Below are reviews from over the years, in no particular order at this point. (I still have to work on this page and find the actual hard copies so I can complete the clips I found online.) Not meaning to brag … just trying to keep a record, and hoping that they will help my little ego when I have a bad day. 🙂

Before the movement was over, principal clarinetist Michael Corner and English hornist Patricia Emerson Mitchell also had offered their share of shining moments. / Mitchell’s execution of the opening English horn melody was gorgeous. Philip Collins (San Jose Metro 2/26-3/4, 1998

English hornist Patricia Emerson Mitchell, whose third- movement solos were pungent Scheinin Mercury News 5/15/2006

SJSU’S MUSICAL HERITAGE SHINES IN 150TH-BIRTHDAY CONCERT
San Jose Mercury News – Apr 6, 2007
There were great cameos, especially from principal harp Dan Levitan and English hornist Patricia Emerson Mitchell.

SYMPHONY GALA HITS THE RIGHT NOTES
San Jose Mercury News – Sep 20, 1999
Patricia Emerson Mitchell sang the famous principal theme through her English horn.

SYMPHONY GALA HITS THE RIGHT NOTES
San Jose Mercury News – Sep 20, 1999
Patricia Emerson Mitchell sang the famous principal theme through her English horn.

GUEST CONDUCTOR SHINES
San Jose Mercury News – Jan 13, 1986
Patricia Emerson Mitchell practically crooned the lovely English horn solo of the slow movement, surely the finest thing in the symphony; …

San Jose Mercury News – Dec 6, 2009
In the second movement, the brilliance of Botticelli’s colors was captured in solos by principal bassoon Deborah Kramer, oboist Patricia Emerson Mitchell …

San Jose Mercury News – March 28, 2009
English hornist Patricia Emerson Mitchell was a standout: Her solos were ear candy, richly melodious.

Metroactive Music | SJ Symphony
Silicon Valley’s Metro – Apr 4, 1996
The movement also benefited from lovely solo work by oboist Pamela Hakl and English horn player Patricia Emerson Mitchell.

Metroactive Music | SJ Symphony
Silicon Valley’s Metro – May 15, 1997
The meditative, concluding Adagio (“The Sweetness of Epicurus”)
was nothing short of transcendent as a result of numerous delectable woodwind solos–primarily by Patricia Emerson Mitchell on English horn and oboist Pamela Hakl–along with fine trumpet work by prinicipal James Dooley and some beautifully joined string sonorities.

A SPARKLING OPENER FOR SSV
San Jose Mercury News – Oct 12, 2009
… hand in a dance with the flute, the oboe and, especially, the English horn, played by Patricia Emerson Mitchell, one of the orchestra’s best musicians.

ANYTHING BUT COMPLACENT – SYMPHONY SILICON VALLEY …
San Jose Mercury News – Oct 2, 2006
This had the contented feeling of waking up after a good night’s sleep. Patricia Emerson Mitchell’s English horn was a standout, full of dreams.

SJ TRIBUTE TO HARRISON EMBRACES DIVERSITY OF AMERICAN …
San Jose Mercury News – May 11, 1997
Solos blew hot and cold, with the best from English horn player Patricia Mitchell, oboist Pamela Hakl and trombone player Robert Szabo.

A SALUTE TO CLEVE CONDUCTOR RETURNS TO SYMPHONY IN …
San Jose Mercury News – Nov 22, 1993
… the waltz at the ball, the languid pastoral episode (with superb English horn work by Patricia Mitchell, and some offstage oboe retorts), the beheading …

OPERA SAN JOSE STRETCHES WINGS IN WAGNER’S ‘FLYING …
San Jose Mercury News – Apr 11, 2005
It is a strong company with many strong voices, including in the orchestra where oboist Patricia Mitchell and English hornist Pamela Hakl ”sang” …

BRASSY SYMPHONY SERVES CHAMPAGNE
San Jose Mercury News – Feb 9, 1997
… Arts were solos by the orchestra’s Wendell Rider (horn), Deborah Kramer ( bassoon), Patricia Mitchell (English horn) and Galen Lemmon (percussion). …

SYMPHONY WARMS TO ROMANTIC PROGRAM
San Jose Mercury News – Oct 4, 1997
Stalwart efforts came earlier from Patricia Mitchell, English horn, and Michael Corner, clarinet. It was a grand night overall, sending the audience home …

PENDERECKI, TRUMPETER SHINE AT SJ SYMPHONY
San Jose Mercury News – Feb 9, 1999
The instrumentalists got a good many solos, well executed by English horn player Patricia Mitchell, bassoonist Deborah Kramer, French horn player Wendell …

SYMPHONIC WAR HORSES STILL HAVE A LITTLE LIFE
San Jose Mercury News – Mar 2, 1987
Cleve’s sensitivity in the piece paid off, with some excellent orchestral solos capped by the English horn of Patricia Mitchell.

San Francisco Classical Voice
San Francisco Classical Voice – Apr 26, 2003
The storm-ending English horn and flute Pastorale (the most effective solowork of the evening played by the always reliable Patricia Mitchell and Maria Tamburrino) was the best of the concert.