SYMPHONY Orchestra Notes for April 19, 2026
Dear MYS Symphony Orchestra,
Great to see you on Sunday, April 12 after our long spring break. We had a productive rehearsal, which included work on the Beethoven symphony, and our first read-through of Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme (without soloist).
We have woodwind coaches from the Oregon Symphony coming this Sunday (4/19), and the tutti rehearsal will include HEADLINES by Elaina Stuppler. As always, please see below for a detailed rehearsal plan.
String players: please sign up for our day trip and outreach tour to Madras, OR, on Wednesday, April 22. Details below. If you’re able to join us for this, please plan to come earlier this Sunday (5pm-5:45pm) for a quick rehearsal. All other string players: we’ll have a later start this Sunday (6pm).
Best,
Dr. G.
weekend rehearsals left before concert:
7
Strings: please sign up for Madras Outreach Tour (Wednesday, April 22)
A reminder from my recent e-mail:
As you may know, each spring, MYS ensembles perform 15 outreach concerts at low-income and under-served schools in the Portland metropolitan area and southwest Washington. This is an important part of our mission: we believe that every student deserves access to music education, regardless of socio-economic circumstance.
This year, we would like to assemble a large string ensemble made up of players from both Symphony and Concert Orchestras, for our outreach trip to Madras, OR on Wednesday, April 22 (coming up soon!). I would like to have as many of you as possible. It will be a fun day of sharing the gift of music and making community.
The trip will include lunch at a pizza place and two performances for hundreds of local elementary school students.
I will select about 15 minutes of easy music (grade 3 or so), and we’ll have a short rehearsal on Sunday, April 19 from 5pm to 5:45pm (between Concert and Symphony rehearsals).
If you’re interested and available, please 1) check in with your family, and 2) fill out this commitment form. Please respond by end of day tomorrow (Wednesday 4/15).
MYS Students in a 2025-2026 Outreach Concert | Photo by MYS
Recap – Sunday, April 12, 2026
- 5:30pm-6:45pm: sectionals and string coachings on Beethoven
- Each string section worked with a coach from the Oregon Symphony.
- Violin 1 – Beethoven: movement 3 (Chien Tan, music room)
- Violin 2 – Beethoven: mov 4 (Keiko Araki, annex)
- Viola – Beethoven: mov 4 (Brian Quincey, corner conference room)
- Cello/bass – Beethoven: movement 4: recitativos, letter K onwards (Marilyn De Oliveira, pavilion)
- Winds/brass worked with me on the 3rd movement of Beethoven
- Each string section worked with a coach from the Oregon Symphony.
- 6:45pm-7:00pm: break
- 7:00pm-7:45pm: tutti work:
- Mov 4 of Beethoven (until around m. 763).
Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, April 19, 2026
- 4:45pm: arrival for string players who are playing the Madras outreach concert – SIGN IN IN CAFETERIA.
- 5:00pm-5:45pm: rehearsal for Madras outreach string players (cafeteria)
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- 5:15pm: arrival for woodwinds, brass – SIGN IN IN CAFETERIA.
- 5:30pm-6:45pm: woodwind coachings, brass sectional
- Brass with Robert Wakeley: HEADLINES by Elaina Stuppler (pavilion)
- Flutes & Clarinets with Zach Galatis: Beethoven, mov 2 + spots in mov 4 if time allows (music room)
- Oboes & Bassoons with Victoria Racz: Beethoven, mov 2 + spots in mov 4 if time allows (annex)
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- 5:45pm: arrival for string players who are not playing the Madras outreach concert
- 6:00pm–6:45pm: strings sectional with RGR: Beethoven, mov 1 (cafeteria)
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- 6:45pm-7:00pm: break
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- 7:00pm-7:45pm: tutti – HEADLINES by Elaina Stuppler
- 7:45pm-8:30pm: tutti – Beethoven, Mov 1.
- 8:30pm – help reset the room and make sure no doors are left propped open.
MYS SYMPHONY Part Assignments, Orchestra Schedule, Repertoire, Audio Reference, etc…
Find all relevant PDFs and links on the side bar of this webpage (or bottom of the page if on mobile).
Summer Volunteer Opportunity: “The Classical Northwest”
MYS alum Amir Avsker is organizing a new performance opportunity for local musicians this summer. From Amir:
“The Classical Northwest is a new music festival that will take place in Portland during the first week of August. The festival will include three orchestra concerts, masterclasses, and opportunities to put together and perform your own chamber music programs. Participation in the festival is free and will allow you to work with some of the most respected professionals in the region.”
A concert including Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 is scheduled for Sunday, August 2nd at 7pm at The Reser. Rehearsals 5:30pm-8:30pm on July 20, 23, 27 & 30. Dress rehearsal on Friday 7/31 at 2pm. Soundcheck on Sunday 8/2 at 3pm and concert at 7pm.
I will be playing principal viola for this, and I hope many of you will join. It should be fun. If you have any questions, please contact Amir directly: amir.avsker@gmail.com
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.
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 percussionists. Concert Orchestra has openings too.
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 the new MYS facility, 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.
