The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) is one of the world’s oldest national symphony orchestras, having charmed audiences with memorable concerts and recordings since 1947. Today, the NZSO is recognised as an outstanding orchestra of international stature. Their reputation for artistic excellence attracts many of the world’s leading musicians, conductors and soloists each year.
Chris Lam Sam – Animateur
Chris was raised in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) and completed a Bachelor of Music (Composition) at Waikato University. Just before obtaining his Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary), Chris co-founded Aotearoa New Zealand’s first professional touring musical supergroup for children, The Funky Monkeys in 2003.
Chris has since become one of the nation’s leading musical entertainers and educators for young audiences. He has performed both independent and commissioned shows in over one thousand NZ schools and early childhood centres, in addition to performing to over 1.7 million people at live concerts.
In 2023, Chris became the first full-time Music Education Animateur for the NZSO after having presented thirty-nine children’s concerts for the orchestra since 2016. Chris is passionate about his role of inspiring students, teachers, and diverse audiences to maintain life-long connections with symphonic music and the NZSO.
Learn more about the NZSO here.
