Behind The Counter: Pharmacy Stories
Who are our pharmacists?
No, seriously, who are they?
On 7th April 2024, a production put together by En Qi (Year 3 Pharmacy and Music student), Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music and NUSPS Pharmacy Profession Awareness Committee explored just that. Behind The Counter: Pharmacy Stories is an artistic production put up by pharmacists and pharmacy students. Through music, movement, and words, 2 shows were put up to explore the various identities held by pharmacists, peeking into their minds ‘behind the counter’.
The show was presented by 14 performers (11 pharmacists and pharmacy students, and 3 guests) over 4 items, featuring heartfelt tales and captivating performances. First, ‘Coat-switch’, an original work by Yee Yin (YY) (Class of ’16) & Dr Chng Hui Ting (Class of ’08 and ’14), brought audiences into a reflective mood. With its melancholic piano melody and humorous, but genuine monologue on the experiences of being a retail pharmacist, audiences were prompted to ponder, what does it really mean to be a pharmacist?
Next, a vibrant Indian Classical Dance performance by Yahrliny (Year 2 Pharmacy Student) was accompanied by moving stories that related her artform to her vocation through the intention to serve. This was followed by beautiful clarinet harmonies by ‘Clarinet-mycin’, a clarinet quartet made up of Julian (Y3 Pharmacy Student) and 3 of his friends, Michael, Jason & Ernest. The pieces played touched many hearts with their messages of compassion and friendship, as did the visible bond between the 4 players on stage.
Finally, a multi-generational Pharmacist Band, featuring talented instrumentalists and singers, Adrienne (Class of ’18), Bernice (Class of ’18), Eliot (Year 2 Pharmacy Student), Geoffrey (Year 1 Pharmacy Student), Wayne (Class of ’21), Yi Zhe (Year 3 Pharmacy Student) and Yongqiang (Class of ’09 an ’18), performed a series of songs that resonated with their pharmacy journey. The show ended on a high note with their last song, ‘This is Me’, driving home the message that this is who we are: We are pharmacists, and we are also so much more.
The 2 shows were attended by a total of 140 audience members, pharmacists and non-pharmacists alike. We deeply thank our audiences for sharing this experience with us, and everyone else who has helped us in this journey, in one way or another <3
Article by Goh En Qi (Year 3 Pharmacy and Music Student, Creative Director of Behind The Counter: Pharmacy Stories)
Photos by Joshua Ng (Year 3 Pharmacy Student)
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