IN A Limestone Coast first, the Australian Doctors Orchestra (ADO) will perform at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre today.
Billed as an “extraordinary concert”, the orchestra is a unique national fellowship of medical professionals who are also classically trained musicians.
The concert – raising money for Stand Like Stone Foundation – will be performed under the baton of maestro Nicholas Braithwaite and will feature the acclaimed bassist and former Mount Gambier resident Kees Boersma.
Seventy medical professionals shared two days of rehearsal this week, culminating in a public performance this afternoon.
The ADO held its first concert in 1993 in Melbourne following the vision of plastic surgeon and founder of the orchestra Dr Miklos Pohl, who continues to play with the ADO to this day.
Since then the ADO has held at least one concert each year, performed in the capital cities of every state and territory and more recently ventured into regional centres.
The Mount Gambier concert is the first to be held in regional South Australia.
Soloist Kees Boersma was born in Friesland, the Netherlands, and migrated with his family to Mount Gambier at the age of seven.
Kees attended Reidy Park Primary School and Mount Gambier High School, where he received tuition on the bass from Max Heininger and was a member of the Mount Gambier Youth Orchestra.
Kees was also involved in the inaugural Generations in Jazz.
It will be his first performance in Mount Gambier since he departed the city.
“This weekend gives us the opportunity to fully immerse ourselves in something other than our work and join with fellow musicians to create something wonderful,” ADO president Dr Anna Glue said.
“We are privileged that something from which we gain so much enjoyment is able to benefit the local community.
“I hope we can continue to engage with our local communities and provide them with support – both financial though the fundraising efforts, but also nurture them spiritually though the experience of beautiful music.”
The ADO Mount Gambier Concert will be held at 2pm.
Tickets are available at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre.
