Chris Muller is Nederlands pianist, componist en arrangeur. Als jazzmuzikant met voorliefde voor orkestrale muziek heeft Chris het podium gedeeld met vele muzikanten uit de top van de Nederlandse jazzscene en is geregeld onderdeel van verschillende orkesten, waaronder het Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, het Paradox Jazz Orchestra, and his own ensemble: the Chris Muller Bigband.
Als bandleider, pianist, arrangeur en dirigent leidt Chris de Chris Muller Bigband, die is opgericht in 2021 en één van de jongste professionele bigbands in de scene is. De band heeft op meerdere en podia en festivals gestaan, en in voorjaar 2023 in Wisseloord zijn debuutalbum Turning Thoughts opgenomen. Dit album werd in juni 2024 gepresenteerd in het BIMHUIS in Amsterdam met meerdere gastsolisten waaronder Jasper Blom.
As a composer and arranger, he works with ensembles including the Metropole Orkest, the Royal Netherlands Air Force Orchestra, and the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy. He has also collaborated with international soloists such as Randy Brecker, Dick Oatts, and Bill Laurance. In 2024 he won the first edition of the Conservatorium Talent Award – Ruud Bos Challenge (details), and in 2025 he received the prestigious Rogier van Otterloo Award (details). The jury described him as:
“Chris Muller is a passionate composer, arranger, and bandleader in the tradition of the great big bands. With a keen ear for detail, rich colors, and subtle phrasing, he seamlessly weaves sections into a musical whole. His craftsmanship, dedication, and tasteful style make him an ideal writer and leader of larger ensembles.”
— Jury Rogier van Otterloo Award (translated from Dutch)
Starting at a young age with classical piano, Muller later made the transition to jazz. Muller made the transition to jazz. At the age of twenty, he completed a bachelor’s degree in Applied Physics at Eindhoven University of Technology, after which he decided to fully devote himself to music. At the Conservatory of Amsterdam, he pursued a double major in Jazz Piano and Arranging, graduating cum laude in both in June 2023. Since then, he has been active as a (guest) conductor and educator with various orchestras and educational projects across the Netherlands, including the Conservatory of Amsterdam, Codarts Rotterdam, het Royal Conservatoire The Hague and Conservatorium Tilburg. In addition, Chris serves as artistic director of Jong JOC, the youth orchestra and educational program of the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw.
Sindsdien is Chris zelf regelmatig actief als (gast)dirigent en educator bij orkesten en opleidingsprojecten door heel Nederland, zoals op het Conservatorium van Amsterdam en bij het Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw als artistiek leider van het Jong JOC eduactieproject.
