A Duet That Lasted Over a Decade

Reunion in Music Medicine

Written by Yuna Lee

In the summer of 2014, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYOC) was the backdrop for an unexpected yet enduring friendship—one as you’ll find out, that continues to persist over a decade later. 

Among the talented young musicians embarking on an inspiring summer filled with rigorous training and performances in some of the most prestigious concert halls, were Adam Caulfield and Yuchen Dai, whose paths first crossed with a mutual passion for music. Their friendship grew stronger throughout the three consecutive summers they spent together, neither anticipating it would eventually lead them to this very interview that you’re about to tune in on. 

A decade and medical degrees later, Adam and Yuchen found themselves as resident doctors at St. Michael’s Hospital which sits right in the heart of Toronto. Their paths had converged once more, years later—not only in the hospital corridors but also in the Hart House Orchestra, a community-based orchestra that provides an opportunity for University of Toronto students, staff, and Hart House senior members to share music with one another.

In their residency, Adam and Yuchen bring the same dedication and passion that they once devoted to their musical endeavours. Despite the demands of their medical training that calls for long hours and commitment, Adam and Yuchen also continue to stay involved with their musical roots, finding a sweet spot in the balance of both worlds of art and medicine. Yuchen, an internal medicine doctor and a violinist, shares “When we’re there [in the hospital], it’s all about doing the best you can. But when you’re home, you get to pace yourself. You can play music. I think there’s something special about this balance.”

You would be wrong if you thought their music-filled summer ventures ended 10 years ago. In addition to their casual performances at hospitals and being esteemed members of the Hart House Orchestra, Adam and Yuchen will be flying to South Korea in August 2024 to perform with the World Doctors Orchestra, amongst physicians from all over the world.

Perhaps, it is the very familiar attributes rooted in their musical training—discipline, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence—that have proven invaluable in their medical careers. Playing in the Hart House Orchestra, “definitely reinvigorates some of that enjoyment for music and to be able to bring that outlook [of enjoyment] to the hospital and combine those two worlds is very cool,” shares Adam who is a radiologist and the principal cellist of HHO. “Especially in a career like this, it’s always fun to get some classical music in.”

In a world where the paths we choose often diverge, Adam and Yuchen’s story is a testament to the enduring power of shared experiences and the unexpected ways in which our pasts can lead to the interconnected futures of one another. 

Adam and Yuen’s duet is a reminder that friendships can resonate throughout a lifetime and beyond the boundaries of our expectations – especially if they blossom from the commitment to our passions.