ALUMNI
Alex Hall, DO '25
Alex is graduating with a Board certification in Osteopathic Family Medicine. He is +10 excited about next year's plans. Alex will be starting as a hospice and palliative care fellow at DMC/Wayne State University's School of Medicine. We are very happy that Alex is returning in the Fall to the DMO. He initially heard about the DMO from his wife, who has also recently joined the orchestra. (It now makes sense why he initially joined the viola section then later switched to violin). She (Halle Joisant, MD) was in a car pool in high school with Dr. Michael Cher's son and the concerts had been mentioned multiple times. Alex continued to play his violin during medical school and was looking to keep up his skills, which is why he joined the DMO in 2022. His favorite season is the current one, as he gets to share a stand with his wife. And his favorite piece has been Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens. Alex says he has learned about how good for his overall health playing music weekly is.
"I have learned how good for my overall health playing music weekly is... [Plus] I get to share a stand with my wife[!]"
Alex Hall, DO '25
Keshav Lalchandani, MD '25
"I wanted to continue playing music"
Keshav Lalchandani, MD '25
Keshav graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine and will be starting a urology residency at University of Rochester in New York. Unfortunately Keshav will not be staying local so he won't be able to return in the fall. When asked why he joined the DMO, Keshav mentioned it was because he wanted to continue playing music. He found out about the Detroit Medical Orchestra through a simple google search.
Vikki Qian, MD '25
"The DMO has taught me that there is more to life than career and that we can always make time for music. Even though some weeks, the added responsibility of rehearsal might feel heavy, I’m always grateful when I go because it’s a 2.5 hours break from the normal stressors of school."
Vikki Qian, MD '25
Vikki is graduating from Wayne State's School of Medicine, and is heading to University of Iowa to start her residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery. She is sad to be leaving Detroit (and the DMO of course), but is glad for the opportunities she has had. Vikki served as concert master for several seasons. You can find some of her previous performances with the DMO on our youtube page.
When asked which piece was her favorite, Vikki says it is Scheherazade. She joined the DMO after hearing about it through the WSUSOM club fair. "I wanted to join an orchestra again in medical school because I really missed playing violin. It’s been an amazing experience being part of a group made up of other medical professionals and has been a good balance of excellent music, but not being too much pressure." Her favorite season was Winter 2024, where she played Bruch Violin Concerto (listen to it here).
As for a few closing remarks, Vikki says "I am incredibly thankful for the DMO. There are so many amazing musicians in this group, and the energy is unmatched. I will truly miss this group when I move!"
Darion Twitty, MD '21
"The DMO has been a never ending growth experience as a musician and a person and I intend to keep playing with this group for as long as I can... It's family after all."
Darion Twitty, MD '21
Darion is graduating from the Family Medicine Residency Program and will be working as faculty/attending with Henry Ford Family Medicine at HF Royal Oak Medical Center. We are very honored to have had Darion as part of our orchestra. He first joined the DMO in its 2018-19 season after hearing a performance of Dvorak's Ninth World Symphony. "I got involved with the DMO just before I started medical school in 2018. I was playing with the Detroit Community Orchestra at the time and attended one of DMO's concerts. I heard their performance of Dvorak 9 New World Symphony and decided from that point that I wanted to join. My favorite piece to play so far has been Bizet Carmen suite #2 and as of recently, Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade. Favorite season? 2018-2019; it was my first year playing with the group."
When asked what one thing is that the DMO has taught him, Darion says it is "the importance of doing anything you enjoy with passion. Practice never makes perfect but sure does make things easier."
We are very happy Darion is staying local as that means he will be returning in the fall (and fingers and toes crossed) many more seasons to come.
Arielle Wenokur, MD '25
"[I learned about the DMO through WSU's org fair. The DMO has taught me the importance of collaboration.]"
Arielle Wenokur, MD '25
Arielle is graduating with a Medical Degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine. She will be continuing with an Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery Residency at Wayne State. We hope she will be able to return to the DMO in the Fall, schedule allowing. Arielle first learned about the DMO via the school fair hosted by WSU each year. She decided to join the Detroit Medical Orchestra because she missed doing music. Her favorite piece? The Moldau. Her favorite season? The current one. The DMO has taught her the importance of collaboration.
Esme Roda, '24
Esme Roda
Wayne State University '24
B.A. in English and Spanish
"It is so easy to get caught up in the cycle of work and school, and I appreciate Detroit Medical Orchestra for the community it provided me outside those places."
Esme joined the DMO as a cellist, and her favorite piece was Symphony Fantastique. She is thankful for the Detroit Medical Orchestra as it provided her an amazing creative outlet and a great way to connect to people both within the orchestra and the audience.
This summer Esme will be interning at Covenant House Detroit, a local nonprofit organization focused on empowering young people to overcome homelessness. We are very grateful for the time Esme dedicated to the DMO, and we hope that she will join us again next season.
Erin Schlotta, '24
Erin Schlotta
Masters in Management: Operations and Supply Chain, '24
"[Music] is a wonderful outlet and learning music can expand young minds and make other subjects easier to learn."
Erin, a bass player for the DMO, has her hands full. She's recently graduated with a Masters in Management: Operations and Supply Chain, and is currently in her third season with the Detroit Medical Orchestra. She is a Logistics Analyst for a local company, and a full-time mom. With the little spare time that she does have, Erin volunteers at a local preschool teaching music. She says she wants to pass on her passion for music to as many children as she can.
Though she could not pick which piece was her favorite, Erin is a huge Beethoven fan so she was very excited at the opportunity to play Beethoven's 5th Symphony. (You can listen to the DMO play it here (add link)). Erin is very passionate about music, and has played the Bass in many symphonic orchestras over the past 18 years. When asked to join/audition for the DMO, she says she couldn't pass up the opportunity. Erin will be returning to the DMO for the 2024-25 season, and will continue her passion of playing the Bass, and teaching music to others.
Alisha Ungkuldee, D.O., '24
Alisha Ungkuldee, D.O.
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, '24
Alisha joined the DMO in 2023 as a cellist. She was aching to get back to creative activities and playing her cello again, so she was very happy to stumble upon the DMO and become a part of a community with a relatable background in both medicine and art! Her favorite piece was Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88 by Dvorak. Alisha's favorite memory with the DMO was the Winter 2023 concert. She loved the combination of pieces performed and it also happened to be her first concert with the DMO.
Alisha is very excited to be starting her residency in Family Medicine at Corewell/Beaumont Grosse Pointe.
"Be open to putting yourself out there - it had been several years since I played my cello and I felt rusty, but I am so glad I auditioned! And always try to meet new people."
Alex Poznanski, M.D.
Alex Poznanski, M.D.
Henry Ford Psychiatry Residency, '24
"I chose to join the DMO because I love playing music and I had missed that in college and medical school. This gave me a chance to do something besides study and go to rotations and I really needed that."
"I am completing my psychiatry residency program through Henry Ford and continuing on to Yale New Haven Hospital for a fellowship in consultation-liaison psychiatry. I plan to return to DMO after finishing my fellowship. I was asked to perform in a piece for the chamber concert with Dr. Cher and he encouraged me to join.I chose to join the DMO because I love playing music and I had missed that in college and medical school. This gave me a chance to do something besides study and go to rotations and I really needed that. I loved playing An American In Paris by Gerschwin. I really enjoyed the last few seasons since the percussion section has grown in size and we have enough people to cover the parts for each song. Being in the DMO has further emphasized the importance of being a mindful and hardworking group member because every person has a responsibility to bring their part to the table to make beautiful music. I will very much miss DMO over the next year and really look forward to returning for the 2025-2026 season."
Nicole Xu, M.D., '24
Nicole Xu, M.D.
Wayne State University School of Medicine, '24
Nicole has been playing in orchestras since grade school. When the pandemic restrictions loosened up, she heard that the DMO was holding auditions for new musicians and thought this would be the perfect opportunity for her to get back into playing. She's been with the DMO since 2022, and said the Fall concert that year was most special as that was her first season with the orchestra. Her favorite piece was William Grant Still's Symphony No. 1 in A Flat Major "Afro-American", which the DMO played during its February 2023 concert.
Nicole is starting an Emergency Medicine Residency at Advocate Health in Chicago. When asked how excited she is about this next step in her life she said 10/10!
"Music is its own language, but one that can be understood by all if you listen"