SYMPHONY Orchestra Notes – September 15, 2026
Hi all,
Great to see you on Sunday. I’m excited for our first tutti rehearsal coming up this week.
Please remember to plan your practicing strategically so that you are fully prepared for each rehearsal. Also, please write your name on your sheet music!! I forgot to remind you to do this on Sunday.
Keep an eye out for Mark’s Weekly Announcements tomorrow (Wednesday).
Finally, please see below for important rehearsal notes.
Best,
Dr. G.
weekend rehearsals left before concert:
8
Rehearsal Recap: Sunday, September 13
- We spent the first portion of rehearsal time together with Concert Orchestra musicians in our Performance Hall. We introduced our Group Managers and Coaches, and talked about expectations for the season, including:
- Arrive 15 minutes before the beginning of rehearsal.
- Sign in upon arrival by initialing next to your name on the sign-in sheet.
- Add all concerts and rehearsals to your calendars, including additional rehearsals the few days before concerts, and any Thursday evening rehearsals for strings (check the Season Calendar linked on the side bar – or at the bottom of the page if you are on a mobile device).
- Please communicate absences in advance, and keep in mind that the maximum number of absences allowed per term is three. (That said, ideally, you’ll have zero absences).
- Remember that MYS is NOT a hyper-competitive environment. Rather, it is a nurturing environment where STUDENTS SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND INSPIRE ONE ANOTHER. That said, there is a clear expectation of being prepared for each rehearsal (meaning you have to practice and learn your part at home and with your private teacher).
- Please always bring a pencil (and use it!), a full spill-proof water bottle and a music stand.
- After our welcoming meeting, we watched the documentary on Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 from the Keeping Score series, by Michael Tilson Thomas with the San Francisco Symphony. I’ve added this documentary to our Audio/Video Reference Playlist, which is linked on the side bar of this page (or at the bottom of the page if you are on a mobile device.)
- After the break, we split into sectionals. Everybody worked on movement 1 of the symphony:
- Strings went downstairs to the Contrabassment and worked with Tomás Cotik.
- Woodwinds, brass and percussion went to the Fireside Room and worked with Adam Eccleston.
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, September 20
- 4:45pm: arrival & check-in
- 5:00pm-6:30pm: tutti with RGR
- 5:00pm-6:10pm: work on Shostakovich Symphony No. 5, Movement 1
- 6:10pm-6:30pm: read Bernstein’s Overture to Candide (!!)
- 6:30pm-7:00pm: break
- 7:00pm-8:30pm: sectionals on: Shostakovich Symphony No. 5, Movement 4
- NOTE: tempi in this movement will be the ones printed. The accelerando poco a poco in m. 3 bars before [98] is a long one, culminating at the Allegro at [104]. The various metronome markings along the way are “checkpoints” as we get faster VERY GRADUALLY.
- Strings with Tomás Cotik (Fellowship Room aka Basement aka Contrabassment)
- Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion with James Shields (Fireside Room)
- NOTE: tempi in this movement will be the ones printed. The accelerando poco a poco in m. 3 bars before [98] is a long one, culminating at the Allegro at [104]. The various metronome markings along the way are “checkpoints” as we get faster VERY GRADUALLY.
Audio/Video Reference Playlist
I’ve created a YouTube playlist that you can use as a resource to listen to our repertoire. This playlist is linked on the side bar of this page (or at the bottom if you’re on a mobile device).
Please use it! Or even better: use it and find even more recordings by different orchestras and conductors. The more you listen to our repertoire, the better you’ll understand the big picture of the music.
MYS Online Music Library
All parts are available on our website as PDF files. Please go to our Online Music Library. It is linked on the side bar of this page (or at the bottom if you’re on a mobile device). The password is playmys.
This is useful if you lose your hard copies and need to print fresh ones at home, or if you want to use a digital device (like an iPad with a Bluetooth page turning pedal).
2026-2027 Concerto Competition
Symphony Orchestra musicians are eligible to enter our Concerto Competition. All information can be found on this page. Below are important dates to keep in mind (these are also on our Season Schedule):
- November 20: deadline to have repertoire pre-approved by Dr. G.
- November 27: registration and teacher approval forms due
- December 4: audition videos due
- December 8: finalists announced
- January 8: live, in-person finals, open to the public
2026-2027 Repertoire
You can find the latest draft of our season repertoire on the sidebar of this page (or bottom of the page if you’re on a mobile device). Here’s a direct link for your convenience.
The repertoire might still change, especially as we plan for our Japan tour on June of 2027. Thanks to those of you who sent me repertoire suggestions.
Bring your friends to MYS
If you have friends at school who would enjoy playing with us, send me their name and email and I’m happy to reach out. Or, you could give them my email. Right now, in this orchestra, we could use more violas, basses, clarinets and percussion.
Availability for private lessons
I don’t take long-term regular private students, but this season I will have some availability for “one-off” violin, viola or conducting lessons. The lessons can be at MYS, or via Zoom. (I may also be available for private coaching sessions for other instruments, but my specific instrumental training is upper strings.) Shoot me an e-mail if you’re interested for more details.
Happy practicing,
Dr. G.
Dr. Ed Protzman working with our Concert Band | 9/12/26 | Photo by MYS