Chris Ullman is a four-time national and international whistling champion (1994, 1996, 1999, and 2000). He has performed with major symphony orchestras, serenaded President George W. Bush in the Oval Office, whistled the National Anthem at major league sporting events and entertained millions around the world on TV and radio. In what Chris describes as a “ministry,” he whistles “Happy Birthday” more than 400 times each year to friends and family.
Chris started his puckered pursuits at age five, whistled incessantly while delivering newspapers as a teen, jammed with jazz bands in college, and worked the open mike circuit in his Washington, DC home in the 1980s-90s. He competed nine times at the National and International Whistling Convention and served as a judge twice.
Chris has appeared on The Tonight Show, The Today Show, CNN, NPR, CNBC and has been featured in The New York Times, People Magazine, The Washington Post, and Time Magazine. His repertoire includes classical, blues, jazz, Broadway, and rock. In 2000, Chris was named the Lillian Williams Whistling Entertainer of the Year, and in 2003 he released his debut CD, The Symphonic Whistler. In 2012 Chris was inducted into the International Whistling Hall of Fame.
By day Chris is a Director of Global Communications at The Carlyle Group, an investment firm based in Washington, DC.