A group of healthcare workers with highly stressful careers say coming together to perform classical music for charities is the perfect outlet for the pressure.
The Queensland Medical Orchestra and Choir is a group of doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and medical students who perform three concerts a year to fundraise for local charities.
Flautist Lily Vrtik said she had a hiatus from playing while she spent years intensely training to become a plastic surgeon.
But she said she dusted off her instrument to join the orchestra after relocating to Queensland in 2007.
Dr Vrtik said she was inspired by the experience of playing music to become an executive of the orchestra and choir.
"I guess one of the things about jobs, whether you're a surgeon, physician, GP or whatever specialist you are, it's a lot of responsibility, a lot of stress and you're constantly worried about the patient and worried about your business," she said.
"One of the things I find in medicine is that you spend so much angst and stress, making sure everybody's okay, that you actually don't do much to make sure you are okay."
She said playing music gave people a creative outlet and escape from stress.
Concert to fundraise for doctors
The orchestra is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month with a fundraising concert that has been on hold since 2020.
"We just want to celebrate that 10 years where we've put on concerts consistently at least three times a year and we've raised over $150,000 for local charities during that time," Dr Vrtik said.
"The reason we want to do this is just to say thank you to all our members who've been involved in our audience who have been really supportive."
The orchestra and choir's gala concert, at Brisbane City Hall on Sunday June 26, will fundraise for Doctors' Health Queensland, a group of volunteer doctors who provide mental health and wellbeing support to other doctors and medical students.
"We wanted to support a charity that is part of the ethos of the orchestra … we want to be there for our members to provide them their creative outlet and support their mental health," Dr Vrtik said.
From students to top brass
Aside from the mental health benefits of being in the orchestra, the environment also removes the hierarchy medical workers face in their careers.
Artistic director Ryan Williams said the musicians tried to create an environment where everyone felt equal.
"People can be sitting next to each other in an orchestra and not realise that as a fourth year medical student you might be sitting next to the director of cancer care services, but there's no sense of, 'You should have respect for me'," he said.
Dr Williams said he joined the orchestra and choir when he was in medical school training to become a general practitioner.
He has been its conductor for 35 concerts over the past 12 years.
"My personal belief is that there is no better seat in the house," Dr Williams said.
The upcoming gala concert will include performances of Gabriel's Oboe, The Lord Is My Shepherd, Finlandia and Grieg Piano Concerto.
"There's a lot of variety in there for this to be something for everyone," Dr Williams said.
