Hi all,

Our rehearsal this coming Sunday (March 16) will end at 6:00pm. There is an MYS Community Concert happening upstairs in the church starting at 7:00pm. I encourage all of you to stay for the concert and support your peers, including MYSfits and MYSticks Percussion. MYS students do not need a ticket to attend Community Concerts.

We did receive PDF materials for James P. Johnson’s “Drums: A Symphonic Poem,” so we will start work on this piece on Sunday. We also received the parts from esperanza’s commissioned piece, but we won’t start rehearsals for that until after spring break. I’ll send PDFs early next week for you to practice with over the break.

Best,

Dr. G.

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Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, March 16, 2025

• 4:00pm-5:00pm – James P. Johnson: “Drums”
• 5:00pm-5:10pm: break
• 5:10pm-6:00pm: – Armstrong/Ricketts: Satchmo

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[edited 3/14/25] Part Assignments and Practice Parts

Updated part assignments (after leadership auditions) can be accessed here. Latest percussion assignments are here.

Percussionists: The part assignments PDF contains a list of all the percussion needs for this program, but no assignments yet. I’ll check in with Kevin and will keep you posted about this weekend.

For practice PDFs and to consult full scores, please go to our Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

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Audio Reference

Check the sidebar of this blog and or access this YouTube playlist. Feel free to research online on your own too!

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Happy practicing!

Best,

Dr. G.

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MYS Symphony Orchestra | March 2, 2025 | Newmark Theatre | Photo by Richard Kolbell

Hi all,

What a fantastic concert we had on Sunday! I’ll talk about it at our next rehearsal.

For the time being, here’s our rehearsal plan for March 9, access to temporary part assignments, PDFs, and information about upcoming optional leadership auditions.

Dr. G.

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Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, March 9, 2025

• 4:00pm-4:45pm – Florence Price: Dances in the Canebrakes
• 4:45pm-5:15pm – esperanza spalding, Ebony and Ivy
• 5:15pm-5:30pm – break
• 5:30pm-6:15pm – Wayne Shorter: Midnight in Carlotta’s Hair
• 6:15pm-7:00pm – Armstrong/Ricketts: Satchmo

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Temporary Part Assignments and Practice Parts

Temporary part assignments can be accessed here. Latest percussion assignments are here.

Percussionists: The part assignments PDF contains a list of all the percussion needs for this program, but no assignments yet. I’ll check in with Kevin and will keep you posted about this weekend.

For practice PDFs and to consult full scores, please go to our Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

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Audio Reference

Coming soon to the sidebar of this blog and as a YouTube playlist. Feel free to research online on your own too!

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Optional Leadership Auditions due Thursday 3/13

If you’re interested in a leadership position this term, please send me a YouTube video of at least 3 minutes of your best playing to rgomez@playmys.org with the subject line “MYS Leadership Audition.” Please make a new video for this (don’t use other audition videos, etc). No accompaniment is necessary.

I will review these videos on Friday, 3/14 and will update part assignments in time for our 3/16 rehearsal (last before spring break).

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Happy practicing!

Best,

Dr. G.

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MYS Symphony Orchestra | March 2, 2025 | Newmark Theatre | Photo by Richard Kolbell

Hi everyone,

Great rehearsal on Sunday. I look forward to our evening rehearsals and concert on Sunday, March 2nd.

Please see our rehearsal plans for the week below, and please remember to practice strategically as we approach the end of the week.

Best,

Dr. G.

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Rehearsal Plan for Thursday, Feb 27, 2025

• 6:30pm-6:45pm: arrival
• 7:00pm-7:45pm: Waloyo Yamoni (with Pacific Youth Choir)
• 7:45pm-8:15pm: Palia Cinematic Trailer (“The Chase”) and Palia Suite
• 8:15pm-8:30pm: break
• 8:30pm-9:00pm: YCP Cartoon Music
• 9:00pm-9:30pm: Star Wars (IV. Yoda and V. Throne Room)

Rehearsal plan for Friday, Feb 28, 2025

• 6:30pm-6:45pm: arrival
• 7:00pm-8:00pm: Palia Suite and Palia Cinematic Trailer (“The Chase”)
• 8:00pm-8:30pm: YCP Cartoon Music
• 8:30pm-8:45pm: break
• 8:45pm-9:30pm: Star Wars (all movements)

Rehearsal Plan for Saturday, March 1, 2025

• 6:30pm-6:45pm: arrival
• 7:00pm-7:30pm: Waloyo Yamoni (with Pacific Youth Choir)
• 7:30pm-8:15pm: Star Wars
• 8:15pm-8:30pm: break
• 8:30pm-9:00pm: Palia Suite and Trailer
• 9:00pm-9:30pm: YCP Cartoon Music

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, March 2, 2025

• 10:30am: arrival for percussionists and group managers
• 11:00am: call time for rest of orchestra
• 11:30am-11:50am: YCP Cartoon Music
• 11:50am-12:20pm: Palia Suite and Trailer
• 11:20-12:50pm: Star Wars
• 12:50pm-1:20pm: Waloyo Yamoni (with Pacific Youth Choir)

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Call Sheet for March 2

You got it by e-mail from Mark, but here’s a direct link for your convenience.

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Online Music Library

If you need fresh parts or would like to consult full scores, please go to our Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

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Audio Reference

I’ve created a YouTube playlist where you can find audio reference tracks for our March 2 repertoire, including the Star Wars Suite. The playlist is here. I will also add the individual videos to the sidebar of this blog.

Audio reference for Palia Suite can be found here.

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Happy practicing!

Best,

Dr. G.

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MYS Symphony Orchestra | January 12, 2025 | Newmark Theatre | Photo by Richard Kolbell

Hi all,

The concert (and the weeknight rehearsals preceding it) are now firmly on the horizon. We will welcome Pacific Youth Choir this Sunday, and will also have the final version of YCP’s Cartoon Music. Please see below for our rehearsal plan.

And please double-check that all three upcoming weeknight rehearsals are on your calendars!

Dr. G.

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Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, February 23, 2025

• 4:00pm-5:00pm: Waloyo Yamoni (with Pacific Youth Choir!)
• 5:00pm-5:30pm: Palia Suite and Palia Cinematic Trailer (“The Chase”)
• 5:30pm-5:45pm: break
• 5:45pm-6:15pm: YCP Cartoon Music (final version)
• 6:15pm-7:00pm: Star Wars

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March 2 Part Assignments and Practice Parts

If you need fresh parts our would like to consult full scores, please go to our Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

Most recent part assignments (including Cartoon Music) can be accessed here. Latest percussion assignments are here (still working on these, since we’ll modify Cartoon Music parts).

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Audio Reference

I’ve created a YouTube playlist where you can find audio reference tracks for our March 2 repertoire, including the Star Wars Suite. The playlist is here. I will also add the individual videos to the sidebar of this blog.

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Updated repertoire for June 17 concert

We’ve updated the repertoire for the first half of our Season Finale Concert, which will involve MYS alumni from throughout the history of the organization. The updated repertoire sheet is here (page 2).

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Happy practicing!

Best,

Dr. G.

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MYS Symphony Orchestra | January 12, 2025 | Newmark Theatre | Photo by Richard Kolbell

Hi all,

Thanks for a productive rehearsal on Sunday, February 9th. It was especially useful to read through the Cartoon Music. We took notes and will hand out updated parts as soon as they’re available.

It was also delightful to read Yoda’s Theme, which has been added to our program to complete the full Star Wars Suite.

Thank you to our brass coaches for working on Star Wars with our sections. This coming Sunday we’ll have an all-star line-up of woodwind coaches.

Please see below for our rehearsal plan for Sunday, Feb. 16.

Dr. G.

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Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, February 16, 2025

• 4:00pm-4:45pm: Waloyo Yamoni
• 4:45pm-5:30pm: Palia Cinematic Trailer (“The Chase”) + movements 1, 4 and 5 of Suite.
• 5:30pm-5:45pm: break
• 5:45pm-7:00pm:
  • Woodwind sectionals with coaches: Star Wars
  • Strings, brass, percussion, pno/hp with Dr. G: Star Wars

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March 2 Updated Part Assignments and Practice Parts

If you need fresh parts our would like to consult full scores, please go to our Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

Most recent part assignments (including Cartoon Music) can be accessed here. Latest percussion assignments are here (still working on these, since we’ll modify Cartoon Music parts).

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Audio Reference

I’ve created a YouTube playlist where you can find audio reference tracks for our March 2 repertoire, including the Star Wars Suite. The playlist is here. I will also add the individual videos to the sidebar of this blog.

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Updated repertoire for June 17 concert

We’ve updated the repertoire for the first half of our Season Finale Concert, which will involve MYS alumni from throughout the history of the organization. The updated repertoire sheet is here (page 2).

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Happy practicing!

Best,

Dr. G.

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MYS Symphony Orchestra | January 12, 2025 | Newmark Theatre | Photo by Richard Kolbell

Hi everybody,

We had a very productive rehearsal last Sunday (Jan 26), despite so many people being out sick. I hope everyone is feeling better!

Our next rehearsal will be exactly one month before our concert. It’s coming up sooner than we think!

Please see our rehearsal plan below, as well as other important information.

Dr. G.

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Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, February 2, 2025

[updated on 1/31]

• 4:00pm-5:30pm: Palia “The Chase” and Suite (most PDF parts for the Suite are already on our online library. Direct link here).
• 5:30pm-5:45pm: break
• 5:45pm-7:00pm: Star Wars (movements 2 and 3)

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New Program Order for March 2 Concert

It will be: YCP / Palia / intermission / Star Wars / Waloyo Yamoni. Updated program page here.

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March 2 Part Assignments and Practice Parts

The password to access our Online Music Library is playmys.

Updated part assignments can be accessed here. Updated percussion assignments are here.

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Audio Reference

I’ve created a YouTube playlist where you can find audio reference tracks for our March 2 repertoire, including the Star Wars Suite. The playlist is here. I will also add the individual videos to the sidebar of this blog.

---

Updated repertoire for June 17 concert

We’ve updated the repertoire for the first half of our Season Finale Concert, which will involve MYS alumni from throughout the history of the organization. The updated repertoire sheet is here (page 2).

---

Happy practicing!

Best,

Dr. G.

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Hunter Noack with MYS Symphony Orchestra | January 12, 2025 | Newmark Theatre | Photo by Richard Kolbell

[updated 12/3/24]

Hi everyone,

Including this Sunday (12/8), we only have TWO rehearsals before our holiday break. After that, we have ONE rehearsal on Sunday, January 5th, and then it’s concert week.

Please double-check you have our weeknight evening rehearsals on your calendar.

So, as I mentioned last week, individual preparation is key for this short concert term. For that reason, I’m sharing rehearsal plans for both December 8 and December 15 below.

Also, please remember to listen to recordings of our repertoire regularly. As a starting point, I’ve shared YouTube videos on this webpage (sidebar on a computer, bottom of page if on mobile).

Thank you, and remember to be strategic and efficient with your practicing.

Best,

Dr. G.

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Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, December 8

[updated 12/3/24]

• 4:00pm-4:30pm: Seas of Glass
• 4:30pm-5:30pm: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto, Mov. 1 (with Matthew) and Mov. 2.
• 5:30pm-5:40pm: break
• 5:40pm-6:45pm: Dvořák with Leena
• 6:45pm-7:00pm: read encore (“All By Myself”).

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, December 15

• 4:00pm-4:45pm: Seas of Glass
• 4:45pm-6:15pm: Rachmaninoff mov. 3, encore (and other spots as needed). (inc. 10-min break).
• 6:15pm-7:00pm: Weber with Kaden.

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Please add bar numbers to all pieces

Another reminder: please make it a habit to write your name on each of your parts, and add measure numbers at the beginning of each line.

Bonus: this post with reference measure numbers for Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2.

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ICYMI: Photos by Richard Kolbell from 11/10 concert

Richard Kolbell’s photos can be accessed below. If you use any of the photos for any purpose (social media, websites, etc), please be sure to credit him (e.g. “photo by Richard Kolbell).

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Looking ahead: optional leadership auditions

As I mentioned in rehearsal, we will have optional leadership auditions due Friday, January 3. I will send out more details later, but most likely I’ll ask for 3 to 4 minutes of anything you want to record for me. This is an opportunity for you to be considered for leadership positions for our March 2025 concert, or to show me your work if you feel my rotations are not giving you the part assignments you’d like.

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Access practice parts on the MYS website

If you misplace your parts and need to print replacements, or need access to PDFs for any reason, you may go to our Online Music Library to find digital files of everything we’re playing.

The password to access our Online Music Library is playmys.

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Happy Thanksgiving and see you on 12/8!

Best,

Dr. G.

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MYS Symphony Orchestra | Photo by Richard Kolbell, Nov 10, 2024

****** UPDATED ON 11/14/24 WITH SHORTER REHEARSAL TIME *****

Hi all,

Great concert Sunday night! I’m proud of everybody’s fearless and committed performances. We’ll do a little debriefing on Sunday, and we’ll dive right into our new repertoire.

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Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, November 17

• 4:00pm-5:20pm – Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No. 2 – listen to each movement and read as much as we can.
• 5:30pm-6:15pm – Frazar Henry: “Seas of Glass” (YCP piece): read first draft of piece with composer on video call.
• 6:15pm – end of rehearsal to transition to 7pm Community Concert

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Part assignments for January 12 concert

Please click the button below to check part assignments for this concert. As always, my part assignments are not rankings. I like rotating leadership and positions whenever possible. These assignments are subject to change.

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Access practice parts on the MYS website

We’ll have hard copies of everything on Sunday, but please go to our Online Music Library to print practice parts for this week. I strongly recommend that you spend some time on the Rachmaninoff, even if it’s listening to a recording and following along your part (while annotating it as needed).

The password to access our Online Music Library is playmys.

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Stay after rehearsal to support your peers (Community Concert at 7:00pm @ All Saints)

There will be an MYS Community Concert in the church upstairs starting at 7:00pm. Stay if you can to support your friends, including percussion, MYSfits and our jazz groups.

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Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

MYS Symphony Orchestra | Photo by Willie Gilliland, Nov 10, 2024