Barbara O’Brien Obituary, Death – As a result of the terrible and distressing news that one of our most cherished partners, Barbara O’Brien, chair of Lamb & Hayward, had passed away, we are in a state of complete and utter shock as well as an overpowering sense of loss. We are in this position as a result of the shocking and disturbing news that she had passed away. The news completely shattered our expectations and left us in a state of disbelief. To say that Barbara’s unflinching support and dedication to the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra over the period of the last 25 years has been nothing less than excellent would be an understatement; however, to suggest that it has been nothing less than amazing would be a lie. Barbara has been a stalwart patron of the orchestra throughout this time, and her efforts have been nothing short of spectacular.
We owe her a huge debt of gratitude for having faith in our orchestra and being by our side through thick and thin, particularly during certain years that were without a doubt marked by a significant amount of unpredictability in the globe as a whole. A common line of questioning that people ask is something along these lines: “Isn’t it all about the music?” Barbara has just inquired as to when we will be commemorating the completion of our 30th year of collaboration with Lamb & Hayward. Her interest was piqued due to the fact that this year marks a significant occasion for us. An example of a rhetorical question would be something along the lines of “Isn’t that what it’s all about?”
We would like to express our deepest condolences, not only to Barbara’s family and friends, but also to each and every member of our extended family here at Lamb & Hayward, on the occasion of Barbara’s passing. The news has left us with a sense of profound desolation. We will all feel a profound sense of loss as a result of the demise of the individual who was our organization’s most devoted supporter throughout its history. In 2008, Barbara made her debut with the CSO in a performance that was the very first time in the orchestra’s history that it had ever put on an event of this nature. In addition, Barbara was making her debut in the professional world with her performance. The celebrations that were held in 2023 to honor the CSO and Lamb & Hayward on the occasion of their 30th anniversaries were the reason for the taking of the photograph that is now featured above. These events were held in honor of the milestone anniversaries.