European Medical Students'​ Orchestra and Choir

About European Medical Students'​ Orchestra and Choir

Since the early 1990s, musically gifted medical students and young doctors from across Europe have come together to celebrate two shared callings: music and medicine. This tradition began with the European Medical Students’ Orchestra (EMSO), founded in Würzburg, Germany, in 1993, and the European Medical Students’ Choir (EMSC), established in London, England, in 1996. In 2009, both groups united as the European Medical Students’ Orchestra and Choir (EMSOC), launching with inaugural concerts in Ljubljana and Piran, Slovenia. Since then—except in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic—EMSOC has organised an annual 10-day meeting where participants bond through music-making and cultural exchange. EMSOC’s mission goes beyond performance: it seeks to strengthen European unity by fostering a shared spirit and identity. Each year, a local organising committee appointed by EMSOC’s International Council designs a programme that showcases the host country’s musical heritage and cultural highlights—through rehearsals, concerts, and immersive experiences ranging from UNESCO World Heritage sites to nature and local traditions. These shared moments bring together people of different nationalities, ages, and backgrounds, often leading to lifelong friendships. At the heart of every meeting is intensive musical collaboration. Around 120 participants from more than 25 European countries rehearse side by side in a symphonic orchestra and choir. The residency culminates in two charity concerts supporting causes chosen by the organising committee, frequently linked to healthcare. In this way, EMSOC offers outstanding musical experiences to local audiences while contributing to meaningful initiatives. For over 25 years, EMSOC has connected Europe through music and medicine—bringing people together, one note at a time.

Keywords

• Medicine
• Music

Address

• Headquarters

  HanoverGermany