Chris Gendall was born in Hamilton, New Zealand and began to develop as a composer in 1999 whilst studying at Victoria University in Wellington where he completed Masters level study in 2004. He is currently in the D.M.A. Program at Cornell University in upstate New York.

His works have received performances in New Zealand, Europe, Japan, and the United States by such performers as Arnold Marinissen, Marcel Worms, the University of Miami Percussion Ensemble, and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Chris has won several awards for young compoers in New Zealand and aborad. He is interested in the art music of the twentieth century, as well as being heavily influenced by jazz and funk.