Expert: Peter Messaline - 12/31/2009

Question
Hello.

I saw one of your answers about the salary for a violinist. You briefly talked about being a professional violinist as a career. I have a question related to that. Is it possible to have a career in music and, for example, medicine? I'm uncertain of what to do. I'm truly passionate and I'm a great violinist for my age. However, my dilemma is that one of my aspiration is to join a large orchestra, but I've always aspired to go into the medical field since I was a young child. I was inspired by many great people, and I have great support. My question is: can I join a large orchestra and enjoy playing in a symphony, but also purse my dreams and aspirations, which includes becoming a physician?

Answer
Sorry this was delayed.
I think you have chosen two of the most difficult careers to combine:

Very few classical violinists make it into a symphony orchestra, most symphony working schedules are heavy, and most symphony players teach and do small gigs on the side, to pay the rent.

Becoming a medical doctor requires a horrendously heavy course load for maybe seven years, with no time for anything else except, occasionally, doing your laundry.

I don't know how old you are, but perhaps you can combine becoming a better and better amateur violinist with good high school grades and some research into the details of the working lives of various sorts of violinist and medical doctor. Then, before you send applications to post-secondary education, you will be in a better place to choose between the two.
If you go for the medical degree, you could play violin a very high level as an amateur. The opposite would not be possible!

Luck, whichever way you choose.

PM