About

Mitchell Lutch is Wind Band Director at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he directs the concert band and chamber ensembles, and teaches music theory, performance, and appreciation.

Prior to his current position, he was Interim Associate Director of Bands at the University of Northern Colorado. From 2005-2018, Dr. Lutch served as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Central College in Pella, Iowa. In 2014 he was presented with Central College’s Hutch Bearce Award for Community Building and Faculty Leadership. Dr. Lutch founded the Iowa Chamber Players in the summer of 2017. He also directed the Central Iowa Wind Ensemble for 13 years and the Grinnell College Symphonic Band for 10 years.

He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting at the University of Washington and earned his Master of Music degree from New England Conservatory (NEC), where he studied with Frank Battisti, serving as the graduate assistant for the NEC Wind Ensemble and assistant conductor of the Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble. His Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education is from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

Artists he has collaborated with in his teaching career include Frank Battisti, Donald Hunsburger, Eric Ewazen, Dana Wilson, Keith Brion, Jason Fettig, Ellis Marsalis, Frank Foster, Slide Hampton and Marian McPartland. Dr. Lutch is Past President of the New York State Band Directors Association and has been a guest speaker at several educational institutions, including the New England Conservatory, Shenandoah Conservatory, Western Washington University, and the College of William and Mary.

Conducting appearances and research presentations include concerts and conferences throughout the United States, Quebec, London, Japan, The People’s Republic of China, the former Soviet Union, Luxembourg, Prague, and Mexico. Under his leadership, in 2023 he commissioned renowned composer, Thomas Duffy to write Falling Falling Alone Together for the WPI Concert Band in 2022 he commissioned award winning composer, Ian Wiese, to write Crossings for the WPI Wind Ensemble.

Conducting appearances and research presentations include concerts and conferences throughout the United States, Quebec, London, Japan, The People’s Republic of China, the former Soviet Union, Luxembourg, Prague, and Mexico. Under his leadership, in 2024 he commissioned leading Massachusetts music educator, Thomas O’Toole to write The Ride, in 2023 he commissioned renowned composer, Thomas Duffy to write Falling Falling Alone Together both for the WPI Concert Band, and in 2022 he commissioned award-winning composer, Ian Wiese, to write Crossings for the WPI Wind Ensemble.