Hi everyone,

No rehearsal this coming Sunday (12/1) because of Thanksgiving weekend. After that, 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).

Have a joyful Thanksgiving, make sure to rest and spend quality time with your loved ones, and be strategic and efficient with your practicing.

Best,

Dr. G.

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Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, December 8

• 4:00pm-4:30pm: Seas of Glass
• 4:30pm-6:00pm: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto, Mov. 1 (with Matthew) and Mov. 2. (inc. 10-min break).
• 6:00pm-7:00pm: Dvořák with Leena

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

Hi everyone,

Thanks for a solid read-through of most of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 on Sunday 11/17, as well as a great first pass at Frazar Henry’s Seas of Glass. Below is our rehearsal plan for Sunday 11/24, plus a link to our friend Richard Kolbell’s photos from our 11/10 concert.

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Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, November 24

• 4:00pm-5:00pm – Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No. 2 – finish reading the 3rd movement, from reh #34 to the end. PLEASE PRACTICE THE SECTION that starts at #34. Metronome goal is half note = 126.
• 5:00pm-5:30pm – Weber, Clarinet Concerto No. 2 (movement 3) – no soloist
• 5:30pm-5:45pm – break
• 5:45pm-7:00pm – Dvořák, Violin Concerto (movement 3) – no soloist

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Add bar numbers to EVERYTHING (and your name too)

Please make it a habit to write your name on each of your parts, and add measure numbers at the beginning of each line. This is good for everything you play, ever, now and forever 🙂

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

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Come support MYS colleagues at Oregon Symphony masterclass this Saturday (11/23)

Leena Karmarkar and Elizabeth Shen will perform in a masterclass by OSO guest soloist Vadim Gluzman. Saturday, November 23 from 10:30am-noon. Location: 851 SW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97204 – 1st floor – entrance is on the corner of SW 6th and Taylor.

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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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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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No rehearsal on December 1

We have Thanksgiving weekend off. But please do practice! Remember this is a shorter concert term compared to our other 3 concerts, and we have a long break for the holidays. Individual preparation is key.

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Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

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

Hi everybody,

Excellent work with David Danzmayr on Sunday. As I mentioned, he was impressed and I was proud of you. I hope you felt proud of yourselves as well.

This is the home stretch before our concert on Sunday, November 10th: the season opener for our 50th Anniversary Season. Please do practice at home, and be strategic with how you spend your time. I know you’re all very busy with school and other extracurriculars. Make sure to get enough sleep too.

Recap of Sunday and plans for the whole week are below. Please make sure to arrive by 6:45pm for each of our upcoming evening rehearsals.

RECAP of 10/27 rehearsal

• Tchaikovsky with David Danzmayr.
• Crain-Keddie’s Innamorata: letter [R] to end.
• Mazzoli: letter [U] to end of piece.
• Beethoven: we were only able to work briefly on the introduction.

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Rehearsal Plan for Thursday, 11/7

• 6:45pm arrival
• 7:00pm-8:20pm: Beethoven
• 8:20pm-8:30pm: break
• 8:30pm-9:30pm: Mazzoli

Rehearsal Plan for Friday, 11/8

• 6:45pm arrival
• 7:00pm-7:45pm: Crain-Keddie’s Innamorata
• 7:45pm-9:00pm: Tchaikovsky (with 10-min break somewhere in the middle)
• 9:00pm-9:30pm: Beethoven

Rehearsal Plan for Saturday, 11/9

6:45pm arrival, then rehearsal in concert order:

1. Beethoven
2. Crain-Keddie
3. Mazzoli
4. Tchaikovsky

Sunday, November 10 (concert day)

• Call time: 5:00pm
• Call sheet with all details is linked here.
• 5:30pm-6:15pm – very short on-stage sound-check rehearsal. Concert order.

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Extra/replacement parts on the MYS website

• As always, you can find practice PDFs or print your own replacement parts on your Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

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Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

MYS Symphony Orchestra in rehearsal with David Danzmayr | Photos by Oregon Symphony, 11/3/24

Hi all,

Thanks for your work on Sunday, 10/27. Below are a recap of our last rehearsal, and the rehearsal plan for 11/3, including the visit by Oregon Symphony Music Director David Danzmayr (!!!!). Reminder: please make sure your Tchaikovsky parts have bar numbers before next Sunday!!

RECAP of 10/27 rehearsal

• Innamorata: letter [D] to [R]
• Mazzoli: beginning to letter U
• Tchaikovsky: spots, including work on the syncopations at m. 285 and m. 307. We ended rehearsal with a full run-through of the piece.

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, November 3

• 4:00pm-4:15pm – Tchaikovsky (spots) with Dr. G.
• 4:15pm-5:30pm – Tchaikovsky: whole piece with David Danzmayr
• 5:30pm-5:45pm – break
• 5:45pm-6:05pm – Crain-Keddie‘s Innamorata: letter [R] to end
• 6:05pm-6:25pm – Mazzoli: letter [U] to end of Part 2
• 6:25pm-7:00pm – Beethoven: full piece

Measure numbers in Tchaikovsky (you’re welcome)

Please add bar numbers at the beginning of each line in your part, so that when I, or anybody who’s conducting asks to begin at a specific bar number, you can find it very quickly. Below, I’m sharing the bar number for each rehearsal letter, which you can use to double-check your count.

• A: 38
• B: 61
• C: 86
• D: 122
• E: 143
• F: 161
• G: 184
• H: 205
• J: 243
• K: 273
• L: 300
• M: 320
• N: 331
• O: 345
• P: 364
• Q: 387
• R: 419
• S: 446
• T: 462
• U: 485

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Support your friends this Friday, Nov. 1st

Congratulations to the finalists of our 2024 MYS Concerto Competition and all the applicants! Finalists will perform their pieces in front of a live audience. MYS students are not required to have a ticket for this event, however, tickets are required for other guests. You can purchase additional tickets below.

Friday, November 1, 7:00pm — The Old Madeleine Church, 3123 NE 24th Ave

Extra/replacement parts on the MYS website

• As always, you can find practice PDFs or print your own replacement parts on your Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

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Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

MYS Symphony Orchestra Members | Photo by Sheepscot Creative, August, 2024

Hi everybody,

Thank you to everybody who submitted auditions for this season’s Concerto Competition. All the submissions showed hard work and talent. It wasn’t easy to narrow it down for the final round on November 1st. Below are the finalists (in alphabetical order by last name) and one alternate finalist.

• Leah Almeida (cello) – David Popper, Hungarian Rhapsody for Cello
• Tai Friel (trombone) – Ferdinand David, Concertino for Trombone and Orchestra
• Ciela Heiles (bassoon) – Henri Tomasi, Bassoon Concerto, Mvt. 1
• Soren Holbrook (viola) – Cecil Forsyth, Viola Concerto in G minor, mvt. 1
• Leena Karmarkar (violin) – Antonín Dvořák, Violin Concerto in A minor, mvt. 3
• Kaden Prichard (clarinet) – Carl Maria von Weber, Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-flat major, mvt. 3

• Alternate finalist: Rowan Furrer (cello) – Joseph Haydn, Cello Concert No. 2 in D Major, mvt. 1 (performs on 11/1 if a finalist is unable to participate)

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Congrats to all! The rest of us: let’s make sure to mark our calendars for Friday, November 1st at 7:00pm at The Madeleine at 3123 NE 24th Ave, Portland, OR 97212. Come support your friends!

Dr. G.

Ian Ko, cello – one of the winners of the MYS Concerto Competition 2023-2024

Hi everybody,

Very good rehearsal on Sunday (10/20). Good work all around. This coming Sunday (10/27), we’ll be two short weeks away from the concert. It’s time to kick into high gear. Also, a reminder that David Danzmayr, Music Director of the Oregon Symphony, will visit our rehearsal and will conduct Tchaikovsky on Sunday, 11/3.

RECAP of 10/20 rehearsal

• Group photos!
• Innamorata, from the beginning to letter [D]
• Tchaikovsky, from K to the end.
• Beethoven: whole piece

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, October 27

• 4:00pm-4:30pm – Elishiya’s piece Innamorata [D] to end
• 4:30pm-5:15pm – Mazzoli: whole piece
• 5:15pm-5:30pm – break
• 5:30pm-7:00pm – Tchaikovsky (entire piece, in preparation for 11/3 David Danzmayr visit)

Concert dress check make-up

If you didn’t wear your concert clothes last Sunday, please remember to wear them to rehearsal this Sunday. You may bring clothes to change into after you get your concert attire checked and approved by Group Managers.

Reminder: LISTEN to our repertoire constantly

It’s always a good idea to find several different versions of each of the pieces we’re playing. Add them to your regular listening rotation. You can always start with the recordings that I’ve shared on the sidebar of this blog. The more variety you find, the more informed your own performance will be.

Extra/replacement parts on the MYS website

• As always, you can find practice PDFs or print your own replacement parts on your Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

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Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

MYS Symphony Orchestra | October 20, 2024

Hi all!!

Thank you for your work on Sunday, October 13. We did some good work, and we also learned that we all need to be quite a bit further along in our knowledge of the music as we currently are. Please (1) listen to recordings of our repertoire, (2) plan your practice time strategically and (3) practice with a metronome.

RECAP of 10/6 rehearsal

• We worked on Part 2 of Mazzoli. It went well.
• We worked on Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet. My hope was to play through the whole piece, but we were only able to make it to about letter [K],
• We worked on Beethoven and encounter similar preparation issues as with Tchaikovsky. We really need to step up our game! Our orchestra is as good as we all collectively want it to be, and I know it has the potential to be EXCELLENT. Know how the music goes! Again, listen to recordings (not just the same one over and over again, but several different versions). This will inform your practicing and your performance in rehearsal.

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, October 20

• 4:00pm-4:30pm – Elishiya’s piece Innamorata
• 4:30pm-5:15pm – tutti: Tchaikovsky (letter K to the end)
• 5:15pm-5:30pm – break
• 5:30pm-7:00pm – Beethoven!! (entire piece)
• note: we won’t rehearse Mazzolli on Sunday, but please keep practicing it as well.

Reminder: LISTEN to our repertoire constantly

It’s always a good idea to find several different versions of each of the pieces we’re playing. Add them to your regular listening rotation. You can always start with the recordings that I’ve shared on the sidebar of this blog. The more variety you find, the more informed your own performance will be.

Reminder: Dress Check this Sunday

You’ll also get a reminder in tomorrow’s Weekly Announcements. Look for more details there if you need them.

Extra/replacement parts on the MYS website

• As always, you can find practice PDFs or print your own replacement parts on your Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

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Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

MYS Musicians photographed by Sheepscot Creative | August 2024

Hi all!!

I enjoyed our rehearsal on Sunday, October 6th. By the time we get to our next rehearsal (this Sunday, 10/13), we’ll be less than a month away from our first concert. Please continue planning your practicing very strategically, so that concert week is enjoyable and not stressful.

RECAP of 10/6 rehearsal

• We read the first draft of Elishiya Crain-Keddie‘s piece Innamorata. Thank you for your great reading and very valuable input for the composer. We will hand out the final parts this Sunday. The next rehearsal of this piece will be on Oct. 20.
• We worked on Missy Mazzoli‘s Orpheus Undone. We worked backwards from the end of Part 1 back to letter [X]. Good work on this. Keep practicing!
• SECTIONALS
  • Woodwind sections worked on Mazzoli and Tchaikovsky as needed.
  • Strings, percussion and brass worked with me on Tchaikovsky, focusing on the following sections:
    • Q to U
    • 508 to end
    • J to K
    • M to 367 (playthrough only)

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, October 13

• 4:00pm-4:45pm – tutti: Part 2 of Missy Mazzoli‘s Orpheus Undone
• 4:45pm-5:15pm – tutti: Tchaikovsky (entire piece)
• 5:15pm-5:30pm – break
• 5:30pm-7:00pm – Beethoven!! (entire piece) — we need to make a ton of progress on Beethoven. Please practice and listen to recordings!

Reminder: LISTEN to our repertoire constantly

It’s always a good idea to find several different versions of each of the pieces we’re playing. Add them to your regular listening rotation. You can always start with the recordings that I’ve shared on the sidebar of this blog. The more variety you find, the more informed your own performance will be.

Reminder: Concerto Competition

The webpage for our Concerto Competition is now live. You’ll find all the information you need, including deadlines, rules and forms. The registration deadline is Monday, October 14. Video entries are due Friday October 18.

Extra/replacement parts on the MYS website

• As always, you can find practice PDFs or print your own replacement parts on your Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

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Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

MYS Musicians photographed by Sheepscot Creative | September 2024

Happy October!!

Thank you for your work on Sunday 9/29, and thank you to our brass coaches. Below is a recap of our rehearsal and our plan for Sunday 10/6

RECAP of 9/29 rehearsal

• We worked on Tchaikovsky: first, we read and worked from the beginning to the Allegro Giusto. Then, we read (and sort of worked along the way) on Allegro Giusto to letter [O]. Finally, we went back to the Allegro Giusto for some deeper work until letter [G].
• We did *NOT* work on Orpheus Undone on Sunday 9/29. I thought that we needed the extra time on Thaikovsky.
• SECTIONALS.
  • Brass sections worked on Mazzoli and Tchaikovsky as needed.
  • Strings and woodwinds worked with me on Beethoven. We practiced the presto, played slowly, worked on the syncopations. Then we read the Allegro until the first trumpet fanfare (with some light work). Beethoven still needs lots of work.

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, October 6

• 4:00pm-4:45pm – tutti: readthrough of the first draft of “Innamorata” by Elishiya Crain-Keddie (YCP piece) – hard copies of parts will be provided at rehearsal.
• 4:45pm-5:30pm – tutti: Mazzoli, letter [H] to end of Part 1
• 5:30pm-5:45pm – break
• 5:45pm-7:00pm – sectionals (see below)

Sectional split for 9/29:

• Flutes – Mazzoli, Tchaikovsky as needed
• Oboes – Mazzoli, Tchaikovsky as needed
• Clarinets – Mazzoli, Tchaikovsky as needed
• Bassoons – Mazzoli, Tchaikovsky as needed
• Strings, brass, percussion, harp/piano – Tchaikovsky – Letter [G] to end.

Reminder: LISTEN to our repertoire constantly

It’s always a good idea to find several different versions of each of the pieces we’re playing. Add them to your regular listening rotation. You can always start with the recordings that I’ve shared on the sidebar of this blog. The more variety you find, the more informed your own performance will be.

Reminder: Concerto Competition

The webpage for our Concerto Competition is now live. You’ll find all the information you need, including deadlines, rules and forms. The registration deadline is Monday, October 14. Video entries are due Friday October 18.

Extra/replacement parts on the MYS website

• As always, you can find practice PDFs or print your own replacement parts on your Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

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Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

MYS Musicians | August 2024