Performer Spotlight: - Ethan Pani (Percussion)

MD Student

What is your connection to Penn Medicine?

I am currently a 4th year medical student at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.  

Why did you decide to study medicine?

I came to medicine following a career as a classical percussionist. What I was hoping to find was a field that included the aspects of music that I enjoyed so much, particularly the teamwork, the focus on excellence, and the requirement to be a lifelong learner, but that also had a more direct impact on my community. Medicine fits those criteria perfectly and I've found medical school to be very rewarding. 

When will you graduate and what do you want to specialize in?

I will graduate in May 2020 and am in the process of applying to Internal Medicine residencies. I also find a lot of gratification in teaching and plan to pursue a career in academic medicine with an emphasis on education.

How long have you been playing in the PMSO for and what do you play?

I have been the Principal Timpanist and Principal Percussionist of the PMSO for 4 seasons. I joined the orchestra because music brings so much joy to my life and I wanted to help bring that joy to more of the medical profession and the community as a whole. Even though I decided to turn way from a career in music, performing and being involved with classical music are still incredibly important to me and I'm grateful that the PMSO has allowed me to continue them.

How long have you been playing percussion for?

Percussion was actually my first instrument. I started playing when I was 10 years old and never looked back, though I did learn some other instruments along the way. I went to a performing arts magnet high school and then studied percussion at The Boston Conservatory before receiving a masters degree (also in percussion) from New England Conservatory. During that time I was a member of Orchestra Iowa, received two Tanglewood Music Center fellowships, performed on international tours, and recorded for multiple videogame soundtracks (including for the Kingdom Hearts franchise).

Do you think music and healthcare can complement each other in anyway? 

I think the two fields have a tremendous amount in common. I think what probably draws so many people to practice both disciplines is that your growth is never complete in either:  It's impossible to be a perfect performer just as it's impossible to know everything about medicine. In both instances, the journey is often as important as the destination. From the standpoint of someone receiving medical care or listening to music, both can lift your spirits and improve your life, albeit in very different ways. Wellness is a big buzzword right now but I really think that listening to music, especially live music, can completely change someone's day. Once you've changed enough days you have to feel that you've changed someone's life. 

How have you seen the PMSO change in your time playing in it?

The PMSO has changed dramatically in the past 4 years. For perspective, my first season with the orchestra actually included its first public performance. Now every semester ends with a concert and each concert is more impressive than the last. Perhaps the most obvious change from the audience is the size of the ensemble, which has increased by around 50% in this time. In the same time frame the organizational structure has changed significantly with more solidified leadership roles and the addition of an advisory board of community members that has been invaluable in helping us chart our way forward. 

What do you want the PMSO to look like in 5 years?

I am incredibly excited about the future of PMSO. The orchestra is growing and improving at an exponential rate, and I hope to see this trend continue. I think the concerts will continue to feature more adventurous programming and one of the orchestra's goals is to start including more contemporary and living composers as well as women and minority composers. As the orchestra grows in size, stature, and quality, I hope that it will eventually be able to harness the amazing talents and resources its performers have outside of music to start making even more of an impact in the community. 

Why should people come to the concert?

To hear great music performed by incredibly talented people for free! This ensemble is truly unique in that it requires a huge commitment from a multitude of people whose time is always at a premium. This means that every person who performs with us does so because music is vitally important to them, and I think you can hear this in their playing. 

Interview with Ethan Pani prior to the Fall 2019 concert. Published 11/27/2019