Hailed as a dynamic and versatile performer, Christopher S. Lamb joined the New York Philharmonic as Principal Percussionist in 1985. He subsequently made his solo debut with the Philharmonic in the world premiere of Joseph Schwantner’s Percussion Concerto, one of several commissions celebrating the Philharmonic’s 150th Anniversary, and has since performed the work to critical acclaim with orchestras throughout the United States. Mr. Lamb also gave the world premiere of Tan Dun’s Concerto for Water Percussion, a second work commissioned for him by the New York Philharmonic, which he performed to rave reviews on the Philharmonic’s tour to South America as well as in Asia and Europe with such notable orchestras as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and Gewandhaus Orchestra. Mr. Lamb’s performance of Tan Dun’s concerto was selected by Maestro Kurt Masur for release in the collection of New York Philharmonic CDs highlighting the Masur years. In November 2001, the third and most recent commission for Mr. Lamb by the New York Philharmonic, Susan Botti’s EchoTempo for Soprano, Percussion, and Orchestra, was given its world premiere by Ms. Botti, Mr. Lamb, and the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Maestro Masur.

In 1999 Mr. Lamb was the recipient of a prestigious Fulbright Scholar Award to lecture and conduct research in Australia. During his five-month residency at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, he presented master classes and seminars entitled, “A Comprehensive Examination of Orchestral Percussion,” a method he has refined over years of teaching experience.

On the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music since 1989, Mr. Lamb has given clinics and master classes throughout the United States and on nearly every continent. He has designed his own line of concert snare drum sticks and is frequently consulted on instrument design concepts by leading percussion equipment manufacturers.

Mr. Lamb has recorded chamber works on the New World, Cala, and CRI labels. A former member of The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Buffalo Philharmonic, he is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. He and his wife, pianist Virginia Perry Lamb, have two sons.

Photo of Christopher S. Lamb,: Chris Lee