{{Short description|Northern Irish composer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''Conor Mitchell''' is a Northern Irish composer, librettist and theatre-maker.<ref>{{cite news |title=Conor Mitchell |url=http://moreresults.factiva.com/results/index/index.aspx?ref=THEEXP0020050204e1240003j |work=Daily Express |date=4 February 2005 |access-date=2009-02-17 }}</ref>
His play, ''The Dummy Tree'', was commissioned by the Royal National Theatre for their 2009 New Connections series.<ref>Royal National Theatre, [http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/39316/new-connections/plays-2009.html New Connections Plays 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416132818/http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/39316/new-connections/plays-2009.html |date=2009-04-16 }}. Retrieved on 2009-02-17.</ref>
==Early life and education==
Conor Mitchell grew up in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, where he attended school. His family line includes a long history of Irish folk musicians from County Armagh. He was later educated at Methodist College, Belfast and the University of York, where he studied music with the composers David Blake and Nicola LeFanu
==Personal life==
Mitchell identifies as a member of the queer community<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Conor |title=It all comes back to ‘darling Peter’: setting Britten and Pears’s love letters to music |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jul/11/it-all-comes-back-to-darling-peter-setting-britten-and-pears-love-letters-to-music-conor-mitchell |website=The Guardian |access-date=17 December 2025}}</ref> and has written several works that highlight the rights of gay people. He has publicly shared his struggle with alcoholism, which nearly claimed his life. He entered recovery in 2014 and has since become an advocate for others battling addiction<ref>{{cite web |last1=Little |first1=Ivan |title=I've come through hell to beat alcoholism that nearly killed me, says composer Conor Mitchell |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ive-come-through-hell-to-beat-alcoholism-that-nearly-killed-me-says-composer-conor-mitchell/31176778.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com |website=The Belfast Telegraph |access-date=17 December 2025}}</ref>.
==Career==
Mitchell’s major influences are Benjamin Britten, Stephen Sondheim, Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill, and Friedrich Dürrenmatt.
==Complete Works==
===Music theatre=== * ''Have a Nice Life''<ref>{{cite news |title=Like to get to know you well |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/like-to-get-to-know-you-well-591243.html |work=The Independent |date=27 May 2003 |access-date=2009-02-17 | location=London | first=Charlotte | last=Cripps}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> * ''Goblin Market''<ref>{{cite news |title=Hungry young Goblins |url=http://www.irishnews.com/searchlog.asp?reason=denied_empty&script_name=/pageacc.asp&path_info=/pageacc.asp&tser1=ser&par=ben&sid=439889 |work=The Irish News |date=16 August 2003 |access-date=2009-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173009/http://www.irishnews.com/searchlog.asp?reason=denied_empty&script_name=%2Fpageacc.asp&path_info=%2Fpageacc.asp&tser1=ser&par=ben&sid=439889 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> based on Christina Rossetti's poem ''Goblin Market'' * ''Matilde''<ref>{{cite news |title=Mathilde makes it to the stage |url=http://news.scotsman.com/theguide/Mathilde-makes-it-to-the.4394435.jp |work=The Scotsman |date= 15 August 2008 |access-date=2009-02-17 |location=Edinburgh |first=Liam |last=Rudden}}</ref> based on Guy de Maupassant's story, "La Parure" (The Necklace). * ''Merry Christmas Betty Ford''<ref>{{cite news |title=Merry Christmas Betty Ford - Lyric Theatre, Belfast |url=http://moreresults.factiva.com/results/index/index.aspx?ref=IRTI000020051215e1cf00026 |work=The Irish Times |date=15 December 2005 |access-date=2009-02-17 }}</ref> * ''The Dummy Tree'' For the National Theatre's Connections festival. * ''Ten Plagues - A Song Cycle'' (2011, text by Mark Ravenhill) *The C**t of Queen Catherine - a recitation for actor and ensemble,(2016) first performed by The Belfast Ensemble at the MAC, Belfast. *Propaganda *The Young Pornographers * ''Riot Symphony: The Sun Still Shines'' (2024) with Ulster Orchestra based on Pussy Riot, Sinéad O'Connor, & Sophie Scholl<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/may/07/pussy-riot-sophie-scholl-ulster-orchestra-conor-mitchell-riot-symphony|title=‘Russian protest punk and symphonies might seem worlds apart. But the idea is the same: weaponise your art’|date=May 7, 2024|website=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2024/05/04/riot-symphony-composer-conor-mitchell-im-hoping-that-one-of-pussy-riot-will-come-to-the-concert/|title=Riot Symphony composer Conor Mitchell: ‘I’m hoping that one of Pussy Riot will come to the concert’|date=May 4, 2024|website=Irish Times}}</ref>
===Opera===
* ''The Musician''<ref>{{cite news |title=Classical Music |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/reviews/classical-music-14095734.html |work=The Belfast Telegraph |date=5 December 2008 |access-date=2009-02-17 }}</ref> * Our Day (2012) a short opera. Libretto by Mark Ravenhill * Abomination - A DUP Opera (2018)
===Film===
* ''Pretty Face''
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20081121002319/http://www.ymtuk.org/conor_mitchell.html Connor Mitchell biography] on the Youth Music Theatre UK web site *[http://theagency.co.uk/the-clients/conor-mitchell/]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Conor}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century composers from Northern Ireland Category:21st-century male composers from Northern Ireland Category:21st-century songwriters from Northern Ireland Category:Male songwriters from Northern Ireland Category:Alumni of the University of York Category:People educated at Methodist College Belfast Category:People from Lurgan