SYMPHONY Orchestra Notes – Rehearsal Plans for Concert Week – 11/9 to 11/15, 2026

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Rehearsal Plan for Monday, November 9

— end time changed from 9:30pm to 9pm (!!) —

• 6:15pm: arrival & check-in

• 6:30pm-6:45pm: Candide
• 6:45pm-7:15pm: Coalesce
• 7:15pm-7:45pm: Shostakovich, movs 1, 2.
• 7:45pm-8:00pm: break
• 8:00pm-9:00pm: Shostakovich, movs 2, 4, 3.

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Rehearsal Plan for Friday, November 13

• 6:15pm: arrival & check-in

• 6:30pm-6:45pm: Candide – run-through and spots
• 6:45pm-7:00pm: Coalesce – run-through and spots
• 7:00pm-8:00pm: Shostakovich, movs 1, 2 – run-through and spots
• 8:00pm-8:15pm: break
• 8:15pm-9:30pm: Shostakovich, movs 4, 3 – run-through and spots

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Rehearsal Plan for Saturday, November 14

• 9:15am: arrival & check-in

• 9:30am-9:45am: Candide
• 9:45am-10:00am: Coalesce
• 10:00am-11:00am: run-through of Shostakovich in order
• 11:00am-11:15am: break
• 11:15am-12:00pm: spots in Shostakovich

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Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, November 15

• Detailed call sheet here.
• 4:30pm: call time for percussionists and group managers
• 4:45pm: call time for rest of orchestra

• 5pm: warm up on stage @ Schnitz
• 5:15pm-6:15pm – rehearsal on stage
  • Candide
  • Coalesce
  • Spots in Shostakovich

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Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

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MYS Symphony Orchestra in Concert | June 2026 | Photo by Richard Kolbell

SYMPHONY Orchestra Notes for November 8, 2026

Dear MYS Symphony Orchestra,

Happy November! Our concert is coming up soon, and I’m proud of the work we’ve been doing together.

Please triple-check that you have our upcoming pre-concert rehearsals on your calendars. These rehearsals are required, just like our regular Sunday rehearsals. And for your convenience, here’s a direct link to our call sheet for concert day.

Remember that tomorrow (Wednesday, November 4) is the deadline to apply to our new classes that start in January: Conducting 101 and Recording 101.

If you enjoy the band Portugal. The Man, you might be interested in two shows that I will be conducting with them and the Oregon Symphony. The shows are on November 11 and 12.

Please see below for a rehearsal recap, plans for 11/8, and more details.

Best,

Dr. G.

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weekend rehearsals left before concert:

1

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Rehearsal Recap: Sunday, November 1

• 5:00pm-6:30pm: tutti
  • We rehearsed Skye Neal’s Coalesce, from letter [O] to the end, with Felipe conducting.
  • Then, we worked on Shostakovich: Mov 4: [116] to the end, and Mov 2.

• 6:30pm-7:00pm: break

• 7:00pm-8:30pm: sectionals
  • Strings with Amanda Grimm (Principal Viola, Oregon Symphony) @ Contrabassment – Movement 3 of Shostakovich
  • Woodwinds and Brass with James Shields (Chatter PDX, former Principal Clarinet, Oregon Symphony) @ Fireside Room – Movement 1 of Shostakovich

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SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, November 8

• 4:45pm: arrival & check-in

• 5:00pm-6:30pm: tutti with RGR
  • 5:00pm-5:45pm: Movement 3 of Shostakovich
  • 5:45pm-6:05pm: Bernstein’s Overture to Candide
  • 6:05pm-6:30pm: Skye Neal’s Coalesce (with Felipe conducting) – beginning to [O]

• 6:30pm-7:00pm: break

• 7:00pm-8:30pm: sectionals
  • Strings with Eric Alterman (cellist, Delgani String Quartet) @ Contrabassment – slow work on passages in Candide and Shostakovich (movs 1 and 4)
  • Woodwinds and Brass with Adam Eccleston (flutist, Orchestra Nova Northwest) @ Fireside Room – slow work on passages in Candide and Shostakovich (movs 1 and 4)

Rehearsal Plans for CONCERT WEEK

• I’ve made a separate post with rehearsal plans for our pre-concert rehearsals on Monday 11/9, Friday 11/13, Saturday 11/14 and Sunday 11/15. Please check it out here.

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Applications due tomorrow (Wednesday, November 4) for Conducting and Recording Classes

Conducting 101 with Dr. Gómez-Rojas

The class will help students develop a solid foundation in areas including baton technique, musical gestures, non-verbal communication, score study, rehearsal management and aural skills. Class sessions will often utilize excerpts from the repertoire currently being performed by MYS Symphony Orchestra, as well as selections from the standard orchestral repertoire. Sessions will include individual podium time, where each student will conduct the rest of the class membership playing their primary instruments. Conducting students will conduct short pieces by MYS Composition students on Tuesday, April 27, 2027 (open to the public).

Recording 101 with Nick Emerson

Students will have the opportunity to learn music production fundamentals for recording classical ensembles large and small. Students will learn about human perception of sound, the harmonic series, acoustics, how different types of microphones work, mono/stereo recording techniques, and editing/mixing on a digital audio workstation (DAW) in a studio environment. Students will have the ability to get hands-on experience with the tools of music production and learn how to approach sound engineering from the perspective of a musician. 

More information and links to application forms here.

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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.

---

Raúl teaching conducting | June 2026 | Photo by David Kinder

SYMPHONY Orchestra Notes for November 1, 2026

Dear MYS Symphony Orchestra,

Our concert will be in two weeks from this coming Sunday. Keep up the great work! Working with you each Sunday is the highlight of my week, and I’m grateful for your preparation, commitment and engagement.

Optional leadership auditions are due TODAY (Tuesday, 10/27).

If you enjoy the band Portugal. The Man, you might be interested in two shows with them and the Oregon Symphony that I’ll be conducting on November 11 and 12.

Please see below for a rehearsal recap, plans for 11/1, and more details.

Best,

Dr. G.

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weekend rehearsals left before concert:

2

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Rehearsal Recap: Sunday, October 25

• 5:00pm-6:30pm: tutti with RGR
  • It was great to play through the entire Candide overture on Sunday 10/25, and work on the whole piece. Woodwinds (and tutti): make sure to practice the difficult transitional passages with a metronome and get them up to tempo.
  • We made another dent in the 4th movement of Shostakovich. That felt good. I was hoping to get to the end of the movement, but we ran out of time.
  • Our read-through of Skye’s piece led by Felipe was productive.

• 6:30pm-7:00pm: break

• 7:00pm-8:30pm: sectionals, woodwind coachings
  • Strings with Sam Ross (Music Director of Tilikum Chamber Orchestra & Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra, MYS alum) @ Contrabassment – Candide and movement 2 of Shostakovich
  • Woodwinds and Brass with Jeff Garza (Principal Horn, Oregon Symphony) @ Fireside Room – Candide and movement 2 of Shostakovich.

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SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, November 1

• 4:45pm: arrival & check-in

• 5:00pm-6:30pm: tutti with RGR
  • 5:00pm-5:30pm: Skye Neal’s Coalesce (with Felipe conducting) – (2nd bar of [O] to end)
  • 5:30pm-6:30pm: Movement 4 [117] to end & Movement 2 of Shostakovich

• 6:30pm-7:00pm: break

• 7:00pm-8:30pm: sectionals
  • Strings with Amanda Grimm (Principal Viola, Oregon Symphony) @ Contrabassment – Movement 3 of Shostakovich
  • Woodwinds and Brass with James Shields (Chatter PDX, former Principal Clarinet, Oregon Symphony) @ Fireside Room – Movement 1 of Shostakovich

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Leadership Auditions due October 27 (tonight!)

Our optional leadership auditions are due October 27th, as per our season calendar. While these auditions are optional, I highly encourage everybody to submit one. It’s one of the most effective ways for you to show me your individual work and progress.

The list of excerpts and instructions have been posted here.

You can submit your audition on this form.

---

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.

---

MYS Symphony Orchestra | 10/18/26 | Photo by MYS

SYMPHONY Orchestra Notes – October 20, 2026

Dear MYS Symphony Orchestra,

I thought we had a great rehearsal on Sunday, October 11. We ended up spending most of our time on the first movement of Shostakovich, and didn’t get to Candide, but the work that we did felt solid and productive.

We are now less than a month away from the concert. We have, in fact, only 3 more weekend rehearsals left, plus our pre-concert rehearsals. Please continue practicing your individual parts mindfully and strategically!

Please see below for a rehearsal recap, plans for 10/25, and more details.

Best,

Dr. G.

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weekend rehearsals left before concert:

3

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Rehearsal Recap: Sunday, October 18

• 5:00pm-6:30pm: tutti with RGR
  • 5:00pm-5:10pm: Group photo 📸
  • 5:10pm-6:30pm: We spent most of our time on the 1st movement of Shostakovich (5pm-6:15-ish). We did detailed work on the whole movement. Towards the end, we read through movement 4: beginning to about [110]. We did just light work on movement 4.

• 6:30pm-7:00pm: break

• 7:00pm-8:30pm: sectionals, woodwind coachings
  • Strings worked with with Amanda Grimm (OS Principal Viola) @ Contrabassment on Shostakovich (all movements)
  • Woodwinds and Brass worked with James Shields @ Fireside Room on Shostakovich (all movements)

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SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, October 25

• 4:45pm: arrival & check-in

• 5:00pm-6:30pm: tutti with RGR
  • 5:00pm-5:45pm: Candide
  • 5:45pm-6:10pm: Movement 4 of Shoskovich, [110] to end
  • 6:10pm-6:30pm: Skye Neal’s Coalesce (with Felipe conducting)

• 6:30pm-7:00pm: break

• 7:00pm-8:30pm: sectionals
  • Strings with Sam Ross (Music Director of Tilikum Chamber Orchestra & Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra, MYS alum) @ Contrabassment – Candide (and movement 2 of Shostakovich if there’s time).
• Woodwinds and Brass with Jeff Garza (Principal Horn, Oregon Symphony) @ Fireside Room – Candide (and movement 2 of Shostakovich if there’s time).

---

Leadership Auditions due October 27

This deadline is coming up! Our optional leadership auditions are due October 27th, as per our season calendar. While these auditions are optional, I highly encourage everybody to submit one. It’s one of the most effective ways for you to show me your individual work and progress.

The list of excerpts and instructions have been posted here.

You can submit your audition on this form.

---

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.

---

MYS Symphony Orchestra | 10/18/26 | Photo by MYS

SYMPHONY Orchestra Notes – October 13, 2026

Dear MYS Symphony Orchestra,

Thank you for your work in rehearsal on Sunday, October 11.

Please remember to always sign in when you arrive for rehearsal. A bunch of you were there on Sunday, but you’re marked on our attendance sheet as absent because you didn’t sign in.

On that note, please remember that attendance is crucial for a successful rehearsal process leading up to each of our concerts. A few people have been out sick, which is understandable and expected (thanks for staying home if you might be contagious.) Outside of illness, please prioritize rehearsals and make sure you have our upcoming pre-concert rehearsals on your calendar! As I’ve said before, I’d like to avoid people coming to me or emailing me the week before the concert to tell me they can’t come to these rehearsals. Also, please remember to arrive by 4:45pm, for an on-time 5pm downbeat.

Please practice with a metronome! Start at slower tempos and make sure you can play your part accurately and comfortably. Then, increase the tempo very gradually to gain facility. See below under “HOW TO PRACTICE WITH A METRONOME.”

Also, a reminder that this coming Sunday (10/18) is our concert dress check and ensemble photo. Please come in concert dress (all black), and make sure a Group Manager OKs your attire.

Finally, our concert is in just about a month from today. The days are going to FLY BY, so let’s make sure everyone’s individual parts are fully learned by now, so we can spend the next 4 weeks bringing our ensemble playing to the highest possible level.

Please see below for a rehearsal recap, plans for 10/18, and more details.

Best,

Dr. G.

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weekend rehearsals left before concert:

4

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Rehearsal Recap: Sunday, October 11

• 5:00pm-6:30pm: tutti with RGR
  • 5:00pm-5:50pm: we read through Skye Neal’s Coalesce. Thanks for a great read-through of this piece. Skye will send us final PDFs this week, and we’ll have hard copies in rehearsal on Sunday.
  • 5:50pm-6:15pm: we worked on Shostakovich Symphony No. 5, Movement 2
  • 6:15pm-6:30pm: we worked a bit on Bernstein’s Overture to Candide. Mostly m. 207 to the end, under tempo. We need to make sure to clean up m.255-m.271. Please practice with a metronome.

• 6:30pm-7:00pm: break

• 7:00pm-8:30pm: sectionals, woodwind coachings
  • Strings with Tomás Cotik @ Contrabassment – movement 1 of Shostakovich and Candide
  • Woodwinds worked with coaches from the OS on select spots in Shostakovich and general ensemble playing skills.
  • Brass worked with Kim Minson (OS) on on select spots in Shostakovich and general ensemble playing skills.

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HOW TO PRACTICE WITH A METRONOME

Metronome practice is crucially important. You should be practicing with a metronome regularly (i.e. every day).

A basic strategy for metronome practice is the following:

1. Select a specific passage you want to work on (not too short, not too long).
2. Make sure you have good fingerings/bowings, plans for articulation, dynamics, etc.
3. Select a VERY slow tempo, at which you can play the passage very accurately and comfortably, with polish and ease, and without stopping.
4. Repeat a few times (MINDFULLY!! – this means you’ll be trying as best as you can to focus on what you’re doing. Your mind might wander, and that’s OK. Bring your focus back to the music each time it happens. DO NOT practice while watching videos, etc).
5. If you’re able to play the passage 2 or 3 times (accurately, comfortably, with polish and ease, without mistakes, and without stopping), increase the metronome tempo by 1 o 2 clicks. Go back to step 4, and repeat until you reach performance tempo.

Example with Bernstein’s Candide:

Select your passage (e.g. woodwinds m.64 to m.83; or strings m.260 to m.271). Start slow (in 4, [eight note = 120]). Increase the metronome tempo gradually until you might want to switch to “in 2.” For example, once you get to eight note = 160, switch to [half note = 55], and continue increasing the tempo until you reach performance tempo.

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SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, October 18

• 4:45pm: arrival & check-in – WEAR YOUR CONCERT CLOTHES!

• 5:00pm-6:30pm: tutti with RGR
  • 5:00pm-5:10pm: Group photo 📸
  • 5:10pm-6:10pm: Shostakovich Symphony No. 5, Movements 1 and 4
  • 6:10pm-6:30pm: work on Bernstein’s Overture to Candide

• 6:30pm-7:00pm: break

• 7:00pm-8:30pm: sectionals
  • Strings with Amanda Grimm (OS Principal Viola) @ Contrabassment – Shostakovich – all movements (coach’s choice)
  • Woodwinds and Brass with James Shields @ Fireside Room – Shostakovich – all movements (coach’s choice)

---

Leadership Auditions due October 27

Our optional leadership auditions are due October 27th, as per our season calendar. While these auditions are optional, I highly encourage everybody to submit one. It’s one of the most effective ways for you to show me your individual work and progress.

The list of excerpts and instructions have been posted here.

You can submit your audition on this form.

---

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.

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MYS Musicians in downtown Portland | Fall 2026 | Photo by Sheepscot Creative