The Albert Einstein Symphony Orchestra

The Albert Einstein Symphony Orchestra recently gave a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Ruddigore, featuring a full orchestra, chorus and soloists. Established in 1982, the only orchestra sanctioned by a medical school is now in its 30th season. Composed largely of students, house staff and faculty of the College of Medicine and its affiliated hospitals, as well as talented musicians from surrounding communities, the orchestra performs give four concerts a year, featuring works from the early Baroque through the 20th century, from small chamber pieces to larger Romantic symphonies and concertos. Additionally, featured soloists with the orchestra have included both local instrumentalists as well as noted musicians of international reputation.

In years that end in an even number, the group offers its audience a comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan. In past years, these have included Trial by Jury, Iolanthe, The Gondoliers, The Mikado, The Yeomen of the Guard, The Pirates of Penzance and Patience.

The orchestra was formed by Dr. Stephen Moshman, who is a visiting associate professor of medicine at Einstein, as well as associate professor of medicine at New York Medical College and a full-time attending internist at Westchester Medical Center. Dr. Moshman began his musical life as a violinist, but developed an interest in conducting and composition early on. He has composed a variety of orchestral and chamber works, one of which the Einstein orchestra performed several years ago and another of which will be featured at the close of this year’s season, in May.