Medic Orchestra gives sold-out charity concert at the Academy of Music

For the fifth time, Semmelweis University’s Medic Orchestra gave a charity concert at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music on 4 November. The ensemble performed Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem, and for the first time, the Semmelweis University Choir was invited to join the orchestra. All the proceeds of the concert, nearly two and a half million forints, were donated to Tábitha House, the country’s only operating children’s hospice.

This year’s concert supports Tábitha House, the only children’s hospice house of the country dedicated to palliative care, including the residents, their parents and staff. „The institution’s mission is to provide dignified, loving and safe care for seriously ill children and their families,” said Dr. Éva Feketéné Szabó, the director of Tábitha House, in her welcome speech.

The Vice-Rector for Strategy and Development of Semmelweis University stressed that the institution, with which the university has recently signed a cooperation agreement on education, training and patient care, mainly treats patients of the Pediatric Center of Semmelweis, under the leadership of Dr. Gábor Benyó, Associate Professor of the university.

It has always been important for Semmelweis University not only to train and employ doctors and health professionals who are excelling in their profession, but also to recognize and nurture multi-faceted talents, such as the students, professionals and Semmelweis Citizens whom the audience can hear this evening

– stressed the Vice-Rector.

The event was the result of a great collaboration between three choirs and an orchestra, she said. She added that in addition to the Medic Orchestra, thanks are due to the Semmelweis University Choir, the Veszprém City Choir, members of the Szent Korona Choir of Ipolybalog, and the choir leaders, Dr. László Matos, Ágnes Erdélyi and Ottó Molnár, for the time and energy they spared for the initiative. The same applies to the artistic director and conductor of the Medic Orchestra, the initiator and organizer of the evening.

Gergely Dubóczky said that the performance was a great success, all tickets were sold out in advance, and one of the special features was that it was the first time the Medic Orchestra and the Semmelweis University Choir, founded in 2022, gave a joint concert. Together with the Veszprém City Choir and the Szent Korona Choir from Ipolybalog, around 180 people performed on stage of the Academy of Music.

The nearly two and a half million forints raised from the charity concert’s ticket sales will be donated to Tábitha House, to create a community area that provides a space for intimate family gatherings, very similar to the comfortable and cosy conditions at home, with specialist assistance.

Róbert Tasnádi
Translation: Viktória Kiss
Photo: Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University