L A N C A S T E R M E D I C A L S O C I E T Y.O R G
Passion Outside of Practice It’s our pleasure to highlight a Lancaster City and County Medical Society member’s “passion outside of practice” in each issue of Lancaster Physician. Beyond their commitment to health care, LCCMS members have many other talents, skills, and interests that might surprise you. In this issue, we’re thrilled to feature Christopher Shih, MD, FACG, who is not only a physician, but also an internationally recognized concert pianist.
family and a medical practice. Only about 10 years ago did I return to the piano, fueled by the opportunities I mentioned above.
4. Why is this pursuit special to you?
Christopher Shih, MD, FACG
Passion Outside of Practice: Concert Pianist
1. Would you briefly describe your passion outside of practice for those who might be unfamiliar with it?
I have a minor side career as a concert pianist. I perform a handful of concerts each year.
2. How did you develop an interest in your passion outside of practice?
When I was young, my parents started me on piano and violin. Over time, my interest in piano grew, and it became more and more serious as
I got older. In the past decade, there’s been an explosion of opportunities out there for serious amateur pianists. These competition and performance opportunities helped to keep my interest and passion alive.
3. How long have you been participating in this activity?
I’ve played piano since I was 5 years old. I continued playing seriously until the final year of medical school. Then I took a decade-long hiatus, during which I finished medical school, internship, residency, and fellowship, and started a
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I think balance is the key to almost everything in life, and music provides that balance for me. I would never want to be a full-time professional musician, saturated with music from morning until night every day. But the amount of music I have in my life, playing several concerts a year, provides a wonderful balance to my medical career and is just right for me. I also enjoy collaborating with other great musicians. In the past few years, I’ve focused almost exclusively on chamber and collaborative music, because for me this is the most fulfilling way to make music. I’ve been very fortunate to have had countless opportunities in recent years to work with some of the world’s greatest artists and musicians.
5. What else would you like readers to know about this?
Please see my website www.christophershih. com for more information about me, as well as audio and video clips from my recent performances. I also have up-to-date listings of all my past and upcoming performances. Notable upcoming local concerts include collaborations with the string quintet Sybarite5 at the Trust Performing Arts Center in the spring and the Daedalus Quartet at the Ware Center in the fall. Don’t miss those!