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"Gorgeous, so melodic, it just leaves you feeling peaceful...you really have a way with extremely melodic, gentle melodies and rolling chord progressions." - Jury - 2003 UNISONG International Song Contest "May I say that I am quite overwhelmed ....by your voice excellence...your CD is absolutely amazing!" - Anthony Barkhuizen, TWR-Radio, South Africa "Listening to Gundula's CD was like watching little spring flowers pushing up everywhere, joustling not only the earth, but the universe beyond. Amazing! I wasn't expecting to be quite so moved, so pleasantly surprised. Her songs and singing are heart-lifting and utterly joyous. In various places (notably "The Lord is my Light and my Salvation"), I could feel her smiling and so, of course was I. ............Her message got through, and it was from the angels. Needless to say, Thank You!!" - Bob Ernst, writer - Anaheim CA 2004 Finalist UK International Songwriting Competition for "Child of God" 2003 Finalist UNISONG International Song Contest for "You are my Strength" BIO Hailed as "a stunning virtuoso" (Musica Sacra) and "an eminently musical performer" (Westfälische Rundschau), Gundula Mueller has captivated audiences in Europe, the United States and South America. An unusually versatile artist, she has appeared in concert as an organist, pianist, conductor, and soprano soloist . Born into a music-loving family, she started studying the piano at age five at the conservatory of her hometown Münster (Germany). She then soon started winning prizes at Youth Competitions, including the 2nd prize at the "Young Composer's Competition" ("Jugend Komponiert") for her Piano Concerto in C, which she originated with the Duisburg Conservatory Orchestra. At age 16, she began her organ studies with Prof. Dr. Martin Blindow and - only two years later - as the youngest participant, won the 1st Prize at the II. International Organ Competition held in Münster (Germany). By unanimous recommendation of the faculty of Folkwang Conservatory of Music in Essen Germany, she was granted unprecedented permission by the Federal Examination Office to take the Master's Degree exams after only 3 1/2 years of combined undergraduate and graduate studies, upon which she passed with the highest grade (organ, conducting, piano, voice). While still a student, she served as organist and choir director of the "Hans-Leo Haßler Choir" at Trinity Lutheran Church in Münster, bringing the choir's size from originally 15 to 70 members, and conducting oratorio concerts (Bach - "Christmas" Oratorio/Cantatas, Haydn - "The Creation"/ "Theresia" Mass) to great critical acclaim. She also served as Principal Conductor of the "ProMusica Orchestra" performing mostly symphonic repertoire. Upon graduation, she moved to New York City to continue her studies with voice teachers Ariel Bybee (Metropolitan Opera), Cornelius Reid and William H. Glazier and to study Theatre Arts at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. She also served as Director of Music and Organist at the German Evang. Lutheran Church of St. Paul in New York's Chelsea district where she started the concert series "Music at St. Paul's", founded the "St. Paul's Singers", and released her CD "Organ Music at St. Paul's". In 1997, she was Music Director and Organist for the Festive Worship Service celebrating the church's 100th anniversary in the presence of Germany's President Roman Herzog. In addition to performing Gundula was invited to give lectures and master classes and has originated several compositions. Many of her international concert tours were held under the patronage of the German Embassies/Consulates and the Goethe-Institutes in the respective countries. The latest addition to Gundula's musical activities is Songwriting. A strong interest in spiritual thought from both the Eastern and Western traditions, combined with a love for many different styles of music (including Jazz, Gospel, Latin and Pop), was the basis for her latest CD "Songs of the Soul" - a collection of spiritual songs - released by spiritual indie label Happy Dolphin Records. The songs have received airplay on radio stations in the US, Germany and South Africa and were recently recognized at several major international Songwriting Competitions. A charismatic performer, Gundula has presented "Songs of the Soul" to enthusiastic audiences in Germany and the United States. Her upcoming CD "Journey to the Light" is expected for release in the spring of 2005. REVIEWS "...Soprano Gundula Mueller held her own strongly in Bach's "Jauchzet Gott" Cantata..." - Los Angeles Times "...a stunning virtuoso...with intense musical expressiveness...a great talent..." - Musica Sacra/National German Magazine "...enthrilling verve and energetic creative power were perceptible in every one of the four movements...[conductor] Gundula Mueller created a very original and energetic interpretation [of Beethoven's 1st Symphony]...well measured tempi and a balanced sound as well as precise wind soli completed the image of a vivid and enthusiastic interpretation..." - Westfälische Nachrichten/Germany "...a mature musical performer with a stunning technique..." - La Nacion/Buenos Aires "...the young German organist Gundula Mueller presented her exceptional skills...her perfect technique and deeply felt musicality became particularly apparent in her impressive interpretation of [Bach's] Toccata and Fugue in D Minor... Mueller's clean, transparent technique and deep expressionism produced a rarely witnessed organ sound and a solemnity that deeply moved the audience... " - El Condor/Chile "...spellbound one witnessed how she lured true romanticism [Reubke Sonata] out of every pipe... in the Adagio movement she even achieved a few mystical moments...with great verve she finally built up to a majestic finale - a marvelous performance...The famous Toccata [Durufle] raced with impetuous, but incredibly secure runs towards an enthusiastic ovation..." - Münstersche Zeitung/Germany "...Gundula Mueller proved that she is a master of the art of organ playing. Great transparence and clear accentuation distinguished her performance as well as an ingenious understanding of the character of the very different pieces...she pulled all stops of her skills" - New Yorker Staats-Zeitung/New York "... the approximately one thousand members of the audience witnessed what was likely to have been the best performance in years [of Bach's Christmas Oratorio]. Gundula Mueller - just 24 years of age, but as serene and confident as a long-serving pro-conductor - presented herself with her Hans-Leo-Haßler Choir from Trinity Church and created a version of the first three cantatas that was purified of all common clichés. Wonderful how lively and jaunty the "Jauchzet, frohlocket" and later the "Herrscher des Himmels" was sung by the almost 70 choir members. Marvelous also how Mueller interpretated the chorals once sensual and sensitive, once refreshingly joyful ("Brich an...") And also the difficult Vivace-Chorus "Ehre sei Gott" was performed brilliantly...the unusually long applause made it undoubtedly clear: the audience loved the performance - so did we." - Münstersche Zeitung/Germany "...a transparent, precise and energetic performance...ease and technical brilliance were combined in the joyful playing of the organist...with an impetuous, highly virtuoso final movement ended a deeply felt interpretation of the romantic piece [Mendelssohn's F Minor Sonata]...the audience thanked the organist with a long ovation for a performance that stood out for its technical perfection and mature musical interpretation..." - Westfalen-Post/Germany "...a marvelous performer of a truly demanding program... The greater the challenge the more convincing her playing and that in all traditional styles from baroque to late romanticism...[in Mendelssohn's F Minor Sonata] she combined deep intimacy with enraptured expressivity and a virtuoso agility...but it was not only the colossal richness and brilliant technique which impressed, but at the same time the fine-chased dolefulness that let the otherwise voluptuous gestures appear even more enrapturing..." - Soester Anzeiger/Germany "... at sold out St. Joseph's Church Gundula Mueller conducted a performance that was wonderful in every regard [of Haydn's "Creation"]...already the instrumental introduction, which creates the earth out of chaos and light out of darkness captivated the audience. With great dynamic vigor the Consortium Classicum formed the music, that Haydn composed following the text literally...Gundula Mueller had not only the orchestra well under control but had also worked thoroughly with the Hans-Leo-Haßler Choir....enthusiastic applause rewarded the committed creation experience...a particularly great compliment goes to the brilliant conductor..." - Münstersche Zeitung/Germany "...presenting herself brilliantly this evening was Gundula Mueller, who mastered the challenge of originating three new compositions in one evening supremely well. Besides her undoubtedly excellent technique she managed marvelously to create a multitude of different colors..." - Westfälische Nachrichten/Germany "...Gundula Mueller's colossal intonation of Reger's B-A-C-H Fantasia in which she brought concentrated energy to explosion but also found some moments of quiet contemplation... In Langlais' "Chant heroique" she proved her technical mastership. Great sound columns were contrasted with distant-refined echo sound..." - Rheinischer Merkur/Germany "...she presented her stunning craft with what was likely the most difficult compulsory piece of the competition. Hans Werner Henze's "Toccata ohne Fuge" makes highest demands towards every performer with difficult contrarhythms and dynamic increases until the six fold forte...the soloist mastered all difficulties with command..." - Münstersche Zeitung/Germany Check out the artist's website: http://www.gundulamueller.com Track List: 1. Come let us sing (Psalms 95/98/148) 2. Child of God 3. Out of the Depths (Psalm 130) 4. The Lord is my Light and my Salvation (Psalm 27) 5. I lift up my eyes to the hills (Psalm 121) 6. You are my Strength 7. Come to me 8. The Lord is my Shepherd (Psalm 23) 9. The Peace Prayer (Francis of Assisi) 10. Reverie 11. Let nothing trouble thee (Teresa of Avila) 12. A Beautiful Dream 13. Von guten Mächten (Dietrich Bonhoeffer) Suggested CDs:Other Genres: |