Biography

Photo by Kin Ho

SHORT BIOG

Elaine Mitchener is a British Afro-Caribbean vocalist, movement artist and composer working between contemporary/experimental new music, free improvisation and visual art. She is currently a Wigmore Hall Associate Artist; was a DAAD Artist-in-Berlin Fellow (2022) and was an exhibiting artist in the British Art Show 9 (2021-22). In February 2022 Mitchener was awarded an MBE for Services to Music. Elaine is founder of the collective electroacoustic unit The Rolling Calf (with Jason Yarde and Neil Charles). 

Her regular collaborators include: composers George E Lewis, Jennifer Walshe, and Tansy Davies; visual artists Sonia Boyce, Christian Marclay and The Otolith Group; chamber ensembles Apartment House, London Sinfonietta, Ensemble MAM, Ensemble Klang, and Klangforum Wien; choreographer Dam van Huynh’s company; and experimental musicians such as Moor Mother, Loré Lixenberg, Saul Williams, Pat Thomas and David Toop.

Recent performances include: Donaueschinger Musiktage, MaerzMusik, Baremboim-Said Akademie, Cafe Oto, Konzerthaus Wien, Radialsystem V, Centre Pompidou, Muziekgebouw, Darmstadt, ICA London, London Contemporary Music Festival, Korzo Theater, Royal Opera House, Barbican, November Music, Savvy Contemporary, Sons d’Hiver, Haus der Berliner Festspiele and the Cooper Gallery.

While developing her own projects, Elaine continues to work as a collaborative and interpretive singer.