Mitchell Crawford's undergraduate studies were with Paul Jacobs at The Juilliard School in New York City, where he was admitted with Presidential Distinction and obtained the Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance. During his time in New York, he served The City Church as Organist before accepting a similar position at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. Following Fifth Avenues' bicentennial in 2008, he served as Interim Director of Music Ministries, a position he would ultimately occupy for more than three years. He received the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting as a student of Dr. André J. Thomas at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. As a recitalist, he has performed in many venues along the east coast, including Harvard and Princeton Universities, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, New York, and numerous churches. Though his education has primarily been in performance, he is fascinated by the history of music, and has pursued advanced studies in musicology and music theory. He is executor for the musical estate of the late Calvin Hampton, whose music he champions.