Darleen Cowles Mitchell has written over 100 compositions for various instrumental and vocal combinations, from solo flute to full orchestra and chorus. Her compositions have been performed throughout the United States and in Europe. Her works are published by American Composers Editions in New York and Tap Music Sales in Iowa. Translucent Unreality No. 1 for flute and piano was recorded by American Woman Composers. Images, for violin and guitar, was recorded on Guitar Plus Records, 'Untaming the Fury: Vol. 2', by Duo 46 in 2001.

Dr. Mitchell has been the recipient of many awards, including the Distinguished Artist Award from the Nebraska Arts Council and the National League of American Pen Women Composition Competition, for her work Visions, a concerto for tuba and concert band. She received a Ph.D. in Music Composition from the University of Chicago where her teachers included Ralph Shapey and Shulamit Ran. Dr. Mitchell founded and performed with the improvisational ensemble The Marcel Duchamp Memorial Players in the Chicago area for over 10 years. She is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska at Kearney where she coordinates the music theory and composition programs, directs the New Music Ensemble, and oversees the Music Instruction Computer Lab.