John Mitchell
John’s journey with Carolina Voices began in 1998 when he joined the choir for the spring production of On the Town. It didn’t take long for him to discover that his talents extended well beyond singing. Almost immediately, he began helping behind the scenes, working alongside fellow choir members to build sets and bring productions to life.
As Carolina Voices’ spring productions moved to Booth Theatre, John took on increasingly ambitious projects, including constructing the plywood supports for a new set of choral risers. Built to accommodate more than 50 singers, those risers served the choir for many years.
Over the years, John has worked alongside professional set designers, transforming their creative visions into reality. With the help of a dedicated crew of volunteers, he has built, assembled, and painted countless set pieces in his personal scene shop, otherwise known as his two-and-a-half-car garage, driveway, and parking pad. What started as a home workshop became an essential part of Carolina Voices' production operations.
Eventually, John expanded his role from set construction to set design, collaborating with choral directors to create memorable productions at McGlohon Theater in Spirit Square, Ovens Auditorium, Knight Theater, and Halton Theater. Many of the scenes audiences have enjoyed in The Singing Christmas Tree over the years have been John's creations.
Today, as Carolina Voices' Technical Director, John oversees the installation of sets and scenery, helping ensure that productions run smoothly and performers remain safe on stage. He also manages the storage of the iconic Singing Christmas Tree's metal structure, backdrops, and numerous other scenic elements used throughout the organization's productions.
And when he's not building sets or keeping things running behind the scenes, John has another passion: aviation. He learned to fly at just 16 years old and went on to enjoy a 30-year career as an airline pilot, retiring as a Captain with American Airlines in 2017. These days, he still enjoys taking to the skies in his own airplane, riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and traveling across the United States to explore its national parks.
Whether he's in the cockpit, on the open road, or backstage at a Carolina Voices production, John has never been one to sit still for long. And after nearly three decades with Carolina Voices, it's safe to say he's helped build more than a few lasting memories, along with a whole lot of scenery.
