Four-time Grammy nominated German composer/arranger/conductor CHRIS WALDEN has scored more than 40 feature and TV films, and has written more than a thousand orchestral and big band arrangements for artists including Christina Aguilera, Michael Buble, Faith Hill, Aretha Franklin, David Foster, Paul Anka, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Christopher Cross, and orchestras like the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Boston Pops, and many more. He has also orchestrated for Natalie Cole, Diana Krall, Barbra Streisand and others. Most recently, he arranged the National Anthem to Jennifer Hudson’s performance in SUPER BOWL XLIII. His recent film credits include “Monster Mutt”, TV movies (“Alien Siege”), “Crimson Force”, Gene Wilder’s “The Lady in Question” and the CBS mini-series “Blonde”. Walden was also a principal arranger of “AMERICAN IDOL” since 2007 and is now the principal arranger of “THE TONIGHT SHOWS with Jay Leno”. He has worked on over 100 CDs and served as musical director for many TV series and shows. He has been a bandleader and arranger for jazz musicians such as Tierney Sutton (Bobby Shew), Tierney Watts (Ernie Watts), Peter Erskine and Ernie Watts) among others. Chris Walden started writing music and arrangements when he was 16 years old for his local high school band. He graduated at the age of 19 and joined the German National Youth Jazz Orchestra in his role as a trumpet player. While he was still studying composition and arranging at Cologne University, he began writing arrangements for German radio big band and radio syphony orchestras. Peter Herbolzheimer Walden was his mentor and arranged the music for “Schtonk”, an OSCAR(r), nominated film. Chris Walden, who had two master’s degrees from music, directed the RIAS Big Band in Berlin as well as the Frankfurt Radio Big Band. He also served four years in the role of musical director for the televised German Movie Award Show. He also composed music for TV and films before he moved to Los Angeles at age 29. He was a guest conductor for the Dallas Symphony and Columbus Symphony, National Symphony of Texas, West Australian Philharmonic Orchestra, West Australian Philharmonic Orchestra, Munich Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Radio Orchestra and South Korean Pops. Chris Walden began his musical career composing, arranging and orchestrating music with pen and paper. However, he discovered the benefits of computers for notation and sequencing. He enjoys programming, orchestrating, and conducting his own music. Chris has been leading his own big band, a group of top Los Angeles-based musicians. Chris is currently the governor of the Los Angeles Chapter Board of Recording Academy and a member of ASMAC (American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers). from http://www.chriswalden.com
