The newly formed Canadian Doctors Orchestra, a non-profit symphony orchestra founded by UBC and UVic students, will make its debut in Victoria this December, showcasing healthcare professionals bridging medicine and musical performance.
Founded by UBC student Andrew Loe, a longtime classical viola player, the emerging national ensemble — a first in Canada — is holding video auditions for musicians until July 1: healthcare professionals are invited to submit digital auditions on their website. The project-based ensemble is open to any healthcare professionals, including (but not limited to) physicians, residents, nurses and medical students from across Canada.
Currently a student in UBC’s Island Medical Program, which is based at UVic, Loe is also taking classes in our School of Music. “When I got into medical school, I was excited to meet people who were also pursuing a dual music and medicine path,” he says. “I want to create a space where people with both passions can give back to their community and indulge their love for music.”
The link between music and wellness is well-founded, as proven by countless music therapy programs, but Loe also hopes the new orchestra will promote physician wellness, as well as encourage national healthcare collaboration.
Led by acclaimed composer, conductor and School of Music professor Ajtony Csaba, the ensemble will bring together over 60 medical students, physicians and healthcare professionals from across Canada for an intensive weekend of rehearsals on December 18 and 19, followed by a matinee performance on December 20 at UVic’s Farquhar Auditorium. Proceeds from the concert will be donated directly to Canadian health initiatives.
It was during Loe’s UVic music studies that his viola professor, Joanna Hood, introduced him to the World Doctor’s Orchestra, which features 100 physicians from several countries who perform series of charity concerts after several days of intensive rehearsals. Founded in 2008, the WDO began with 60 physician musicians from 12 countries and now boasts membership by 2,000-plus doctors from 60 countries; they’ve since performed 48 concerts globally, and raised more than 2 million Euros.
“When I did my undergrad, I did a minor in music,” Loe tells the music blog Ludwig Van Toronto, noting that he’s still taking UVic music classes during his medical training. He says Hood is “super supportive” of both his combined studies and this new initiative. “She’s a great mentor and teacher.”
Hood also connected Loe with other musical doctors, including violinist and Victoria Symphony concertmaster Terry Tam, a graduate of the Glenn Gould School and an ER physician with Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
Another notable School of Music alumni who fuses her performance and health care practices is Victoria-based Dr. Jill Wiwcharuk — best known as “Street Doctor Jill” for her Street Medicine 101 social media videos — who graduated with a Bachelor of Music in violin performance before going on to earn her medical degree.
Loe says he already has over 150 people interested in joining but is eager to hear from more. “[Auditions are] by video, but if people only have audio recordings, or group recordings [that’s okay too]. It’s for us to get a sense of where the collective orchestra is at.”