The Inside Story: Paul Neebe and UNDISCOVERED TRUMPET CONCERTOS

Trumpet virtuoso Paul Neebe is the rare kind of musician destined to be a soloist: commanding a characteristic, recognizable sound full of determination and expression, yet never sacrificing precision or clarity. Who better, then, to champion UNDISCOVERED TRUMPET CONCERTOS by four contemporary composers?

Today, Paul is our featured artist in the “Inside Story,” a blog series exploring the inner workings and personalities of our composers and performers. Read on to learn about his dream collaboration with Paul McCartney, and how he picked up German as a second language…

What have been your biggest inspirations on your musical journey?

I was inspired by music when I was very young by my Grandfather and my Mom. Mom played the piano, organ, flute, and recorder as a hobby. Every time she specially played the flute, I could hear the immense joy in her playing. At 89 today she still picks up the flute and I still hear that happiness. My Grandfather could play the piano, but mostly improvised classically. At age 11, I can remember us playing a piano and cornet piece and him playing numerous notes that weren’t on the page but sounded like a lot of fun. 

Tell us about your first performance.

I practiced a lot with the trumpet and when I first started, my grandmother would say go “toot” outside. So my first performance was for the neighbors outside in the back yard. As the years progressed, my Grandmother attended my Juilliard graduation and was very proud. I no longer had to “toot” outside. 

How do you prepare for a musical performance?

To prepare to play in public, especially as a soloist, you need to know the piece backward and forward. Many parts should be memorized internally. For difficult passages, I hear and visualize them on the page before going to sleep.

If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?

There is no question it would be Paul McCartney. I love the Beatles and their music. Of course Paul McCartney is also an accomplished composer. Maybe he would write a trumpet concerto for me? Wow what a dream!

What musical mentor had the greatest impact on your artistic journey? Is there any wisdom they have imparted onto you that still resonates today?

I have had the privilege of two wonderful mentors in my lifetime. The first one was the late Arnold Jacobs. He helped me play with ease, joy, and most of all, musicality. He taught me to imagine the music in my head, much the way a sports coach would say keep your eye on the ball. Concentrating on the music feels like steering a car. You always know which direction you are going. I continue his musical imagery concepts to this day.

My second Mentor has been Barbara Butler, for the past 20 years. She has an immensely successful performing and teaching career with a plethora of past students in major orchestras all over the world. Her keen ear, impeccable rhythm, and superb musicianship have been invaluable. No matter the situation, she always has ideas on how to improve. Every session I’ve had with her, I’m always amazed at the depth of her knowledge. She can fine tune musicians better than anyone. I am forever grateful for how much she has helped me grow musically, professionally, and personally. 

What are your other passions besides music?

I really enjoy striving to be healthy by swimming, biking, working out at the gym, and keeping a healthy diet. Being a performer is similar to being an athlete — if your body isn’t in good shape it will detract from your skill. I also love traveling — I learned the German language while visiting Germany for several summers. I’m very proud that with my second language ability, I was able to date and propose to my German spouse. Now I use German to speak to my in-laws.