Performer Spotlight: - Dan Zhang (Conductor)

What is your role at Penn Medicine?

I’m a 4th year MD-PhD student, currently in the lab of Hongjun Song using tumor organoids to study glioblastoma

How long has music been a part of your life?

I started playing the violin when I was 4 and conducting when I was 16.

Do you think there is any special relationship between medicine and music?

When I think of medicine and music, I think about a shared emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, on listening and communicating personal ideas in a shared encounter, and on humanism and empathy as a means to connect with one another.

What prompted you and your colleagues to start the Penn Med Symphony Orchestra in 2016?

We all love playing in orchestras, and wanted to create one that brought together the medical community here at Penn. We were encouraged by the amount of interest this idea received, and continue to be inspired by the commitment and engagement of the musical community here at Penn.

How have you seen the orchestra change over the last three years?

We have grown to include members from almost every school here at Penn, as well as the UPHS, CHOP, and greater Philadelphia communities. I am especially proud of this kind of diversity in backgrounds, not only in different professional fields, but also in terms of the different stages of careers, ranging from undergraduates to senior faculty.

What do you want the PMSO to look like in 5 years time?

I want the PMSO to continue to grow to include members from all over the Greater Philadelphia area. I would also like to see PMSO take on exciting and challenging new projects and collaborations, and potentially even integrate with other performing arts, such as dance and theater.

The PMSO has done some exciting collaborations with other groups, including a current collaboration with Play On Philly. Why are these important to you?

To be honest, when I was younger, it wasn’t until I was playing in ensembles with other people that I really came to love music. I feel the same way today. I love making music together with other people, and this collaboration with Play on Philly offers such a special opportunity to connect with each other through our shared passion for music.

What most excites you about working with this orchestra?

This is a completely volunteer orchestra, and, it is always an incredibly special experience to get together with people and make music together purely out of a shared passion and love for music.

Interview with Dan Zhang prior to the spring 2019 concert. Published 04/08/2019