Well, we’re pretty much a month away from our concert. This term (January-February) always flies by. Also, we lost a rehearsal due to ice/snow. So, we have some work to do!!
Please make sure to practice EVERYTHING as soon as possible, but, as always, you may focus most of your attention from Sunday to Tuesday on what we *just* rehearsed, and from Wednesday to Saturday on what we are *about to* rehearse. Below is the plan for this coming Sunday (Feb 4).
Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, February 4 (including sectionals!)
4:00pm-5:30pm – Percussionists with Kevin (please spend some time on Ives and Martin parts)
4:00pm-5:30pm – Tutti minus percussion:
4:00pm-4:45pm – Pando: [G] to m. 213 (tour repertoire, with touring guests)
4:45pm-5:30pm – “Tin Soldier:” beginning to m. 140.
5:30pm-5:45pm – Break
5:45pm-7:00pm – Sectionals
Woodwinds: Beethoven (flutes: make sure to ask Zach about special effect in Pando).
Strings, brass and timpani (Hank) – Beethoven movs. 4 & 5
Thank you, happy practicing and see you on Sunday Feb 4.
Best,
Dr. G.
Photo by Richard Kolbell – “Just Jimmie” Concert, Jan 9, 2024
As I mentioned in rehearsal on Sunday, this year’s Concerto Competition was the most evenly competitive contest since I’ve been at MYS. Every single participant played extremely well, and it took the judges a long time to deliberate and make a final decision.
The winners and runner-up are below, along with their performance assignments.
Strings Category Winner: Ian Ko (cello)
Performs with Symphony Orchestra on March 3, 2024 (Lalo Cello Concerto, Mov 1)
Winds/Brass/Percussion/Piano Category Winner: Mia Hale (oboe)
Performs with Symphony Orchestra on June 16, 2024 (Ruth Gipps Oboe Concerto, Mov 1)
Overall Runner-Up: Margaux Hicks (cello)
Performs with Concert Orchestra on May 12, 2024 (Haydn Cello Concerto in C, Mov 1)
Again, congratulations to all, and please join me in celebrating all the participants and winners!
Best,
Dr. G.
Rehearsal Plan for Jan 28, 2024 | MYS Symphony Orchestra
We will not have hard copies of “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” available this Sunday because the MYS office building has been closed all week due to the weather. So, we’ll focus our rehearsal this Sunday on Beethoven. My updated rehearsal plan is below.
UPDATED Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, January 21 (including sectionals!)
4:00pm-5:30pm – Percussionists with Kevin Schlossman
4:00pm-5:30pm – Tutti minus percussion: Work on Beethoven‘s movements 5 and 4 (in that order)
5:30pm-5:45pm – Break
5:45pm-7:00pm – Sectionals on movements 5 and 4 of Beethoven
Violin 1 with Chien Tan
Violin 2 with Greg Ewer
Viola with Amanda Grimm
Cello/Bass with Nancy Ives
Woodwinds + brass with RGR
NOTE FOR HORNS AND TRUMPETS!! — You will need to transpose in the Beethoven Symphony. Check your parts carefully. I want you to practice transposing on this piece.
Thank you, happy practicing and see you on Sunday Jan 21.
Updated parts are available for “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” by YCP composer Charlie Martin. Please go to our Music Library page (password is playmys), click on the link for this piece, find “Version 2” and navigate to your assigned part.
As per my rehearsal plan for this coming Sunday (1/21), we will begin rehearsal with this piece.
Best,
Dr. G.
Audio/Video Reference for March Concert Repertoire
Thank you to those of you who submitted optional Leadership Auditions. Click the button below to see part assignments for our next concert on March 3, 2024. If you’re interested in leadership roles, or if you feel like I’m not giving you the opportunities that you would like, please make sure to submit an optional Leadership Audition for our June concert (details coming in the coming weeks).
NOTE FOR HORNS AND TRUMPETS!! — You will need to transpose in the Beethoven Symphony. Check your parts carefully. I want you to practice transposing on this piece.
There will be no rehearsal this Sunday (Jan 14) due to anticipated inclement weather and freezing temperatures. Below you will find your homework for this Sunday in place of rehearsal; and our rehearsal plan for Sunday, January 21st.
Print (or import to your tablet) your assigned parts for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 and/or our new YCP piece: Charlie Martin’s The Steadfast Tin Soldier. You can find these on our Music Library webpage (password is playmys).
Listen to a recording of the Beethoven symphony while following along with your part. Please listen to the full symphony even if you don’t play some of the movements (like timpani, trumpets, trombones). There are no harp or piano parts, so if you play those instruments you are exempt from this task – though you might enjoy listening to the symphony anyway 🙂
Listen to the computer-generated audio file for The Steadfast Tin Soldier, while following along with your part. Please note that this is the first draft of this piece, and while composer Charlie Martin has already submitted excellent materials with great attention to detail, there might be small changes to the parts.
Start practicing both of these pieces, with special emphasis on what we will rehearse on Sunday, January 21 (see below).
NOTE FOR HORNS AND TRUMPETS!! — You will need to transpose in the Beethoven Symphony. Check your parts carefully. I want you to practice transposing on this piece.
Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, January 21 (including sectionals!)
4:00pm-5:30pm – Percussionists with Kevin Schlossman
4:00pm-4:45pm – Tutti minus percussion: Read-through of Charlie Martin’s The Steadfast Tin Soldier
4:45pm-5:30pm – Tutti minus percussion: Work on Beethoven‘s movements 5 and 4 (in that order)
5:30pm-5:45pm – Break
5:45pm-7:00pm – Sectionals on movements 5 and 4 of Beethoven
Violin 1 with Chien Tan
Violin 2 with Greg Ewer
Viola with Amanda Grimm
Cello/Bass with Nancy Ives
Woodwinds + brass with RGR
Thank you, happy practicing and see you on Jan 21.
Best,
Dr. G.
Dave Miller (host of OPB’s “Think Out Loud”) with composer Elaina Stuppler, Jimmie Herrod and Raúl Gómez-Rojas on Friday, Jan 5, 2024
Rehearsal Plan for Concert Week: Jan 4 to 9, 2024 | MYS Symphony Orchestra
Please see below for our initial rehearsal plan for January 4 to January 9, 2024. This plan is subject to change, and I will notify you if any changes are made. All rehearsals will take place at our regular location: All Saints Catholic School and Church.
As I mentioned in a previous post, we will hold self-submitted, optional leadership auditions for leadership chairs for our March 2024 concert. If you want to participate, you’ll need to record two scales (major & minor) of your choice, plus 3 minutes (minimum) of solo repertoire of your choice. The deadline for submission is Friday, December 22.
Finally, another reminder that I’m conducting The Nutcracker with Oregon Ballet Theatre. There are shows until 12/24. Call the OBT Box Office at 503-222-5538 for student tickets (make sure you select a show with orchestra!).
Happy holidays and happy practicing,
Dr. G.
Bows at the end of a Nutcracker production by Oregon Ballet Theatre, 2023
Thank you for a great rehearsal on Sunday! Please read on to learn about:
Our rehearsal plan for 12/17/23
Submission instructions for our optional Leadership Auditions (due 12/22/23)
Reminder about our Concerto Competition (registration due 12/17/23)
Sign-up form for our Holiday Party Potluck (happening this Sunday after rehearsal)
Rehearsal plan for Sunday, December 17
4:00pm-4:25pm: Tomás Bretón “En la Alhambra”
4:25pm-4:55pm: Kenji Bunch “she flies with her own wings” — at quarter note = 92!!!!! please practice!!
4:55pm-5:15pm: de Freitas “Suite Alentejana No. 2, Finale”
5:15pm-5:30pm: break
5:30pm-5:45pm: “I Want to Run”
5:45pm-6:00pm: “Mouche”
6:00pm-6:15pm: “Beautiful”
6:15pm-6:30pm: “Are You Lonely”
6:30pm-6:45pm: “Willow Bed”
6:45pm-7:00pm: “I Love You”
If you were not at rehearsal on Sunday, or need replacement practice parts, you can access our digital library here. Password is playmys.
Leadership Auditions
As I mentioned in a previous post, we will hold self-submitted, optional leadership auditions for leadership chairs for our March 2024 concert. If you want to participate, you’ll need to record two scales (major & minor) of your choice, plus 3 minutes (minimum) of solo repertoire of your choice. The deadline for submission is Friday, December 22.
Please plan to stay after rehearsal this Sunday to celebrate the holidays together! Families are invited. As soon as rehearsal is done at 7pm, we will reset the room and will start the potluck around 7:15pm. We’ll pick up/clean up between 8:45pm and 9:00pm.
All touring guest musicians are invited, of course!!
Also, please bring your own beverages and reusable cups, plates and utensils.
(keeping this from last week’s post):
Reminder about the timeline leading up to our January 9 concert
If you’re new to MYS Symphony Orchestra this year, it’s important that you understand the quick turn-around that we have before our January concert, with the additional challenge of a holiday break right in the middle.
We have only 2 more rehearsals before our holiday break, and then we come right back to concert week, with evening rehearsals on Thursday, Jan 4; Friday, Jan 5; Saturday, Jan 6, and Sunday, Jan 6 as per our season schedule. There is no rehearsal on Monday, Jan 8, and then our concert is TUESDAY, Jan 9.
This means that your individual preparation (which is always crucial), is more important than ever. So, please practice everything you’re playing!!
Finally, another reminder that I’m conducting The Nutcracker with Oregon Ballet Theatre. There are shows until 12/24. Call the OBT Box Office at 503-222-5538 for student tickets (make sure you select a show with orchestra!).
Best,
Dr. G.
MYSfits in rehearsal before their concert on 12/10/23
