Musical medicos hit the right notes in Sydney

SYDNEY Town Hall bustled with music, medicine and good will as the Australian Doctors Orchestra delivered a classy performance of romantic and modern classics last weekend.

The full-scale orchestra made up entirely of registered medicos and future doctors crammed on to the stage to unveil its accomplished take on two quite different 20th century English works – William Walton’s cinematic Crown Imperial March and Edward Elgar’s lush crowd-pleaser, the Enigma Variations.

The two were split by a different kind of work altogether, when the 160 piece ensemble managed to make room for a piano and soloist Benjamin Martin who made light work of the Brahms Piano Concerto in D minor. His controlled slow second movement was a highlight for this correspondent.

Now approaching its 18th year, the ADO is growing in confidence and popularity with a record attendance of 1000 people holding up foot traffic on Sydney’s George Street and delaying the start of the concert.

The orchestra has also grown the diversity of its membership in the medical fraternity.

As might be expected, GPs make up the biggest single component with 25 among the troupe’s ranks, which also counts eight anaesthetists, 44 medical students, four psychiatrists and one nuclear medicine physician, among many others.

“I think everyone thought the concert was fantastic, and good for the profession,” said convenor and trombonist Dr Adrian Sheen. “We had so many people turn up to the door, which is great.”