Monash Medical Orchestra holds biggest rural concert to date
The Monash Medical Orchestra returned to Gippsland for their annual Music for the Valley concert on Saturday 17 August, held at Federation University.
This is the eighth time the concert has been held and this year attracted a record audience of over 200 attendees, the largest to date. Sixty performers from the Monash Medical Orchestra, Monash Medical Jazz Band and the Kurnai College Players played for over two hours.
The performance transported the audience on a musical journey from joyful jazz pieces to favourite film themes from Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Singing in the Rain.
The Monash medical program has strong connections to the Gippsland region, where over 170 students complete a clinical placement each year. Monash Rural Health Churchill, co-located at Federation University’s Gippsland campus, is also home to the first year of the graduate entry medical program, teaching more than 100 students a year.
“We are proud to support this collaboration between Federation and Monash Universities and Kurnai College, and to engage with, and give back to, our supportive local communities in Gippsland,” said Associate Professor Marianne Tare, Director of Monash Rural Health Churchill.
“I am incredibly grateful to the 2024 co-chairs of the Monash Medical Orchestra, Wendy Wang and James Gunasegaram for leading the organisation of the concert, Marcus Spencer from Monash Student Engagement and Campus Experience for financial support and Prof Andrew O’Loughlin, Head of Federation University Churchill campus, for the venue, and last but not least, the incredible Kurnai College Players, Monash Medical Orchestra and Monash Medical Jazz Band.”
Monash Medical Orchestra co-chair, James Gunasegaram, was thrilled to bring the concert to Gippsland again.
"It was amazing to see such a huge turnout from the local community and to have the honour of playing alongside staff and students from Kurnai College. We always enjoy the relaxed atmosphere that the concert provides and the opportunity to share our music with new people!"
Musicians from the Orchestra also played a series of smaller performances on Friday 16 August for community groups at Latrobe Regional Health, High Street Community Hub and Budgeree Hall.
"Gippsland is a beautiful environment for us to play in, and the locals were so welcoming throughout," reflected James.