SYMPHONY Orchestra Notes – September 22, 2026
Dear MYS Symphony Orchestra,
Thank you for a productive first tutti rehearsal on Sunday, September 20. It was great to have everybody in the room and play through the first movement of Shostakovich and Bernstein’s Candide Overture.
Please see below for a rehearsal recap, Thursday evening string sectionals, and plans for Sunday, September 27.
Best,
Dr. G.
weekend rehearsals left before concert:
7
Rehearsal Recap: Sunday, September 20
- 5:00pm-6:10pm: Shostakovich Symphony No. 5, movement 1.
- We read through the entire first movement. Good work! After that, we spent some time rehearsing:
- [32] to [44]
- played again (under tempo and with softer dynamics) from [22] to about [32]
- We read through the entire first movement. Good work! After that, we spent some time rehearsing:
- 6:10pm-6:30pm: Bernstein Overture to Candide
- We watched/listened to a video of Leonard Bernstein conducting a live performance of the piece, with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1989.
- We then played a “stumble-through” of the whole piece, mostly in tempo. It’s fast!!!
- 6:30pm-7:00pm: break
- 7:00pm-8:30pm: Sectionals on movement 4 of the Shostakovich Symphony:
- Strings @ Contrabassment with Tomás Cotik.
- Woodwinds & brass @ Fireside Room with James Shields.
STRING COACHINGS – Thursday, September 24
- 6:45pm: arrival and check-in
- 7:00pm-8:30pm: string coachings
- Candide Overture & Shostakovich spots (movs. 1, 2 & 4)
- Violin 1 with Erin Furbee @ Fireside Room
- Violin 2 with Adam Lamotte @ Contrabassment
- Viola with Charles Noble @ Jazz Room (pls include mov. 1 #15)
- Cellos with Marilyn de Oliveira @ Performance Hall
- Basses with Jason Schooler @ Room 108 (206 also available if preferred)
- Candide Overture & Shostakovich spots (movs. 1, 2 & 4)
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, September 27
- 4:45pm: arrival & check-in
- 5:00pm-6:30pm: tutti with RGR
- 5:00pm-5:20pm: icebreaker activity
- 5:20pm-6:10pm: work 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.
- 6:10pm-6:30pm: work on Bernstein’s Overture to Candide
- 6:30pm-7:00pm: break
- 7:00pm-8:30pm: sectionals including brass coaching by sections
- Strings with Tomás Cotik (Fellowship Room aka Basement aka Contrabassment) – movement 3 of Shostakovich
- Woodwinds and brass with Adam Eccleston (Fireside Room) – movement 3 of Shostakovich
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
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.
Orchestra Nova Northwest had a full week of rehearsals at MYS. It’s wonderful to be able to host other local performing arts organizations at our new space | 9/19/26 | Photo by MYS