Chris and the long journey

cello by JACOB VON DER LIPPE

Oslo – 2025

PERSONAL MODEL

Sometimes it’s worth the long wait. Chris Mui is a cellist in the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and we first met in 2017, when he tried out one of the cellos I had just finished. He then decided to put down a deposit for one of my upcoming cellos. Years passed, and Chris completed his master’s studies in Switzerland, before securing a permanent position as cellist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. We kept in regular contact over the course of those eight years.

In the winter of 2025, I was going to start making my next cello and contacted Chris to see if he thought it was time to make my cello dream a reality. When the cello was completed in June 2025, Chris came to Oslo to test the cello for 24 hours. After playing the cello for a few hours, he was absolutely certain that this was the right cello for him.

In September he returned to collect the cello and took it home to Singapore. It is a great privilege to work with a cellist like Chris, he has always given me full creative freedom to create the best possible cello. I look forward to following this adventure further in the coming years.

What does Chris say after a year with the cello?

«I first met Jacob in 2017, when I was still a student. After trying a few of his instruments, what immediately stood out to me was how naturally the sound came out, along with the incredible range of colours the instruments allowed me to explore. What drew me to his work was his approach to making instruments — developing his own custom model while constantly refining his craft through feedback from musicians and clients. Visiting his workshop was always a pleasure: spending time over coffee, talking about his projects, and seeing the thought and care he poured into every detail.

About eight years later, after staying in touch throughout that time, I finally had the opportunity to own one of his latest cellos. The instrument is nothing short of beautiful, and the level of care in its construction is immediately apparent. It has a bold and robust character, yet it still retains the flexibility to produce softer, more nuanced colours when needed. What continues to impress me most is the ease with which the instrument responds, allowing me to explore a wide range of sounds naturally and effortlessly. It’s a real joy to have this instrument and I can’t wait to further my music career with it. “.

Chris Mui, Cellist

Singapore Symphony Orchestra

more references cello

The story

a cello for chris

The cello is made on my personal model, which gives a powerful tone with lots of overtones and a projecting sound. The back, sides and neck are made from heavily flamed European maple. The top is made of first-class Italian alpine spruce. The fingerboard is made from a sustainable alternative to ebony, Corene . The endpin is made of titanium, which ensures optimal transmission of the frequencies to the floor. See more photos of the cello below.

More cellos will be made in the coming years, please contact me if you would like to know more. You can see the instruments being created through daily updates on my Instagram account.