German Medical Doctors‘ Orchestra

The German Medical Doctors‘ Orchestra was founded in 1998 by Dr. Dieter Poeller, a medical doctor himself, and passionate amateur conductor. The GMDO consists of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and people from several other branches of the medical field. Rehearsal phases are held 3 to 5 times per year. During these phases, which last from a few days to one week, the players meet at designated locations (castles, retreats) at several different places all across Germany. At the end of each phase, one up to three concerts are held at concert halls in the vicinity of the rehersal place. The concerts are charity concerts dedicated to specific local charity organizations.

In 2003 Dr. Poeller handed the baton to his successor Alexander Mottok, a professional conductor, who had been working with the orchestra as Poeller’s assistant since 2000. Since then Mottok has been serving as musical director and chief conductor of the GMDO.

Since 2004 the GDO has performed in Germany’s most renowned concert halls, including the Laeiszhalle (Hamburg), the Liederhalle (Stuttgart), the Philharmonic Concert Hall in Munich, the Hercules Hall in Munich, the Emperor Friedrich Hall in Moenchengladbach and the Concert Hall of the Music Academy in Frankfurt.

2013’s programs included Antonín Dvořák’s 8th symphony, Verdi’s „La forza del destino“ Ouverture, Richard Wagner’s Wesendonck-Songs (festuring Kathleen Parker, soprano), Mendelssohn’s „Scottish“ Symphony, „Impressions“ by Alexander Mottok, and Bach’s St. John’s Passion.

The St. John’s Passion (click here for a video excerpt) featured the German Medical Doctors‘ Choir, which, in 2007, orchestra members along with Alexander Mottok had founded to supplement the orchestra for oratorio productions.

Other works from the past few years include Orff’s „Carmina Burana“, Tschaikowsky’s symphonies 4, 5, and 6, Rachmaninov’s second piano concerto (featuring Daniel Roehm), Brahms‘ „German Requiem“, Carl Nielsen’s „Four Temperaments“, „Four last Songs“ by Richard Strauss, Dvořák’s 7th and 9th symphony, Gershwin’s „American in Paris“, Brahms‘ Violin Concerto (featuring Veronika Eberle), Haendel’s „Messiah“ and Beethoven’s symphonies 1,3,4,5,7 and 9, Dvořák and Schumann cello concertos among many others.

In January 2014 the orchestra celebrated its 25th anniversary as well as Dr. Poeller’s 90th birhtday and Alexander Mottok’s 10th anniversary as musical director with a concert in Munich’s Hercules Hall. The official anniversary concert is going to take place in Braunschweig in May 2014, featuring Liszt’s „Les Préludes“, Smetana’s „Vlatava“ from „My Homeland“ along with Schubert’s „Unfinished“ Symphony.

Many of the participating doctors consider the orchestral work in the GMDO a very intensive, rewarding, and rebuilding experience, which complements and inspires their everyday work in the medical field, which they can take a welcome break from while rehearsing, performing, and living together with a team of people with similar passions. Often the free time after rehearsal in the evenings is used for chamber music playing or inspired chats and debates about music, culture and anything other than medicine.

Please click here to see a short video about orchestra life in the GMDO.