Hypothetically, lets say I was a doctor. At the same time, I am very good piano and can play at a professional level. Is it possible for me to still be able to perform with orchestras and perform concerts although it is not my career?

From what I have read you are almost 16. I am guessing that your preferred career path is to be a doctor, but you still want piano to be a large part of your life...
Well, I am 16 and have a similar predicament. I am working on a repertoire of comparable difficulty and have just as much a love for piano. I, however, am favoring a job in law or politics. Any adults out there who can give advice as to how to balance a career and the piano, your advice is welcome.

Recitals? Sure. I'm an ex-pro myself and I still perform occasionally. All you need to do is find and/or rent a hall.

Obviously, concerto gigs are more difficult to score, particularly if you want a decent orchestra. Community orchestras might be able to accommodate you. And--continuing in the spirit of your hypothetical--a heart surgeon rolling in money could probably hire a pick-up orchestra now and then.

Actually (not Hypothetically) my violinist friend (we were playing together in high school) - now a software engineer still plays with the Engineers Orchestra and he tours with a small Chamber orchestra. His sister, a doctor, plays violin with the Doctors Orchestra (this happens somewhere in Bucharest)

I knew a pathologist who could play the violin at the professional level - and did. He even had a Strad.

I went another way with my career - have recitals in my home - have been on the board of the Symphony and chamber music groups - produce CD's - and become good friends with professional musicians...

It can work out quite well... Best of all if you are success in your non-music career- you can buy yourself a great piano - and afford to study with the best teachers - things that might not be possible otherwise.

K

Business man Gilbert Kaplan achieved great hights in Mahler's symphony No.2 he was invited to record it with none other than the great, great Vienna Philhamonic:

http://www.epinions.com/musc_mu-496571

I think this is an interesting point. According to my teacher the newest trend is for non-professional musicians (their professions are in other disciplines) to take part in "Amatuer" competitions. These events, however, are only Amatuer in title; some performances at these events rival professional performances. Such are the Van Cliburn Amatuer Competition, Boston Amatuer Competition, Washington International Amatuer Competition, and so forth.

Certainly you can have both is a possibility. It is, however, more rare to see businessmen and doctors and etc give solo concerts across the USA and perform with orchestras. From what my teacher indicates, it is a great honor to have the opportunity to perform with a symphony. But, anything is possible.

Dr. Albert Schweizer was a famous organist (devoted himself to J.S.Bach).

Well I don't plan to play as many as say a professional, mabye a couple a year or so would be satisfying. Plus as a doctor I could probally afford enough to market a couple CDs...

As for performaing concerto's I don't need to play as many as a professional, I mean mabye 1 or 2 a year would be enough.

Does this seem doable in your opinion?

i guess that (at least i read it once from somewhere) if you have a career, say making a lot of money (doctors/lawers perhaps), then you could hire an orchestra to play with you, and then rent a concert hall, advertise your concert and sell the tickets etc. if someone had done such before, you could as well.

Just remember that as a doctor, it's going to take you a goodly number of years to get on your financial feet. Most doctors don't start to have financially independent lives until well into their 30s or 40s and, up until that time, they are probably working 18 hours a day and struggling to make ends meet.

It can happen, but don't plan on having the time to continue practicing the piano as soon as you get out of medical school.

Regards,

If i understand correctly, you're asking if one can have a concert career and still be a doctor, lawyer, etc. Clearly you don't know what's required of concert artists. I am not a concert artist but my friend is. You don't really have a life besides piano. You're either practicing for an upcoming concert or traveling from place to place to give the concerts. It is a full time job. You're always practicing for the next thing. Since I'm 29, i know a little more than you what is like being in the real world. Lawyers of all people, don't have a life- they work crazy hours, doctors work long hours too (some are on call 24 hours). So it boils down to this: be realistic, be practical. Make music your career only if you cannot live without it-it burns inside you, or even better if that's the only thing you see yourself doing. You can still be a great musician and still have another carreer, enjoy playing piano for yourself, friends, small chamber groups, and still have concerts once in a while. But two carreers, only a few can do it.
best of luck,
Lumi

I became close friends with one of my piano teachers ... he mentioned that at 18 he had to make an important decision: whether to attend Yale on a scholarship and become a surgeon, or attend Curtis Institute and become a concert pianist. [This guy was very talented.]

He chose piano. I asked him (at the time, he was in a DMA program) whether he ever had any regrets, and he replied without hesitation and very convincingly, "Never!"

He has been very successful, teaching in a university and playing with many orchestras around the U.S.

But you should know ... he spent all day for the most part in the practice room.

I definately agree that being a concert pianist and a laywer/doctor is pretty much imposible...

My question is, how can you incorporate music into whatever career path you choose? If you become a businessman, how can you still have music be a part of you life? Run a piano store?
How about if your a lawyer? Do any of you have a job that combines your profession with classical music?