Music Is Medicine

Known as 'Miki' to all, Dr Mikl籀s Pohl OAM, was fascinated to find that many of his ancestors were involved in playing music.That cultural influence continued Miki's arrival in Australia as a 9-year-old with his parents as refugees from the 1956 Hungarian revolution. He took up playing the violin together with his formal studies. His dedication to music performance counterbalanced the stresses in a highly successful career in plastic surgery. He noticed a disproportionately large number of doctors were part of the various music gatherings and orchestras that he played in. An opportunity to create an Orchestra of Doctors arose and in 1993, he founded The Australian Doctors Orchestra.

The orchestra is open to any active classical music performers from graduates, undergraduates and to general as well as specialised medical practices. The ADO has now spawned Doctors and Student Doctors Orchestras in every state as well as a National Student Orchestra. Once a year a concert in a Major centre in a state capital and a concert in a Minor regional centre is performed. The concerts are led by a professional conductor and soloist.

'Music is Medicine' is based on interviews undertaken by Miki with 20 assorted ADO members based on representation of players of the type of instruments played with a scattering of ages and gender.

Miki's deep knowledge and passion for Classical Music is evident in the anecdotes of music composers, conductors and performers which would interest both ADO members and lovers of Classical Music.

Meet Miki, the man whose idea started the ADO, but also hear from a rich tapestry of people in medicine whom he inspired to dedicate their time freely to play Classical Music together and in doing so also raise funds for charities. Medicine inspired this music, Miki's dual passions.

Dr. Zolt獺n Kerestes, B.Sc. (Hons), Ph. D (Physics)

Profits from the sale of this book will be donated to MND Victoria.