The life membership was given to Mr Lamb in Alexandra at the regional orchestra’s annual meeting.
Mr Lamb said the acknowledgement was "a bit unreal".
"I’ve seen other people get life memberships ... I don’t quite feel like I fit into that category.
"I’m very pleased to have it."
Mr Lamb began playing the cello as an 8-year-old in Timaru.
"One of my sisters played the piano and the other played the violin and ... it sounded like a good idea to have a trio."
He set aside the cello for a few years as a young adult, but came back to it when he joined CORO in 1990.
"The amazing thing is that — it’s a bit like a bike — you don’t forget some of the skills you’ve learnt."
Mr Lamb had stayed with music because of the pleasure it gave him.
"I’m still learning and in some respects, I’m playing better than I did four or five years ago."
He particularly enjoyed working with the youth orchestra and growing the music skills of young people.
"It’s been a pleasure to be alongside them and watch them develop and enjoy the music with them."
One gig that stood out was a performance at the Siberia Hut, in Mount Aspiring National Park.
Mr Lamb and his cello travelled to the hut on a jetboat where he had been commissioned to play for tourists as they finished their tramps.
"We had to play Mozart," he recalled.
CORO President Dr Christine Williamson said a life membership was reserved for those who had contributed significantly to the orchestra and was not given out lightly.
"[Mr Lamb’s] certainly put a huge of work and effort in," Dr Williamson said.
"He’s just a very warm and gracious person ... He’s got the group in his heart [and] he wants it to flourish."
