World Doctors Orchestra Debuts at Carnegie Hall to Benefit Artists' Mental Health
On November 16, 2025, the World Doctors Orchestra made its New York debut at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium and dedicated the evening to Creatives Care and the artists we serve.
The concert was the result of more than a year of planning and the generosity of physicians, musicians, donors, and friends who believed in our work.
The program
Conducted by Joseph Alessi, Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic, the orchestra performed:
- Rimsky-Korsakov, Capriccio espagnol
- Korngold, Violin Concerto in D, with soloist Charlie Siem
- Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue, with Dr. Richard Kogan, Weill Cornell psychiatrist and pianist
- Bernstein, Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Each of these composers drew on his own life in his music. Korngold rebuilt his creative life in Hollywood after leaving Europe, Gershwin brought jazz into the concert hall, and Bernstein turned a story of New York’s outsiders into one of the century’s best-loved scores.
Remarks from the stage
Dr. Alana Mendelsohn, Co-Founder of Creatives Care, spoke from the Carnegie Hall stage about the mental health challenges artists face and what becomes possible when the medical and arts communities come together.
Thank you
Thank you to the World Doctors Orchestra, an international ensemble of physicians who since 2008 have performed for medical and health causes worldwide, and especially to Dr. Diego Gonzalez Tucker, Dr. Celine Thum, Dr. Richard Tucker, Jonathan deVare, and all the conductors, soloists, musicians, and staff behind the scenes.
Earlier in the season, the orchestra also performed a benefit concert for Creatives Care at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Midtown Manhattan. We are grateful for both evenings and hope this collaboration continues for years to come.