Maestro Paul F. Mueller will retire from the Greenwich Choral Society in April after 27 years as Music Director and Conductor. Antonin Dvorak’s Stabat Mater will be his last concert with the Chorus April 22 at 4:00pm at the Performing Arts Center in Greenwich High School.
Over those 27 years, Paul has conducted the Choral Society in roughly 100 concerts in Fairfield County, Bulgaria, Greece, France, Austria and Italy. Under Paul’s leadership, the Choral Society has collaborated with the Greenwich and Stamford Symphonies, European orchestras, a Tango band, a Jazz band, a Percussion ensemble, regional and youth choruses and countless soloists.
He has conducted a broad repertoire in a wide array of genres and languages, teaching choristers how to sing in German, Old Slavonic, Russian, French, Latin (ancient and Viennese accented), Hebrew, Ladino, Spanish and Portuguese as well as the proper diction in singing English. His musical integrity was shared in abundant measure.
Past Chair Priscilla Wilder put it succinctly: “Paul would demonstrate and sing the soprano part so beautifully in falsetto that we sopranos wished he could sing with us.”
Edward Pleasant, a frequent bass-baritone soloist with the Choral Society stated, “Paul Mueller is the rare and wonderful amalgamation of music conductor, vocal coach, cheerleader, counselor, comedian, recruiter, pastor, brother, friend and…drill sergeant.”
Most importantly, Paul has touched the lives of hundreds of choristers, some for only a year, the luckiest for all 27. Choristers have marveled at his professionalism. A consummate teacher, he knows how to pace a rehearsal, working hard, then stopping to tell an anecdote about his cats or life in Manhattan, cooking or travel, bicycling or kayaking. He is as good a raconteur as he is a conductor. He makes rehearsing joyful work. He makes a concert memorable.
Come celebrate the remarkable contributions Maestro Paul F. Mueller has made to the life of our community April 22 at 4:00pm at his final concert at the Performing Arts Center at Greenwich High School. Tickets are $55, $45 and $25, and are free for students K-12. For tickets and additional information, visit the Greenwich Choral Society’s website at www.gcs-ct.org or call 203-622-5136.