Skip to Main Content

Concordia University Irvine Music Professor Named to "20 Under 30" of Prominent American Musicians by International Magazine

Concordia University Irvine Music Professor Named to "20 Under 30" of Prominent American Musicians by International Magazine

 

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY IRVINE MUSIC PROFESSOR NAMED TO “20 UNDER 30” LIST OF PROMINENT AMERICAN MUSICIANS BY INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

 

Millennial Professor Tom Mueller of Tustin is the only West Coast musician

 

 

                IRVINE, Calif. (May 21, 2015)Concordia University Irvine music professor and university organist Tom Mueller of Tustin was recently named one of “20 Under 30,” or 20 American musicians under the age of 30, by The Diapason, an international music journal focusing on musicians who play the organ, harpsichord, and carillon. Also named to the inaugural list were the Washington National Cathedral’s organist and the archdiocese of Detroit’s music director.   

                Representing universities, academies, and churches from various denominations, over 100 nominees were judged for their technical skills, creativity, innovation, and career advancement by the magazine’s editorial staff, all of whom are organists,teachers, and have doctorates. Evaluators also considered nominees’ awards, honors, compositions, and publications.

                A faculty member at Concordia University Irvine since January 2015, Mueller, 29, teaches organ, jazz, and composition. In addition, he serves as the assistant organist at St.James’ Church in Los Angeles.

                “It’s truly an honor to be selected for this list, along with so many of my peers and colleagues from across the country,” says Mueller. Born into a family of traditional bluegrass musicians, Mueller learned several stringed instruments by ear. “I love everything that I do—teaching and playing organ, playing jazz, composing, and doing research.”

                According to Concordia University Irvine Music Director Jeff Held, Mueller’s influence pervades the classroom and the concert hall. “Tom is a highly versatile expert musician; students gravitate toward him, and want to study with him,” says Held. “We’re proud to have him on the Concordia faculty.”

                Also a guitarist, Mueller tours as a member of The Muellers, a nationally-recognized family bluegrass band based in New England. In addition to his work as a composer, he also presents workshops, master classes, and lectures for organizations such as the American Guild of Organists. Before receiving his Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music, Mueller earned his Master of Sacred Music degree from the University of Notre Dame and the Bachelor of Music degree, with a concentration in jazz composition, from the University of Maine at Augusta.  

ABOUT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY IRVINE

Concordia University Irvine prepares students for their vocations—their calling in life. CUI offers undergraduate,graduate, doctoral, and adult degree programs in a beautiful Southern California location in the City of Irvine, with online and regional cohort options. Concordia’s undergraduate program is distinctive among universities in California because of its nationally recognized Core Curriculum, and its Lutheran heritage that provides a thoughtful and caring Christian community that lives out the theology of "Grace Alone. Faith Alone." Concordia is a U.S. News Top Tier Regional University and has been named by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the fastest growing private nonprofit master's institutions. CUI enrolls over 4,000 students

 

 

 

print
Back to top