by Dr Cathy Fraser
Reflecting
my limited Latin learned by slow osmosis during my medical and musical studies,
“Musicus Medicus” is the name I came
up with when I founded the NSW Doctors Orchestra in
2004. We now have about 250 members who welcome the opportunity to combine their
work in medicine with their ongoing interest in and passion for music. At least
once a year, 60 to 80 doctors and medical students from all areas of NSW come together at one time to
play in the orchestra with general practice
and all specialties represented. Apart from the hard work and fun it’s also a
great chance to catch up with colleagues from a variety of fields of medicine.
We like to think we’re promoting a healthier life-work balance at the same time
as having heaps of fun making good music.
Musicus Medicus
supports both the arts and medicine by donating to the Sydney Eisteddfod as well as to a different medical charity of our
choice each year. The Eisteddfod has served as a launching pad for many
of the musicians in the orchestra as well as many of the professionals who join
us as soloists. We fund the NSW Doctors Orchestra Instrumental
Scholarship for young soloists aged 16 to 25 years of age. In addition we
support the Young Virtuosi Program
run by Fine Music 102.5FM.
The medical
charity this year was the Day of
Difference Foundation, which aims to reduce the incidence and impact of
children's critical injury in Australia. 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.
You can find Musicus Medicus on
Facebook.
If you’re
interested in joining us or supporting us, check out our website www.nswdo.net.au
2 comments:
Just a little P.S.
Apart from all the players being medical, the conductor behind the podium is Dr David Banney and the clarinetist is Dr Andrew Kennedy - what talent!
Thanks Cathy.
It would be great to hear about how and why these busy doctors fit music into their lives.
Jan
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