Dana
Olivia W
Sebastian
John
Emma
Margaux
Eli
Olivia H
Kohsuke
Kyle
Owen
Seth
Andrew
Carson
RJ
Julian
Evan
Sanaya
Rowan
June
Daphne
Sophie
Katie
Isaiah
Lucas
Noe
Emily
Ellie
Sean
Matt
Lily
Jaden
Charlie
Theo K
Bela
Maanya
Mika
Calder
Leah
Cyrus
Bryson
Jack
Tate
Leo
Cordelia
Catherine
Riley
Norah
Pranav
Holly
Theo P
Rhea
Anushka
Ishaan
Micah
Chloe
Tyler
Mia D
Mason
Arlo
Violet
Emi
Sasha
Morgan
Dylan
Soren
Ginny
Julia
Oliver C
Kanak
Jules
Ahana
Jaynell
Mia B
Nyah
Raelyn
June
Ephraim
Grady
Emma N
Stoney
Marian
Livia
Sofia
Zoë
Fiona
Fredrick
Emmy
Wesley
Juliet
Signe
Ethan
Sammy
Eli
Elijah
Maika
Felix
Sophia
Nittaya
Lydia
Anna
Hà
Emilia
Misha
Yui
Treavon
Julia
Chloe
Khushi
Lilly
Kenton
Austin
Preston
Naomi
Elana
Erika
Kai
Min
Micah
John
Evelyn
Emma C
Crosby
Abi
Roegan
William
Emily
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.
NEW REHEARSAL TIME FOR CONCERT ORCHESTRA IS SUNDAYS 2:00PM-5:00PM
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
NEW REHEARSAL TIME FOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IS 5:30PM-8:30PM
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
MYS Symphony Orchestra, Jazz All-Stars, Community Choir and esperanza spalding
June 17, 2025 | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall | Photo by Ricardo Quintana
Hi all,
We’ve had a few more people sign up to join us since my last email. Woohoo! Below are answers to a few questions I’ve received, as well as the information that went out in my previous email, before a few folks signed up.
1. Memorization: not required! Though please familiarize yourself with the words and music so you can look up as much as possible and connect with esperanza and the audience.
2. Attire: all black. For more details go to page 6 here. (ignore the “black mask optional” part, it’s outdated!)
3. Sheet music. Please print your own. However, if you cannot print, please shoot me an e-mail and we’ll print for you.
4. Black binder. Please bring a plain, black binder for your sheet music. If you cannot source one, please let us know and we’ll help out.
5. Call sheet. Our current call sheet for the concert day can be accessed here. Most important information: call time at the Schnitz on 6/17 is 2:30pm. Rehearsal on stage from 3pm to 4:15pm. At the concert, singers will enter the choir loft during intermission. Stay tuned for more information about backstage space for you, etc.
6. Sign-ups will be open until Friday 6/13. Please feel free to spread the word further. We’d love to welcome even more singers. Here’s a link to the sign-up form: https://forms.gle/NdQpQt77ZSYyGNnU7
———————————-
Information from original email:
REPERTOIRE
1. esperanza spalding: Ebony and Ivy
– UPDATED CHOIR PART (AS OF 6/12/25)
– Full score for reference.
2. esperanza spalding: Dispelling the Lie of Lies (MYS commission, world premiere)
– Voice part (PRINT THIS ONE – unison for all, to be sung with orchestra singing as well)
– Full score for reference
– MIDI mock audio reference (the three singing sections happen at 5m46s, 11m33s and 13m24s)
– Video for practicing vocal part.
SCHEDULE
– Detailed rehearsal plans are here. Location is All Saints Catholic School: 601 NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97232
[update 6/10/25]
Hi all,
This event has been canceled. We will keep everybody posted about a rescheduled date in the 2025-2026 season.
Thanks!!
The Oregon Symphony has selected MYS to take part in a side-by-side opportunity in June, in collaboration with the Young Composers Project.
We will be workshopping a brand new piece from the OS’s first-ever Emerging Composer Fellowship. Their inaugural fellow is Caleb Palka, an MYS alum. Caleb was the first composer to be commissioned by The Authentic Voice, MYS’s collaboration with the Young Composers Project, back in 2017.
Please mark your calendars for:
Location will be All Saints Catholic School (our usual rehearsal space).
I realize that this is after our last concert on June 17, and some of you might be unavailable. We will send out an RSVP form so you can let us know if you can be there.
For now, please do pencil in those dates. We are honored to have been invited by the Oregon Symphony.
Thanks!
Dr. G.
Oregon Symphony with Music Director David Danzmayr | Photo by Oregon Symphony
Hi all,
A quick note about tempi in “Drums,” for those of you joining this Sunday or next week:
All tempi will be performed as printed, with the following exceptions/notes:
Thanks and see you soon!
James P. Johnson
Hi all,
Below is a link to a PDF with the words and rhythm to be spoken in esperanza’s “Ebony & Ivy.”
Please practice it!
Best,
Raúl/Dr. G.
and from earlier this week:
I’ve created a YouTube video for those of us who play esperanza’s commission to practice our singing. It’s below, and also on our reference YouTube playlist.
This video has been on our reference YouTube playlist for a while, but as of last Sunday, it only had 35 views. It has 53 views today (yay!). Please use it to practice and become extremely familiar with this piece. We are playing the world premiere of a new commissioned piece by 5-time-GRAMMY-award-winning esperanza spalding. I’ll type that again: We are playing the world premiere of a new commissioned piece by 5-time-GRAMMY-award-winning esperanza spalding. It’s a big deal! Thanks in advance for your thorough preparation.
Below are links to updated PDFs with our program page and part assignments including alumni.
For practice PDFs and to consult full scores, please go to our Online Music Library. The password is playmys.
Check the sidebar of this blog and or access this YouTube playlist. Feel free to research online on your own too!
Happy practicing!
Best,
Raúl/Dr. G.
Rehearsals are at All Saints Catholic School: 601 NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97232 (cafeteria; with glass doors facing NE Glisan)
The full program page with repertoire and timings can be found here.
Part Assignments and Practice Parts
Updated part assignments can be accessed below:
For practice PDFs and to consult full scores, please go to our Online Music Library. The password is playmys.
Check the sidebar of this blog and or access this YouTube playlist. Feel free to research online on your own too!
Happy practicing!
Best,
Dr. G.
MYS Symphony Orchestra | March 2, 2025 | Newmark Theatre | Photo by Richard Kolbell