Hi everyone,

What an exhilarating first rehearsal of the 4th movement of Brahms! Great work.

Please see below for a rehearsal recap and our rehearsal plan for 9/14. I’m also including other important information. Please make sure to read this whole post.

Thanks!

Dr. G.

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Rehearsal Recap – 9/14/25

• We had our initial informational meeting. We set clear expectations for our rehearsals and season. I brought special attention to the three GIANT major-rep symphonies we’ll be playing this year.
• You filled out your questionnaire, imagining you were answering in June of 2026 and looking back on this season. I’ve saved everybody’s sheets and will give them back to you at our June concert.
• We read through (and worked a tiny bit) on the entire 4th movement of the Brahms Symphony.

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Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, September 14, 2025

• Please arrive by 5:15pm at All Saints: 601 NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97232.
• 5:15pm – EVERYBODY SIGN IN IN CAFETERIA. Then, strings go to the Pavilion; winds/brass stay in the cafeteria.
• 5:30pm-6:45pm – strings sectional in Pavilion with me; winds/brass sectional with Adam Eccleson in cafeteria
  • I’d like to carry some of the momentum of the 4th movement of Brahms into this sectional, so, please practice the entire 4th movement at home this week. Our goal tempo for the main Allegro section will be quarter = 136. For this week, prepare all fast passage work at quarter = 110.
• 6:45pm-7:00pm – break (strings: come back to cafeteria)
• 7:00pm-8:00pm – Brahms: movement 4
• 8:00pm-8:30pm – Castro D’Addona: movement 1 – please practice this at home!! You should NOT be sight reading at this rehearsal. I’ve added audio reference tracks to our YouTube playlist (linked on the sidebar or bottom of this page). Listen to the music as part of your preparation!
• 8:30pm – help reset the room

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MYS SYMPHONY Orchestra Updated Part Assignments

I made a few updates to our part assignments (violin 1, viola, horns) to reflect personnel changes. Please click on the button on the sidebar under “SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LINKS” (or scroll down if you’re on your phone) to see the most updated version of the PDF.

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MYS SYMPHONY Orchestra Schedule, Repertoire, Audio Reference, etc…

You can always find the most updated versions of these documents on the sidebar of this blog (or down below if you’re on mobile). I will always give you a heads-up if there are any changes in any of these PDFs.

Regarding the YouTube playlist linked under “S.O. Audio/Video Reference Playlist” (also linked on the sidebar), I won’t necessarily give you a heads-up when I add stuff here. Check weekly just in case! I did just add audio files for Giancarlo’s flute concerto.

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PDF Practice Parts

If you lose your part, or need to access a digital copy for any reason, you can find one in our Online Music Library. Look for the button “S.O. Music Library” on the sidebar or the bottom of this blog page. The password is playmys.

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Register for Music Theory

Our intermediate and advanced Music Theory classes take place on Monday or Tuesday evenings, starting September 29 or 30. This class is STRONGLY recommended for everyone. More information and registration here.

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Reminder: Concerto Competition

This is coming fast!! The first deadline for pre-approval is Monday, October 6. You must email me with your music selection(s) by this date. This webpage on our website has all you need to know about our Concerto Competition. I hope many of you will participate. Your completed forms (registration and teacher approval) are due by Wednesday, October 8. Video entries are due Friday, October 10, and the live final round is October 24.

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Recruit for 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 percussionists, french horns and one trombone. Concert Orchestra has openings too.

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Need celesta (piano) player for Castro

If anybody in the orchestra is a highly advanced piano player, and you’d like to play the celesta part in the Flute Concerto, please let me know! I’d love to fill this part with someone who’s already in the orchestra. Here’s the part for your perusal.

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Availability for private lessons

I don’t take long-term regular private students, but this season I will have some availability on Monday afternoons for “one-off” violin, viola or conducting lessons. The lessons can be in person at my home studio in SE Portland, 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.

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Happy practicing,
(and don’t forget to bring a music stand on Sunday)

Dr. G.

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MYS students in last season’s photo shoot (August, 2024) | Photo by Sheepscot Creative

Hi all,

Thanks for a great first rehearsal! I was very pleased with our first session on Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 6, and look forward to continuing work on the Smyth Symphony.

Please see below for a rehearsal recap, our rehearsal plan for 9/14, and more. Please make sure to read this entire post!

NOTE for low brass: our arranger sent me the new low brass parts for the Smyth piece. I had a few corrections and edits, and we expect the final version back soon. I’ll email you separately with the parts when we have them.

Thanks!

Dr. G.

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Rehearsal Recap – 9/7/25

• We had our initial informational meeting. We set clear expectations for our rehearsals and season.
• You filled out your questionnaire, imagining you were answering in June of 2026 and looking back on this season. I’ve saved everybody’s sheets and will give them back to you at the end of the school year.
• We did good work on the first half (or so) of the Brahms. We did lighter work on the second half of the piece.
• We did a slow, basic read-through of the exposition of the Smyth piece.

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Rehearsal Plan – 9/14/25

• Please arrive by 1:45pm at All Saints: 601 NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97232. We can always use extra hands to help set up the room if you are able to get there closer to 1:30pm.
• 1:45pm – EVERYBODY SIGN IN IN CAFETERIA. Then, strings go to the Pavilion; winds/brass set up in the regular space (cafeteria)
  
• 2:00pm-3:15pm – strings sectional in Pavilion with Casey Bozell; winds/brass sectional with Adam Eccleson in cafeteria
  • Please focus on Smyth: beginning to letter D – our goal tempo for this piece will be dotted quarter = 112. For this rehearsal, be prepared to play accurately at dotted quarter = 90.
    
• 3:15pm-3:30pm – break (strings: come back to cafeteria)
  
• 3:30pm-4:30pm – Smyth: beginning to letter D, dotted quarter = 90
• 4:30pm-5:00pm – Brahms: letter [F] (“Vivo”) to end – our goal tempo for the “vivo” sections of this piece will be quarter = 148. For this rehearsal, be prepared to play accurately at quarter = 120.

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MYS CONCERT Orchestra Updated Part Assignments

I made a few updates to our part assignments (in the winds only) to reflect changes made at rehearsal. Please click on the button on the sidebar under “CONCERT ORCHESTRA LINKS” (or scroll down if you’re on your phone) to see the most updated version of the PDF.

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MYS CONCERT Orchestra Schedule, Repertoire, Audio Reference, etc…

You can always find the most updated versions of these documents on the sidebar of this blog (or down below if you’re on mobile). I will always give you a heads-up if there are any changes in any of these PDFs.

Regarding the YouTube playlist linked under “C.O. Audio/Video Reference Playlist” (also linked on the sidebar), I won’t necessarily give you a heads-up when I add stuff here. Check weekly just in case!

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Taking suggestions for our spring term challenge piece!

On Sunday, a member of the orchestra gave me the wonderful idea of asking YOU for suggestions for our spring term challenge piece. I think that’s brilliant. Thank you for the idea! Below are the overall requirements for this piece. If you think of anything, please email me and I’ll add your suggestion to my list! If there are 2 or 3 suitable options, I might have you all vote.

• Duration: about 10 minutes maximum (this can be a single movement of a larger piece, a stand-alone concert piece, or a combination of a few shorter movements).
• Instrumentation: full symphony orchestra (woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings). Harp and piano are welcome too.
• Difficulty: realistic for the ensemble. We want it to be challenging, but not overwhelmingly difficult. If in doubt, send me your suggestion anyway and I’ll let you know.

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Find PDF Practice Parts at the MYS Online Music Library

If you lose your part, or need to access a digital copy for any reason, you can find one in our Online Music Library. Look for the button “C.O. Music Library” on the sidebar or the bottom of this blog page. The password is playmys.

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Register for Music Theory

Our intermediate and advanced Music Theory classes take place on Monday or Tuesday evenings, starting September 29 or 30. This class is STRONGLY recommended for everyone. More information and registration here.

---

Availability for private lessons

I don’t take long-term regular private students, but this season I will have some availability on Monday afternoons for “one-off” violin, viola or conducting lessons. The lessons can be in person at my home studio in SE Portland, 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.

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Happy practicing,
(and don’t forget to bring a music stand)

Dr. G.

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MYS students in last season’s photo shoot (August, 2024) | Photo by Sheepscot Creative

Hi all,

Welcome (or welcome back) to a new MYS Concert Orchestra season! It’s MYS’s 51st year, and my 10th as Music Director. I’m excited about getting to conduct Concert Orchestra in addition to Symphony Orchestra this year. I look forward to working with each of you!

Please expect an email from me every Tuesday with a link to my blog on the MYS website. These blog posts typically include a quick rehearsal recap, our rehearsal plan for the following week, and other important information. This is the first of such posts for the 2025-2026 season.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: You are expected to arrive at least 15 minutes before the posted rehearsal start time, and you must always show up to rehearsal prepared. This means practicing (at home) the music that we will be working on at each rehearsal. This starts today! See our rehearsal plan below, check your part assignment, download a PDF practice part, and start preparing for Sunday.

Please read on, and note any action items.

Thanks!

Dr. G.

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Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, September 7, 2025

NEW REHEARSAL TIME FOR CONCERT ORCHESTRA IS SUNDAYS 2:00PM-5:00PM

• Please arrive by 1:45pm at All Saints: 601 NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97232. Bring a music stand!
• 1:45pm-2:00pm – grab your folder, grab your printed sheet music, say hi to friends!, find your seat
• 2:00pm-3:20pm – Welcome meeting (parents welcome but not required), activities
• 3:20pm-3:30pm – break
• 3:30pm-4:30pm – Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 6
• 4:30pm-5:00pm – Ethel Smyth Symphony for Small Orchestra

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MYS CONCERT Orchestra 2025-2026 Schedule

Please click here to download our season schedule. Please make sure to add all rehearsals and events to your calendars. Please note the few dates with modified rehearsal times. If you identify any conflicts, please let me know as soon as possible. We’re always happy to support our students’ other interests and school commitments but we ask that you communicate your necessary absences as early as possible (maximum of 3 absences allowed per term). Thank you in advance!

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MYS CONCERT Orchestra 2025-2026 Repertoire

Click here to see our 2025-2026 season repertoire. Our first concert will be MYS’s Season Opener at the Schnitz, and we will open for Symphony Orchestra. You’ll note there is a “challenge piece” listed within the spring concert repertoire. This will be the hardest piece in our season, and we will begin work on it during our fall term. All pieces marked at “TBD” will be chosen a few weeks into our fall term.

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Part Assignments for Fall Term

Please click here to see your part assignments for the fall term. We’ll speak about this on Sunday, but I’d like to mention that my part assignments are not rankings. I rotate sections and leadership as much as possible. The most experienced players are not always in the front or first chair.

After you’ve noted your part assignments, please find and print practice parts below.

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PDF Practice Parts

Click here to find practice parts for Brahms. As noted above, we’ll start working on this piece on Sunday.

Here are practice parts for the Ethel Smyth Symphony. We will read part of this piece on Sunday as well.

String players: make sure you download the parts marked as “bowed.”

After this week, you’ll be able to find PDFs of all of our music at the MYS Digital Music Library. I’ll send a link and further instructions next week.

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Leadership Auditions

In our Season Schedule, you’ll note that there will be leadership auditions in the fall (for winter term) and in the winter (for spring term). These auditions will be done via self-submitted video. Further instructions will be sent later this month. This is an opportunity for you to show me your work, especially if you are not quite satisfied with your part assignments.

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Audio Reference

There are many recordings of most of our repertoire that can be easily found online. I strongly encourage you to create your own playlists and add our repertoire to your regular listening rotation. For your convenience, all throughout the season, you can always find audio (or video) reference tracks selected by me on this YouTube playlist. The more you listen, the more you’ll enjoy playing this music.

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Online orientation tonight! (Wednesday 9/3)

Join us tonight, Wednesday, September 3 from 7:00-8:00 pm, for our online Family Orientation. Meet our staff and artistic team, learn about the upcoming season, and ask questions about all things MYS!

The meeting will be recorded and available for later viewing.

Join the online Family Orientation via the Zoom link below. Contact Mark at production@playmys.org or Sarah at programs@playmys.org with any questions.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89429130641

Meeting ID: 894 2913 0641

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Please complete tuition payment and enrollment confirmation

If you haven’t already done so, please complete these important steps. We haven’t heard from a few of you. Please email programs@playmys.org or call the MYS office if you need help: 503-239-4566

---

Availability for private lessons

I don’t take long-term regular private students, but this season I will have some availability on Monday afternoons for “one-off” violin, viola or conducting lessons. The lessons can be in person at my home studio in SE Portland, 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,
(and don’t forget to bring a music stand on Sunday)

Dr. G.

---

Recent photo shoot with MYS students | August, 2025 | Photo by MYS

Hi all,

Welcome (or welcome back) to a new MYS Symphony Orchestra season! It’s MYS’s 51st year, and my 10th as Music Director. I’m exceedingly grateful to get to work with all of you each week for most of the year.

As you may know, I email the orchestra every Tuesday with a link to my blog on the MYS website. These blog posts typically include a quick rehearsal recap, our rehearsal plan for the following week, and other important information. This is the first of such posts for the 2025-2026 season.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: You are expected to arrive at least 15 minutes before the posted rehearsal start time, and you must always show up to rehearsal prepared. This means practicing (at home) the music that we will be working on at each rehearsal. This starts today! See our rehearsal plan below, check your part assignment, download a PDF practice part, and start preparing for Sunday.

Please read on, and note any action items.

Thanks!

Dr. G.

---

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, September 7, 2025

NEW REHEARSAL TIME FOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IS 5:30PM-8:30PM

• Please arrive by 5:15pm at All Saints: 601 NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97232. Bring a music stand!
• 5:15pm-5:30pm – grab your folder, grab your printed sheet music, say hi to friends!, find your seat
• 5:30pm-6:50pm – Welcome meeting (parents welcome but not required), activities
• 6:50pm-7:00pm – break
• 7:00pm-8:30pm – Brahms Symphony No. 1, movement 4

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MYS Symphony Orchestra 2025-2026 Schedule

Please click here to download our season schedule. Please make sure to add all rehearsals and events to your calendars. Please note the few dates with modified rehearsal times and our weeknight rehearsals leading up to each concert. If you identify any conflicts, please let me know as soon as possible. If you are a member of this orchestra, I expect that music plays an important role in your life and has a high priority in your scheduling. That said, we’re always happy to support our students’ other interests and school commitments. Communication and advance planning are key. Thank you in advance!

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MYS Symphony Orchestra 2025-2026 Repertoire

Click here to see our 2025-2026 season repertoire. This season’s theme is “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants,” as we anchor our selections on three major core-repertoire masterworks: Brahms’s Symphony No. 1, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. At the same time, we continue performing and celebrating the music of local young composers and traditionally underrepresented composers.

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Part Assignments for Fall Term

Please click here to see your part assignments for the fall term. We’ll speak about this on Sunday, but I’d like to remind you that my part assignments are not rankings. I rotate sections and leadership as much as possible. The most experienced players are not always in the front or first chair.

After you’ve noted your part assignments, please find and print practice parts below.

---

PDF Practice Parts

Click here to find practice parts for Brahms. As noted above, we’ll start working on movement 4 this Sunday.

After this week, you’ll be able to find PDFs of all of our music at the MYS Digital Music Library. I’ll send a link and further instructions next week.

---

Leadership Auditions

In our Season Schedule, you’ll note that there will be leadership auditions in the fall (for winter term) and in the winter (for spring term). These auditions will be done via self-submitted video. Further instructions will be sent later this month. This is an opportunity for you to show me your work, especially if you are not quite satisfied with your part assignments.

---

Concerto Competition

In our Season Repertoire document, you’ll note that both our March and our June concerts include a soloist. This could be you! This webpage on our website has all you need to know about our Concerto Competition. I hope many of you will participate.

---

Audio Reference

There are many recordings of most of our repertoire that can be easily found online. I strongly encourage you to create your own playlists and add our repertoire to your regular listening rotation. For your convenience, all throughout the season, you can always find audio (or video) reference tracks selected by me on this YouTube playlist. The more you listen, the more you’ll enjoy playing this music.

---

Online orientation tomorrow! (Wednesday 9/3)

Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, September 3 from 7:00-8:00 pm, for our online Family Orientation. Meet our staff and artistic team, learn about the upcoming season, and ask questions about all things MYS!

The meeting will be recorded and available for later viewing.

Join the online Family Orientation via the Zoom link below. Contact Mark at production@playmys.org or Sarah at programs@playmys.org with any questions.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89429130641

Meeting ID: 894 2913 0641

---

Please complete tuition payment and enrollment confirmation

If you haven’t already done so, please complete these important steps. We haven’t heard from a few of you. Please email programs@playmys.org or call the MYS office if you need help: 503-239-4566

---

Availability for private lessons

I don’t take long-term regular private students, but this season I will have some availability on Monday afternoons for “one-off” violin, viola or conducting lessons. The lessons can be in person at my home studio in SE Portland, 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,
(and don’t forget to bring a music stand on Sunday)

Dr. G.

---

Recent photo shoot with members of MYS Symphony Orchestra | August, 2025 | Photo by MYS

Hi everyone,

I am still on cloud nine after the absolutely unforgettable concert on Tuesday evening. Every single one of you brought your best, and the result was a moving, meaningful and spectacular show.

I am very proud of everyone, and deeply grateful for your hard work and commitment to our collective music-making.

To me, personally, Tuesday night was a strong reminder of the many reasons why music is so powerful. Yes, it is a lot of FUN to get together and play an engaging piece of music for an enthusiastic audience. But beyond that, we get to utilize music as a vehicle to connect with each other. We get to raise our collective voice for issues that are important to us. Our music inspires people to reflect, think, feel, and act. Our art has the power to make a palpable, immediate positive difference in the lives of many. And that’s what happened Tuesday night. Our youngest performer on stage was 5 years old, and our oldest was 94. It was a truly multi-generational celebration, including the many alumni who joined us on stage.

Also, big shout-out to our Jazz All-Stars quintet and their director Christopher Brown. You guys really hit it out of the park.

So, THANK YOU ALL! If you are a graduating senior, please stay in touch! If you’ll be in the orchestra next school year, I cannot wait to work with you again (it will be my 10th anniversary season with MYS!).

Thank you also to our amazing volunteer group managers (Beth, Katrina, Mark, James), the MYS team (Diana, Mark, Sarah, Kyra, Suzanne), our Board of Directors, your families (who bring you to rehearsals, remind you to practice, etc, etc, etc…) and the many supporters of our organization.

Have a fantastic summer! I look forward to seeing a bunch of you at YMA, PSE and around town.

Best,

Dr. G.

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MYS Symphony Orchestra, Jazz All-Stars, Community Choir and esperanza spalding
June 17, 2025 | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall | Photo by Ricardo Quintana