Mitchell’s compositions have been particularly influenced by his study of phenomenology, and his paper on the topic was published in the British journal Organised Sound. He is the winner of several composition awards, including the Franz Liszt Scholarship, the Allen Strange Award, and the Klang International Competition, and his music has been performed around the world, from Seoul to New York to Buenos Aires. At Oberlin, he is an elected member of the Conservatory Council of Students and the Student Union Board, and also enjoys tutoring music theory.