NSW Doctors Swap Stethoscopes For Strings

Stethoscopes are downed for strings – and other orchestral instruments when Musicus Medicus, the NSW Doctors Orchestra presents its annual concert featuring a spectrum of familiar and popular music that has made the journey from ballet stages and movie screens to concert halls. The programme ranges from John Williams’  Star Wars Suite to Tchaikovsky’s Suite from the Nutcracker Ballet and includes music by Mahler, Mancini, Morricone, and more.

 Pianist Evgeny Ukhanov will play Addinsell’s Warsaw Concerto, soprano Ayse Goknur Shanal will perform songs from Bernstein’s West Side Story and Lerner and Loewe’s Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s My Fair Lady”; violinist and concertmaster, medical student, Amelia Mori will play Williams’ Theme from Schindler’s List, and clarinetist Dr Andrew Kennedy is bound to cause all to swoon with his rendition of the slow movement from Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A, K 622. 

Musicus Medicus was founded in 2004 by General Practitioner Dr Cathy Fraser to give NSW doctors and medical students an opportunity to enjoy music together. Every year 60-70 doctors come together from around NSW and from across the medical disciplines to share a passion for music, and to raise money for medical charities and young musicians. For 10 years they have been conducted by GP Dr David Banney, winner of the 1995 ABC-Westfield Australian Young Conductor of the Year Award. 

In 2014, Musicus Medicus will support the Day of Difference Foundation which aims to permanently reduce the incidence and impact of critical injury in children in Australia. Injury is the leading cause of death in children aged between 1 and 14 and more than 50% of the parents of injured children suffer anxiety, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, addictions and relationship breakdown. In Australia, approximately 6000 children are hospitalised each year with a critical injury – more than twice the number of children hospitalised with cancer, diabetes and asthma combined.   Founded in 2004 by Ron and Carolyn Delezio following the tragic and highly publicised accidents of their daughter, Sophie, the Foundation’s pioneering 6-year Paediatric Critical Injury Research Program is building evidence to deliver improved outcomes for critically injured children and their families. 

Musicus Medicus has an ongoing relationship with the Sydney Eisteddfod, funding the “NSW Doctors Orchestra Instrumental Scholarship” for 16-25 year olds, valued at $10,500 annually.  This scholarship is a highlight of the Sydney Eisteddfod, attracting 350 of the nation’s finest emerging musicians since its inception in 2006. Over the past 8 years, this scholarship has contributed some $75,000 to the cultural capital of the nation by making it possible for 8 outstanding young musicians to study abroad.  

Recent winners include flautist Rosie Gallagher (2010) who won the scholarship on the eve of her departure for the Juilliard School in New York. The 2011 winner violinist Emily Sun is now engrossed in her studies at the Royal College of Music in London.  Classical guitarist Andrey Lebedev, who won in 2012, is another recipient, while the 2013 winner, violinist Anna Da Silva Chen, is preparing to follow her dream in the United States.  

In addition the NSW Doctors Orchestra supports the Young Virtuosi Programme run by Fine Music 102.5FM, which will be recording the concert.

 Tickets: Adults: $45, Concession $35, Child $25, Family: $95

 Bookings: 

Online www.theconcourse.com.au or www.ticketek.com.au

In person:  at The Concourse Box Office 9am-6pm M-F

Or call Ticketek on 1300 795 012