Mixing medicine and music is a way of life for Doctor Ted Brankston

The 42 year old practices family and emergency-care medicine in Oshawa. When the doctor's off duty, he plays the saxophone.

On Sunday at 2:30 p.m., Dr. Brankston will combine his two passions. He will present the Music for a Sunday Afternoon concert in aid of the Oshawa General Hospital building fund.

He and organist Steven Powell and soprano soloist Shelley Pew will hilight the works of Handel, Mahler, Copeland and Bach. The concert will be held at St. George's Anglican Church, 39 Athol St. W. in Oshawa. Tickets cost $10 each. Dr. Brankston says all tickets will be pre-sold.

In addition to being a familiar face at OGH and the Oshawa Clinic, Dr. Brankston is known in Oshawa's music circle. He's performed with the Oshawa Symphony, The Oshawa Civic Band and a Durham jazz band.

Music was part of Dr. Brankston's childhood. His mother was a pianist; his uncle played with the popular Dum Bells during World War II. Although Dr. Brankston played in his high school band, he didn't take his first formal music lesson until six years ago. Today, he studies under Paul Brodie, a musician who's considered the finest sax player in Canada. Dr. Brankston's been taking private one-on-one lessons from Mr. Brodie for a few years.

Dr. Brankston who has practised medicine in Oshawa for 14 years, is especially interested in helping hospital campaign organizers realize their major goal. The hospital expansion slated for OGH will cost a total of $106 million. It is expected that $20 million will be raised in the community. So far, close to $9 million has been raised in Oshawa.

While tickets for the Sunday concert will not be sold at the door, Dr. Brankston says concert organizers will accept donations to the hospital building fund at the door.

Tickets to the concert are available at the Oshawa Clinic through the offices of Dr. Ted Brankston, Dr. Paul Whitsitt and Dr. Ted Monchesky. Tickets are also available at Saywell's Book Store, Wilson and Lee Music Store, the Oshawa Symphony office and the Glazier Medical Centre, through Pat Kossatz.