World Doctors Orchestra
The World Doctors Orchestra was founded in 2007. It is dedicated to global symphony: our music playing will also foster the international understanding and networking of physicians and support the development of medical care and health policy in the world. For donations, see Charity.
Having made its successful debut in the Berlin Philharmonic Hall, the World Doctors Orchestra will meet again, at Severance Hall in Cleveland, Ohio, for its second benefit concert. On February 8, 2009, at 3 p.m.. The orchestra will be performing Aaron Copland’s Outdoor Overture from 1941, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, Op. 56, and the Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68, by Johannes Brahms. The orchestra will be joined by three world-class soloists: Annie Fullard (violin), Sergei Babayan (piano), and Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir (violoncello).
The proceeds from the concert will go to two selected non-profit medical aid organizations. The first of these is the Hugo Tempelman Foundation, which operates the only hospital available to the 160,000 inhabitants of Elandsdoorn, a township in South Africa. The second is the Free Medical Clinic in Cleveland, which is currently one of very few healthcare facilities in Northeast Ohio that offers completely free care to uninsured and underinsured adults.
Tickets between $20 and $75 are available at www.severancehall.com.Tickets are also available at Severance Hall Box Office, 11001 Euclid Av., Cleveland, Ohio.
Event flyer for download (pdf-format, 7 Mb)
The concert is organized by Jonathan H. Lass, Professor of Ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and cellist in the World Doctors Orchestra.
Founder and conductor is Stefan Willich, Professor in Medicine at the Charité University Medical Center in Berlin, Germany, the largest medical school in Europe (see www.charite.de/epidemiologie). He is also an experienced and avid musician and studied conducting, violin, and chamber music in Stuttgart, Berlin, Boston/Tanglewood and Paris.
We invite medical doctors from all over the world to share our vision and enjoy music by participating in one of the sessions. The rehearsals include coaching by professional musicians. Apart from orchestra playing there is ample opportunity for chamber music and socializing. Proficiency in classical instrument and orchestra experience are requested. The World Doctors Orchestra is set up as independent non-profit association driven by the spirit of the players. The participants cover their travel, local costs will be kept at low level.
