Chris O’Connor is a musician and music therapist who has spent his life immersed in music, playing drums in bands since his teenage years and being a freelance musician playing all over the world.
He is a member of the New Zealand music group The Phoenix Foundation and has played with artists such as Neil Finn, Tami Neilson and Don McGlashan.
Despite his love for the adventurous life of a musician which he found very romantic, Chris wanted to explore a long-standing interest in music therapy.
At 48, he transitioned into this field, bringing his enthusiasm to his therapeutic practice. Chris now works four days a week at the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre and dedicates one day a week to working with inmates in a prison which he thoroughly enjoys.
In this interview with Andrew Whiteside he explains why music therapy is so important and rewarding.
This interview was recorded to promote the 50th Anniversary Conference: Looking Back Moving Forward, which is about Music Therapy and is being held from the 13th -15th September 2024 at Victoria University Te Herenga Waka, Wellington New Zealand.
