May 17, 2006

Contact:

Cherrie Llewellyn

Professor of Music

(209) 575-6262

llewellync@mjc.edu

Physicians and medical staff to present “Docs Play the Pops” concert at MJC

            Medical professionals, along with some of their family members, are putting on a music recital entitled “Docs Play the Pops” on June 11, 2006 at 3 p.m. at the Modesto Junior College Recital Hall on East Campus, 435 College Avenue.  The concert program will include a diverse genre of music, ranging from popular music to classical.  Tickets are $12 for general admission, $10 for students and seniors, and a $30 family admission is also available.  All proceeds will benefit the Music Department at Modesto Junior College.  A complimentary reception will follow the recital.

             Leadership for event is spearheaded by Modesto General Surgeon Dr. Calvin Lee and MJC Music Professor Cherrie Llewellyn.  Sponsorship is provided by Surgical Artistry, a new surgical group formed by Dr. Calvin Lee and Plastic Surgeon Dr. Tammy Wu.   Both of these surgeons will participate on stage with violin and piano, as well as Cherrie Llewellyn on voice. 

            Although the catchy title of the event is “Docs Play the Pops,” the musicians performing represent an array of medical-related professionals, including nurses, staff members, relatives of people who work in area hospitals and doctors of course.  The preliminary list of performers include Sakara Seng (Daughter of Dr. Seang Seng – Family Practice), Dr. Rick Dewar (Urologist), Dr. Tom Wallace (Internal Medicine Hospitalist), Samantha Tova (Neuro-Critical Care secretary), Dr. Joel Yerby (Anesthesiologist), Dr. Brian Hombo (Resident), Babeck Edraki (Gynecology Oncology), Dr. Zoe Berna (Family Practice in the Bay Area, former Doctors Medical Center resident), Dr. Jocelyn Espiritu (Nuclear Medicine), the children of Don Johnson (Respiratory Therapist), and Michael Dunham (Surgical Services).  Instruments will include piano, violin, voice and guitar. 

            Dr. Lee has been organizing similar “medical music performances” intermittently for the past 12 years, beginning at Brown University while he was a medical student.  After he founded the program at Brown University, they have continued this tradition to this day.  “Docs play the Pops” is his first concert attempt in Modesto.  He has found that there is some great musical talent hiding in the medical world and these recitals help share these talents and also serve as motivation for medical professionals to continue their music.   

            Professor Cherrie Llewellyn also independently came up with this idea as she was brainstorming with her husband, Dr. Charles Suntra, ENT Surgeon.  However, this type of music activity is not new to Modesto.  Private home recitals were already being organized by Doctor’s Hospital resident physicians Dr. Adam Kendall and Dr. Brian Hombo, who held what they called Piano Parties.  These parties occurred at the physicians’ homes and they played music for each other informally without programs or a planned sequence of performers.  “Docs play the Pops” is a combined effort from Dr. Calvin Lee, Professor Cherrie Llewellyn and a formalized version of the Piano Parties.

            The event is designed to help pay for the new seats in the Music Recital Hall, and anyone sponsoring a chair for $200 will be able to sit in their seat for free for the “Docs Play the Pops” concert.  Seat sponsorship includes a name plaque with the sponsor’s name engraved or a dedication of their choice.   Money raised above the cost of the chairs will go towards MJC music student scholarships.  To select a seat for sponsorship in the Recital Hall, call the MJC Foundation at (209) 575-6068.

            Advance tickets for “Docs Play the Pops” are available in advance by calling Cherrie Llewellyn, 575-6262, and tickets will also be available at the door.  More information will be available soon online at http://www.docsplaythepops.com