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.
weekend rehearsals left before concert:
1
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
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.
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.
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
A few important updates for Concert & Symphony Orchestras
A few important updates for Concert & Symphony Orchestras
Hi everyone,
Here’s a rare Thursday communication from me with a few important updates. Thanks for reading all the way to the end!
Conducting and Recording Classes
This information has been on our Weekly Announcements, but I want to highlight these two new classes that we are offering starting in January. I’m very excited to teach a conducting class for the first time in my tenure, and Nick’s recording class will give students hands-on experience and training in music production and recording.
MYS is offering a new series of musical enrichment classes covering a range of topics.
Check out Dr. Gómez-Rojas’s new Conducting 101 class and Nick Emerson’s new music Recording 101. Applications for these new classes are due next Wednesday, November 4.
Information about leaving campus during rehearsal breaks
We’ve received questions from students about whether they can leave campus during their breaks between rehearsals. Below is the relevant language on this matter from the MYS Student Handbook. Please reach out to Sarah at programs@playmys.org or Mark at production@playmys.org if you have any questions.
Supervision & Security
Students are fully supervised during rehearsals. Discuss with your child where you would like them to be before and after rehearsals and during break. Older players (recommended for High School age students) are allowed to leave the rehearsal grounds during longer breaks. Contact MYS staff if you have specific supervision or security questions.
Students exercising off-campus privileges remain subject to the MYS Student Code of Conduct at all times. Any misconduct, unlawful activity, or behavior that disrupts the surrounding community while off-campus will be treated as an on-campus infraction and will result in disciplinary action, up to and including permanent expulsion from the program.
Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS), its staff, board members, and affiliates assume no custodial responsibility, supervision, or liability for students once they exit the designated program boundaries under this policy. The parent/guardian and student assume all risks associated with travel, transportation, and unsupervised conduct outside program grounds.
One more Group Manager needed for Concert Orchestra
We need one more parent volunteer to serve as Group Manager for Concert Orchestra, particularly for concert days (help with students signing in and out, etc).
Please reach out to me directly if you are able to help out. Thanks!
Get discounted tickets for Profile Theatre’s SPAIN
Our friends at Profile Theatre are presenting SPAIN by Jen Silverman. MYS Symphony Orchestra oboist Lova Ellero and guitarist Ezra Lausche are featured as live musicians on Wednesday, November 4th. MYSfits will play pre-show music starting at 6:45pm.
Friends and family of MYS students can apply promo code SPAINMYS before checkout to get a 20% discount on their tickets.
Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend
A reminder that Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. Make sure to adjust any old-school time keeping devices that don’t update automatically.
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.
weekend rehearsals left before concert:
2
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
weekend rehearsals left before concert:
3
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)
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.
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
Transition between rehearsals on Sundays: plan for hallway traffic and common areas
Transition between rehearsals on Sundays: plan for hallway traffic and common areas
Hi everyone,
It’s been wonderful to rehearse in our new building on Sundays. Thank you for working with us as we continue getting to know our space and how we use it.
We’ve noticed that the transition time starting at 6:30pm presents certain challenges related to traffic and congestion in our hallways and common areas. With that in mind and everyone’s safety as a priority, we’d like to try a new plan for this transition starting this Sunday.
We’ll explain and remind everyone in person this Sunday, but for the time being, please read the plan below:
Everyone: Always fully pack up your things before moving through the halls. That includes:
Pack-up your instrument in its case
Put your music in your folder
Collapse your music stand
Concert Orchestra woodwinds and brass: when sectionals end at 6:30pm in the Fireside Room, take the south stairs [S100]—near exit closest to the Fireside Room—to the 2nd floor. Head to the 2nd Floor Landing just outside the Organ Loft. There’s a couch and chairs up there. Please wait there until 6:40pm to come down to the Performance Hall. This gives SO time to pack-up and exit.
Concert Orchestra strings: fully pack up your belongings in the Contrabasement. Remain in the Contrabassment until 6:35pm. Then use the north exterior exit facing Brooklyn St. Use the concrete exterior stairs, take the sidewalk to the right, and re-enter the building through the north entrance by the percussion storage.
Symphony Orchestra: pack up at the end of tutti rehearsal (6:30pm) and proceed to your sectional rooms (strings go down to the Contrabasement and woodwinds/brass to the Fireside Room). Please don’t linger in the Performance Hall more than necessary. Concert Orchestra will be waiting to enter (upstairs and outside).
Thanks!
Mark and Dr. G.
Rescheduling Brass Coachings to manage high-decibel volumes vs. room sizes
Rescheduling Brass Coachings to manage high-decibel volumes vs. room sizes
Dear Symphony and Concert Orchestra Brass Players and Families,
As you know, we invite brass professionals (primarily from the Oregon Symphony) once per term to work with each of our brass sections. We had our fall term brass coachings on Sunday, October 4th. On this day, we learned that even after adding acoustical panels to all of our smaller rooms, the high-decibel output of brass instruments is just too high for the size of those rooms.
With our students and coaches’ hearing and overall health in mind, we will move our winter and spring brass coachings to Thursday evenings from 7:00pm-8:30pm (one per term, on Thursday, January 14 and Thursday, May 6). Our brass sections will be able to use our larger spaces (Performance Hall, Contrabasement, Fireside Room and Jazz Room) for their coachings.
Also, we will split the time right down the middle. Students will work with coaches on their orchestra music for 45 minutes, and then they will regroup by instrument (Concert Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra students of the same instrument together) to work in a studio-class setting with each coach. This will allow for instrument-specific training (technique, ensemble skills, etc).
I’ve updated the PDFs linked on the sidebar of this page and the QR codes in the Performance Hall. Please update your calendars, and feel free to reach out with any questions.
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.
weekend rehearsals left before concert:
4
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.
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:
Select a specific passage you want to work on (not too short, not too long).
Make sure you have good fingerings/bowings, plans for articulation, dynamics, etc.
Select a VERY slow tempo, at which you can play the passage very accurately and comfortably, with polish and ease, and without stopping.
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).
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.
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.
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 Musicians in downtown Portland | Fall 2026 | Photo by Sheepscot Creative
SYMPHONY Orchestra: Optional Leadership Audition Information
SYMPHONY Orchestra: Optional Leadership Audition Information
Please submit your audition video by the deadline of Tuesday, October 27
Instructions:
Please create one single video with all required excerpts. Cuts are not allowed within excerpts. You may do separate takes for each excerpt and stitch them together into a single video.
An audible metronome must be used for your videos.
Please record the part that you are playing during the current concert term (Fall 2026. E.g. if you play 2nd flute, please record 2nd flute; if you play violin 2, please record violin 2).
Upload your video to YouTube and make sure to set the video privacy to “unlisted.”
Thanks for a wonderful rehearsal on Sunday, October 4. It really felt like we started to tap into the intense emotional content of the 3rd movement of Shostakovich. Candide is coming along as well.
I will post the excerpts for our optional leadership auditions (due October 27th) tonight. 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.
Please see below for a rehearsal recap, our plan for 10/11, leadership auditions and more.
Best,
Dr. G.
weekend rehearsals left before concert:
5
Rehearsal Recap: Sunday, October 4
5:00pm-6:30pm: tutti with RGR
5:00pm-6:00pm: we worked on Shostakovich Symphony No. 5, Movement 3. We focused on digging deep into the emotional content of the music. After a read-through, we worked on [81] to 1 before [83], and [88] to the end.
6:00pm-6:30pm: we worked on Bernstein’s Overture to Candide. Beginning to [134-ish], and slow work at [64].
6:30pm-7:00pm: break
7:00pm-8:30pm: sectionals, brass coachings
Strings with Tomás Cotik (Fellowship Room aka Basement aka Contrabassment) – movement 3 of Shostakovich
Woodwinds with Jeff Garza, horns with Kim Minson, trumpets with Elizabeth Sotelo and low brass with JáTtik Clark (Fireside Room) – movement 3 of Shostakovich and other spots.
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, October 11
4:45pm: arrival & check-in
5:00pm-6:30pm: tutti with RGR
5:00pm-5:30pm: Read-through of Skye Neal’s Coalesce(Young Composers Project)
5:30pm-6:10pm: work on Shostakovich Symphony No. 5, Movement 2
6:10pm-6:30pm: work on Bernstein’s Overture to Candide
6:30pm-7:00pm: break
7:00pm-8:30pm: woodwind coachings by sections – spots in all movements (coaches’ choice)
Flutes with Adam Eccleston in Jazz Room (basement level)
Oboes with Kenneth Bader in Room 206 (2nd floor)
Clarinets with James Shields in Room 108 (1st floor)
Brass with Kim Minson (Fireside Room) – Shostakovich – all movements (coach’s choice)
Leadership Auditions due October 27
As I mentioned above, our optional leadership auditions 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.
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 violinists work with Erin Furbee, Assistant Concertmaster of the Oregon Symphony | Thursday 9/24, 2026 | photo by MYS
