INTRODUCTION

Chris Lam Sam is the Music Education Animateur for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, creating concerts, workshops and classroom experiences that bring orchestral music to young audiences across Aotearoa.

An animateur is a musician who brings music to life through interactive concerts and workshops, inviting audiences to actively participate rather than simply listen.

Through storytelling, participation and live performance, Chris helps children discover the magic of orchestral music and develop a lifelong connection with music.

Each year his work in NZSO programmes reaches tens of thousands of students in schools and concert halls across the country.

SCHOOLS’ CONCERTS

Chris presents NZSO Schools’ Concerts for primary and intermediate students, guiding young audiences through live orchestral performances designed especially for children.

These concerts combine music, storytelling and audience participation, helping students explore how orchestral music can tell stories, express emotions and bring imagination to life.

Songs Chris writes for these concerts are sung live by thousands of students alongside their national orchestra each year.

“This is a transformational experience for our students.”

— Worser Bay School, Wellington

Creative Music Workshops

Chris also leads interactive music Creative Music Workshops in schools across the country, where thousands of students create their own music “working like an orchestra” using storytelling, composition and small percussion instruments the NZSO provides.

These sessions encourage creativity, collaboration and confidence, giving students the opportunity to experience music as something they can actively make and share.

Workshops are designed to support classroom learning, NZSO concert attendance, and are suitable for a wide range of ages and learning styles.

To enquire about a booking, email Chris here.

“The session was great and all the kids loved it. It is an excellent experience for many of them that have never even heard of an orchestra. It was a great way to bring music to the classroom when it is challenging otherwise. It gave some kids their time to shine.”

— Levin School

IMPACT

In 2025 Chris’s music education work with the NZSO reached more than 34,000 students across Aotearoa.

His songs were sung live by more than 4,800 students at NZSO Concerts for children, and his classroom resources were used by teachers in 241 schools nationwide.

Through these programmes and digital teaching resources Chris continues to connect children with music through creativity, participation and live performance.

LEARN MORE

Chris’s work is part of the NZSO’s national education programme, connecting orchestral music with young audiences across Aotearoa.

To find out more about NZSO education programmes, visit the NZSO Learn & Engage page or email Chris here.