Neil Mueller
Concert Reviews
"Trumpeter Neil Mueller struck a fine balance, displaying virtuoso flair and expressive sensitivity in equal degree. A compelling and confident figure in the outer movement, Mueller also applied sweetness to the Andante."
- The Cleveland Plain Dealer, from Zachary Lewis' review of a performance of Haydn's Concerto for Trumpet with the BlueWater Chamber Orchestra, April 2, 2012.
"Flutist Sean Gabriel, oboist Martin Neubert, and trumpeter Neil Mueller were outstanding, especially Mueller, who kept his trumpet beautifully balanced with the other, softer-voiced soloists."
- The Cleveland Plain Dealer, from Mark Satola's review of a performance of Barber's "Capricorn Concerto", with the BlueWater Chamber Orchestra, March 3, 2014.
"The Performance of Handel's Suite in D Major was stylish, with Mueller serving as lucid and sensitive soloist..."
- The Cleveland Plain Dealer, from Donald Rosenberg's review of a BlueWater Chamber Orchestra Concert, January 30, 2011.
"The soloistic, virtuoso nature of jazz ensured that there would be many opportunities throughout the evening to hear solo turns from individual members of the orchestra, particularly FMSO's superb principal trumpet, Neil Mueller, who was featured prominently in every piece."
- The Fargo Forum, in a review of a performance of works by Gershwin, Copland and Harbison with the Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, November 14, 2011.
"Trumpeter Neil Mueller popped sonic fireworks in the Fasch Concerto. In the short but brilliant showpiece, Mueller was especially impressive in his control of dynamics, maintaining a balanced timbre in his quietest and brassiest passages, including the stratospheric ending of the second movement."
- The New London Day, in a review of a solo appearance with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, November 21, 1999
"Principal Trumpet Neil Mueller played like a star in one of the longest and most exposed trumpet scores."
- The New London Day, in a review of Mahler's Fifth Symphony with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, November 21, 1999
Recording Reviews
"Part of Neil Mueller's interest in releasing this collection of six previously unrecorded works was to find a wider audience for them and spur trumpet players and teacher to champion them. Based on his superb playing, these pieces have a glowing future. […] Mueller possesses a mellifluous sound. […] While Mueller handles the technical challenges easily in these works - most of which were composed within the past ten years - sound and phrasing are never sacrificed."
- International Trumpet Guild Journal review of "Call and Response", March 2016
"The performance by the Brass Ring is outstanding - highly expressive and tremendously exciting! The players negotiate fiercely difficult passages with not only flawless precision, but with apparent ease as well. The listener is left to focus attention upon the music rather than on the performers. The performance by the Brass Ring raised the standard in both quintet performance and repertoire ."
- International Trumpet Guild Journal review of the Crystal CD "New American Classics", featuring works by David
del Tredici, Jacob Druckman, and Ned Rorem, May 1998
Duet Reviews
"...there is little doubt that the set should belong in the library of every trumpet instructor."
- International Trumpet Guild Journal review of "Eight Famous Solos", October 2010
"The excellent concept behind this series of duets is that anyone working on these concerti can play them with a teacher or friend and obtain real-time experience performing these treasures for trumpet."
- International Trumpet Guild Journal review of "Three Classical Concertos", March 2008.