In Praise of the Vocal Chords
The notoriously long and
difficult days of medical school leave little time for nourishment of the soul. For doctors-in-training, life traditionally revolves around the classroom, lab, books and hospital, with rare moments of rest, play and sleep snatched from the grind. But what of singing, dancing, poetry, painting? Should future physicians be so mired in medical facts and technology that they are out-of-touch with the music of other spheres?
No, decided first-year medical student Ethan Nash, who founded the first UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School chorus - The Vocal Chords - and an offshoot barbershop quartet - the Lymph Notes - last September. A 1997 graduate of Yale University, he brought with him a love for music, extensive experience performing with Yale's glee club and two years as conductor of the school's Bach Society Chorus. He was convinced there would be other talented singers among the medical school's students and faculty who would want to set aside one hour a week to make music together.
He was right. Simple flyers posted around the school brought more than 20 curious students and faculty to the first rehearsal. And they kept coming back for more.
Nash says some were beginners, others more experienced. "They came from different backgrounds and levels of expertise," he says. "I chose music that was challenging. I wanted to teach to the highest level, but I didn't want to lose the beginners." Under the tutelage of their conductor, the musicians learned new music, prepared for several performances - including Christmas caroling for children hospitalized at UMDNJ-University Hospital - and enjoyed their time together.
The year's final concert took place on May 27, when the Vocal Chords sang to a full house of students, family, faculty and friends in the Rosemary Gellene room. Selections included Ravenscroft's "In the Merry Spring," Offenbach's "The Neighbor's Chorus," two solos ("In Trutina" from Orff's Carmina Burana and "Domine Deus" from Vivaldi's Gloria) sung by first year medical student Meredith Hutcheson, and Denes Agay's "Old Irish Blessing."
But for four of the performers, one hour a week of choral singing was just not enough. From their enthusiasm was born the Lymph Notes. Lead singer Nash was joined by tenor Gautam Malhotra, whose prior musical experience included singing with the Rutgers Glee Club and cutting an album with a rock band; baritone Dave Lunt, who had performed with folk groups; and Jondavid Jabush, whose only claim to fame was his spirited and melodic shower-singing. The four men's renditions of "Baby Face," "My Grandfather's Clock," and "Happy Birthday" - for one of the chorus members - brought smiles to the faces of all babies, oldsters and in-betweens in the room.
The audience, who was also treated to a tasteful arrangement of refreshments, left feeling this was an hour well spent. "Working with the chorus helped me to feel much more involved in the medical school," concludes Nash. "It made the year far more enjoyable." The other singers echoed his sentiment.