The acclaimed performer will become interim director of The Villages Pops Chorus.

Lee Muller is a major musical performer on local stages, and now he’s trying his hand at a different role: interim musical director of The Villages Pops Chorus.
Mueller will serve as interim music director, replacing retiring founding director Bill Davis. The group has about 150 members.

“I’m encouraged,” Mueller said Thursday. “My main goal is to maintain the integrity of the choir and maintain a close, family atmosphere. We also want to maintain Bill Davis’ high standards. It’s hard to follow Bill – he’s done so much good work.”
Davis and his wife Sue founded the Pops Chorus ten years ago. During this time, they helped the choir raise approximately $300,000 for charity.
“Music is important, but helping others through charity is really important,” Mueller said.
Bill and Sue Davis will be moving to Charlotte, North Carolina after the start of the year. His final Pops Chorus program will be Dec. 9 at North Lake Presbyterian Church.
Müller has applied for the position of interim director and will do a trial run as director of the pop choir.
“I was hesitant to take it on at first because Bill and Sue had done so much and done everything,” Mueller said. He added that the responsibilities and demands behind the scenes were shared by other band members.
“I want to give myself time to see how I (treat) the choir members and how they treat me,” Mueller said. “They take time to get to know me, and I get to know them.”
Muller will direct the Pops Chorus Spring 2025 “Another Openin’ Another Show” concert scheduled for March 31st.
“We want it to be easy; have a lot of fun and make quality music,” Mueller said.
Mueller has been active in Villages musicals over the past several years, including a memorable starring role in 2022’s The Sound of Music.
In March, he will star in The Villages Musical Theatre’s production of Hello Dolly. He has performed with the Florida Lakes Symphony, Orlando Opera, and Philadelphia Opera Company.
He also sang with the Villages Voices Choir and the Villages Men’s Choir.
Muller studied music performance, including vocal and choral conducting, at Bowling Green State University (Ohio). He completed graduate work in Music Performance and Vocal/Choral Conducting from Bloomsburg State College (PA).

Now the Villages Pops Choir is preparing for its next chapter, without Bill Davis at first.
“I didn’t really know Bill; but after meeting him and getting to know him, he’s just a great guy,” Mueller said, adding that he was willing to continue Davis’ work on an interim basis.
“We’re going to try it out,” Mueller said, “and I’m really interested to see how it goes.”