Our people
The musicians who lead our two orchestras week to week.
Music Director, WYO
Music Director, Wellington Youth Orchestra
Born in Poole, Dorset, Mark began playing cornet at age seven and later joined the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. He studied trumpet at the Royal Academy of Music in London with John Wilbraham, and took part in an exchange programme at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane.
He has performed with the Cape Town Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Queensland Philharmonic, the Queensland Orchestra and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. He now teaches at the New Zealand School of Music and directs both the Wellington Youth Orchestra and the Hutt Valley Orchestra. Away from music, he enjoys mountain biking around Wellington and the Hutt Valley.
Music Director, WYS
Music Director, Wellington Youth Sinfonietta
Christiaan van der Zee is a professional violist, music educator and maths teacher, trained in South Africa, Wellington, Germany and the USA. He was a founding member of the Tasman String Quartet, which won prizes in international competitions and toured for Chamber Music New Zealand.
He is Principal Viola in Orchestra Wellington and performs regularly with the NZSO. He also runs the Karori Classics chamber music for charity series in Wellington. Since 2012 he has specialised in training youth ensembles and orchestras.
And the people behind the scenes: each orchestra also has a manager — the first point of contact for families about rehearsals, concerts and day-to-day questions. Find them on the contact page.