JOHN MIETUS

Bio

John Mietus is a double bassist, composer, and conductor based in Auckland, New Zealand. Since 2022, he has served as Associate Principal Bass with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. He has also performed with other noteworthy ensembles such as the Houston Symphony, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Warner Bros. Studio Orchestra, and the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra. In addition to orchestral work, he has had an extensive solo career, including notable performances with orchestras such as the Cleveland Philharmonic, XiangJiang Philharmonic Orchestra, International Music Festival Orchestra, Ohio Music Educator’s National Conference, and the Concerto Chamber Orchestra. He has also been a featured performer on “From The Top”. He plays a 2016 Sergio Scaramelli “Majestic” Model bass that won a silver medal at the Rome International Competition.

As a composer, Mietus fuses diverse influences to create solo, chamber, and orchestral works. His compositions have been recognized with awards such as winning the South Carolina Music Educators Association Composition Competition, the UNK New Music Festival Composition Competition, and the ACDA USC Choral Composition Showcase. Recent commissions include works for the Wabass Institute, Hal Robinson, former Principal Bassist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Andrew Beer, Concertmaster of the Auckland Philharmonia, the Harmonia Vocal Octet, and the Hathaway Brown School, among others. His work has appeared on programs in Japan, Cyprus, the UK, and across the United States. John is also notable as the composer for the animated series Inanimate Insanity, as well as for multiple independent films and video games.

Mietus is also a sought-after educator and guest conductor, most recently being appointed Music Director of the Devonport Chamber Orchestra and regularly appearing with the XingJiang Philharmonic Orchestra as a guest conductor. He is also the current resident conductor for the Auckland Metropolitan Orchestra and has served as guest faculty at Northwestern University, the Australian National Academy of Music, and James Madison University.

He holds a Master of Music degree from Rice University, where he studied with Paul Ellison and Tim Pitts. He earned his Bachelors of Music from the University of Southern California, studying with David Allen Moore. While completing his formal training, he also studied conducting with Sharon Lavery and later deepened his appreciation for score study under maestro Larry Rachleff. Other notable teachers include Nicole Castleberry-Clouser of The Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Henry Peyrebrune of The Cleveland Orchestra, Tracy Rowell of Oberlin Conservatory, Nicholas Walker, Peter Lloyd, Dominick Fiore, Francois Rabbath, and the late Anthony Bianco.