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Alumni

2023-24 

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"The DMO is filled with experts in medicine, but when we play music I think we all appreciate how mindfulness, harmony, and art can be just as important to our wellbeing as our physical health. I think it's a great perspective to take back into our professional lives, and encourages us to treat the patient rather than just treat the disease."

Nolan O'Hara, Ph.D., M.D.

Wayne State University School of Medicine, '24

Nolan has been a member of the DMO since 2016. During one of his first dress rehearsals with the DMO, which at the time was preparing Saint-Saens' Symphony No. 3, Nolan recalls hearing and feeling the pipe organ's massive sound for the first time, and feeling as though the auditorium itself was the instrument and the orchestra was playing inside of it. The Saint-Saens and William Grant Still's Symphony No. 1 are tied at number one in his favorite pieces of the DMO's repertoire. When asked why he decided to join the DMO, Nolan says medical training can be emotionally and cognitively exhausting, and that the DMO provides a much-needed, energizing opportunity to make music and think artistically. 

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And that couldn't be more true for Nolan. He's dedicated many years to the DMO, both as a violist, and through several positions on the DMO's board. In 2022-23 he served as Vice President, and is now the Director of Publicity and Venues. (We could go on in terms of how much he's contributed to the orchestra, but we won't bore you. It's safe to say, Nolan is always available to lend a helping hand.)

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Nolan is graduating with both a PhD in neuroscience and an MD from Wayne State University He will begin his residency in Pediatric Neurology at Mott Children's Hospital in Ann arbor. Though he won't be returning as a member of the orchestra, we do hope to see him in the audience.

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Noah Welker, M.D.

"I'll be graduating with my M.D. and I'll be going to the University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine for their Family Medicine Residency.Given I'll be out of state, unfortunately I won't be returning to the DMO in the fallI heard of the DMO through a med school-wide email asking for musicians prior to the start of the 2022-2023 concert year.I chose to join the DMO because I had played violin since I was 5 years old, but had stopped playing once I went to undergrad. Considering that COVID restrictions were being let up around that time in 2022, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to join another orchestra and pick my violin back up. My favorite piece would be a tie between the Carmen Suite No. 2 by Bizet (Spring 2023), Beethoven's 5th (Fall 2022), and Die Fledermaus Overture (Winter 2024).Favorite concert season was this past cycle (Winter 2024) with Die Fledermaus, the Bruch concerto, and American in Paris.One thing the DMO taught me is how important it is to have a sense of community wherever we're at, and having an activity that you can share with others."

Wayne State University School of Medicine '24

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May 19

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