Medical Center Takes the Stage
Stethoscopes and microscopes may be the most predominant instruments on campus, but musical ones are well represented here as well. The medical center’s vibrant arts community includes painters and sculptors, writers, dancers, and many, many musicians.
There is a good reason for that, says Jessica Buesing (P&S 2018), the founder of the new CUMC Choir, Chorda Tympani, which will perform later this week
“We have so many talented musicians in my class, as well as in the whole medical center community—it’s really impressive,” says Ms. Buesing. "I think the drive that brings people to music is similar to the drive that brings people to medical careers. Both are about communication. My background in the arts can only help me when caring for patients.”
Musicians come from all the schools, as well as administrative offices, as you may see for yourself during performances this week and next by musicians and dancers. Read more about these groups below, and check out their performances.
CUMC Symphony Orchestra
The CUMC Orchestra, for decades a vibrant part of campus life, stopped performing for many years until last year when Hanjay Wang (P&S 2015) spearheaded its revival. Building on last year’s momentum, the group will perform selections from "Messiah Sing!" in a sing-along event on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. in the Bard Hall Lounge. The event is free and open to the public.
Chorda Tympani, a new CUMC Choir
When Ms. Buesing, an accomplished vocalist, came to P&S, she was surprised to discover that there were many musical groups but no choir. So she decided to start one herself. Classmate Chris Grubb and nursing student Susanna Fentermacher offered to help. The group will perform with the CUMC Orchestra at the "Messiah Sing!" on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. in the Bard Hall Lounge.
Dance Haven
This six-year-old dance troupe performs in a broad range of styles and includes dancers with all levels of experience, from beginners to trained performers. Participants hail from across CUMC. Check them out this weekend at their sixth annual Fall Showcase. Ticket sales will benefit CoSMO, a student-run primary care center for uninsured patients in Washington Heights. Purchase tickets here for one of their performances, which will be on Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6, at 8 p.m. in the Alumni Auditorium.
P&S Musicians' Guild
On one Monday each month, CUMC's classical musicians come together for Musical Mondays, informal performances in the Bard Hall Lounge. The events are presented by the the P&S Musicans' Guild, a 250-member umbrella organization for the medical center's musicians, including faculty, staff, and students. In addition to Musical Mondays, the guild holds biannual orchestra concerts (the CUMC Orchestra performance mentioned above) and Artreach concerts at local hospitals. The last Musical Monday of the semester will be Monday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m. in the Bard Hall Lounge. The event is free.