Hitting the Right Notes

In December 2007, Dr. Lynn Tanoue, professor of medicine and lifelong violinist, had the idea to start an orchestra. With the support of former School of Medicine (YSM) Dean Robert Alpern and encouragement from colleagues, she held an open sight-reading session, inviting instrumentalists and singers from the university’s medical community. “I was pleasantly surprised when over 200 musicians showed up. After that evening, I realized it was feasible that an orchestra could be formed from this talented pool of members of our medical community,” said Tanoue.

Soon thereafter, the Yale Medical Symphony Orchestra (YMSO) was founded. Over the past 16 years, the orchestra has become well established at the medical center. It is a volunteer group of staff, faculty, and students from YSM and the schools of Nursing and Public Health, Yale New Haven Hospital, and individuals from the broader Yale and New Haven communities. About 50 musicians play wind, string, brass, and percussion instruments. They are led by a conductor with a predominantly classical repertoire interspersed with periodic pops performances. Concerts given in Harkness Auditorium typically attract large, enthusiastic, and appreciative audiences.

Early Influences

During a recent YMSO rehearsal, trombonists Anjelica Martin and Dr. Matthew Kluko produced everything from raspy and loud to smooth and warm tones. Both Martin and Kluko started playing trombone in grade school, taking it up for different reasons.

“In the fifth grade, my school wanted students to participate in the choir, strings, or the band. I was not interested in singing. The trombone was big and loud, but light enough for me to carry,” said Martin, a research associate in the Department of Immunobiology.

Throughout middle school and high school, Martin played in marching and concert bands and jazz and wind ensembles. At the University of Connecticut, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science, Martin didn’t have the opportunity to play her trombone, and she missed making music.

Kluko grew up watching his father play the trombone. “My dad was my idol. He performed for many years in the Lindenhurst Fireman’s Band. I started playing trombone at the age of 12 and haven’t stopped,” said Kluko, a clinical research coordinator at the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation.

At the University of New Haven, Kluko continued playing, adding conducting to his musical skill set and serving as the Pep Band’s president. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and forensic science, Kluko changed his career path, completing a Doctor of Medicine degree (M.D.) at the Trinity School of Medicine.

For her day job, Martin works in an academic research lab as a gnotobiotic manager and provides research support in all its forms, from experimental design to operational management. “I assist trainees studying the relation between gut microbes and bacteria and diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and Parkinson’s,” said Martin.

Kluko works with university doctors and principal investigators (PIs) to set up and manage pediatric-focused clinical research studies. “We collect data for physicians to better prepare for and treat patients and provide options that would improve overall health outcomes for children suffering from common viral illnesses like COVID-19, RSV, and influenza,” said Kluko.

Finding a Community

Coincidentally, Martin and Kluko auditioned for the orchestra on the same night—in response to a YMSO email looking for new members, particularly trombonists. “I had never played in an orchestra. The night of the audition, I was nervous not knowing anyone or what to expect. I hadn’t played in so long. I had to reacquaint myself with reading sheet music, and I learned musicians now use iPads instead of paper,” said Martin.

“The audition was very relaxed,” added Kluko. They wanted to ensure you could hit all the right notes and play the right parts. That evening, they took Anjelica and me on board.”

Martin and Kluko have made new friends, and they enjoy playing music for themselves and the Yale community. “It’s fun, and rehearsals are a great break from day-to-day work activities. Many of us want to make music but not do it professionally. The YMSO is a great outlet for that,” said Kluko.

“I like the idea that someone has already decided what we will play and how it will be arranged. Then, we, the 50 orchestra members, sit down together and perform as a musical community,” said Martin. “It’s exciting knowing that we get to share our music with the audience.”

What began as an idea to make music with colleagues is now a welcome outlet for many and provides high-quality concerts for the campus community. “The orchestra gives many talented individuals in the medical community the opportunity to practice their art. We welcome staff, faculty, and student musicians to audition and join us. The people who play or those who listen know it is a wonderful thing that greatly enriches our community,” said Tanoue.