Medical students give back with music
The Monash Medical Orchestra returned to Gippsland on Saturday 16 September for their highly anticipated annual concert, Music for the Valley held at Federation University.
The concert marked the Orchestra’s seventh visit to Gippsland, acknowledging the important role of the region within the Monash medical program. The region hosts over 200 Monash medical students on clinical placement each year and is home to first-year students in the graduate entry medical program.
More than 60 members of the Monash Medical Orchestra and Monash Medical Jazz Band made the trip from Clayton to Churchill, in the Latrobe Valley region. Guests were warmly welcomed by Latrobe City Council Mayor, Councillor Kellie O’Callaghan and Professor Andrew O’Loughlin, Director of Regional Strategy and Engagement from Federation University.
The evening opened with a set from the Monash Medical Jazz Band, who were joined by a group of staff and local secondary students from Kurnai College for the first time. The Orchestra performed a selection of music from film and Broadway as well as classical arrangements, led by the Orchestra’s long-time conductor, Robert Dora.
For Monash Medical Orchestra co-chair, Brendan Chong, the Gippsland concert tour is a highlight on the annual calendar.
"Those of us in the Monash Medical Orchestra are always stoked to come down and bring some musical joy to the Gippsland community, and this time was no different,” said Brendan
“Our concert in Churchill was a great success with an amazing turnout, and we were really lucky to once again share the concert with our sibling ensemble the Monash Medical Jazz Band, a new favourite of the audience. We're very grateful to our collaborators and benefactors at Monash Rural Health, Federation University Churchill, and the Latrobe City Council for making this concert possible in 2023."
The Triquetrium Trio and Nexus Quartet from the Orchestra also played a series of smaller performances for local community members in Moe, Morwell and Budgeree, who may have limited capacity to attend the Saturday evening performance.
Professor Shane Bullock, the Head of Monash Rural Health, praised the ongoing commitment of the Monash Medical Orchestra to the Gippsland community.
“We were thrilled to welcome back the Orchestra and Jazz Band to Gippsland - with the largest group of performers to date! Having students from Kurnai College involved in the Music for the Valley concert this year was particularly special - and I would love to see some of these students in our medical course in the future through the Gippsland Partnership Program with Federation University.”
Photos by Monash medical student, Jake Locop