, Gimme a Banana! The Carmen Miranda Story” 70-minute show benefits from a “top-notch and terrific five-piece onstage band.” Members include Livaldi “Babajan” Da Cruz, Pablo De Oliveira, Ceylon Mitchell II, Michel Nirenberg, Tom Rohde.

Flutist (and former East High track star) Ceylon Narvelle Mitchell II, the Anchorage Festival of Music’s 2014 Young Alaskan Artist Award winner, will present his award recital…

Ceylon Mitchell (CFA’14) and Courtney Miller (CFA’15) collaborated on a soulful “hip-hop Mozart” video they hope will turn young people on to classical music.