These auditions will be done by self-recorded video. Detailed submission instructions will be sent in the coming days.
The following instruments are exempt from submitting an audition (because there is only one “official” member of the section, or because there are already other processes in place): tuba, harp, piano, percussion.
Happy practicing!
Dr. G.
From “Rooted” on March 3, 2024. Photo by Richard Kolbell.
Congrats on a very successful concert! Thank you for your hard work, especially during the last couple of weeks.
A special shout-out to our soloist Ian Ko, who absolutely smashed the Lalo concerto. Way to go! Another shout-out to Ethan Ferguson, who stepped up to play the horn solos in the Beethoven symphony.
Group shout-outs to all the woodwind soloists in Beethoven, brass players and ALL woodwinds in Tin Soldier; harps, piano and percussion in Pando; string principals in the whole concert; and strings and EVERYBODY for such sensitive accompaniment of the cello concerto.
NEW REPERTOIRE
We move right into our updated spring concert program, listed below.
Touring guests will not play Capriccio Espagnol or Music for an Imaginary Cartoon.
SEATING AUDITIONS – CAPRICCIO ESPAGNOL (for all regular SO members)
We will have seating auditions this term. We will use excerpts from Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol. Only regular members of Symphony Orchestra will play Capriccio Espagnol (no tour guests).
These video auditions will be due Wednesday, April 3. The list of excerpts will be communicated in the coming days, as well as submission instructions.
REHEARSAL PLAN for Sunday, March 10
I will communicate our specific rehearsal plan and a temporary seating roster on Thursday this week.
Most likely, the first half of rehearsal will be spent on Moncayo (with touring guests), and the second half will be Rimsky-Korsakov. Again, I will confirm on Thursday.
Thanks, and congratulations again on the concert!
Best,
Dr. G.
Photo by friend of MYS William Gilliland
Hypermeter in Movement 3 of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6
Click here to download a marked-up PDF with the hypermeter in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, Movement 3. I strongly recommend that you transfer the hypermeter markings to your individual parts, especially around tricky entrances of solos.
Below is a good definition of “hypermeter” if needed.
Hypermeter is a perceived, metric organization higher than the regular meter (3/4, 6/8, etc.). Typically, each regular measure represents one “hyperbeat” in a “hypermeasure.” Quadruple is the most common hypermeter. In quadruple hypermeter, four regular measures combine to create one hypermeasure, but duple (two measures = one hypermeasure) is also common, and triple (three measures = one hypermeasure) is less common. Hypermeasures are typically perceived due to changes and/or repetitions that take place during that span of time. For example, if a passage contains a four-measure phrase and its immediate repetition, the passage can be heard as two, four-measure hypermeasures. Similarly, a four-measure phrase followed by a distinctly contrasting four-measure phrase can produce the same result. Like regular meter, hypermeter tends to be mostly the same throughout a work, but irregular lengths can occur (typically due to phrase expansion techniques). Some pieces may not have a perceivable hypermeter. More here.
Best,
Dr. G.
Rehearsal Plan for Concert Week: Feb 29 to March 3, 2024 | MYS Symphony Orchestra
It’s one week before our concert. It’s time to be practicing EVERYTHING, and listening constantly to recordings of the music we are performing (when available, like Beethoven and Lalo).
Reminder: EVERYBODY should arrive by 3:45pm. Percussionists should arrive even earlier to set up.
Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, February 25
4:00pm-5:30pm – Percussionists with Kevin
4:00pm-5:00pm – Lalo Cello Concerto (with Ian)
5:00pm-5:30pm – Pando
5:30pm-5:45pm – Break
Tutti (including percussion and all brass)
5:45pm-6:30pm – Beethoven, movs 3, 4
6:30pm-7:00pm: – Tin Soldier
Practice everything! See you on Sunday.
Best,
Dr. G.
Photo by Richard Kolbell – “Just Jimmie” Concert, Jan 9, 2024
Rehearsal Plan for Feb 18, 2024 | MYS Symphony Orchestra
Our concert is coming up sooner than you may think! It’s in two weeks (!!) from this coming Sunday (2/18). Please make sure you’re practicing the entire repertoire on your own.
Reminder: EVERYBODY should arrive by 3:45pm. Percussionists should arrive even earlier to set up.
Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, February 18
4:00pm-5:30pm – Percussionists with Kevin
4:00pm-5:30pm – Trumpets and low brass: sectional in separate room on Pando and Tin Soldier
4:00pm-5:30pm – Beethoven: strings, woodwinds and FRENCH HORNS (!!)
Movs. 2 and 3
5:30pm-5:45pm – Break
Tutti (including percussion and all brass)
5:45pm-6:15pm – Pando: (tour repertoire, with touring guests)
6:15pm-6:35pm: – Tin Soldier
6:35pm-7:00pm – Lalo Cello Concerto (mov 1) – (no tour guests)
Practice strategically! See you on Sunday.
Best,
Dr. G.
Photo by Richard Kolbell – “Just Jimmie” Concert, Jan 9, 2024
Rehearsal Plan for Feb 11, 2024 | MYS Symphony Orchestra
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
