All members of the orchestra are expected to submit their audition video by the deadline of Tuesday, October 28.

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.
• Upload your video to YouTube and make sure to set the video privacy to “unlisted.”
• Submit your audition on this Google form.

Audition Excerpts

Flute 1 and 2

Please record from the part you’ll be playing at the concert.

Bassoon 1, 2 & Contra

Please record from the part you’ll be playing at the concert.

• Brahms, mov 1: K to m. 360 (dotted quarter = 108)
• Brahms, mov 4: m. 257 to m. 284 (quarter = 132)
• Castro, mov 1: L to M (eight note = 136)

Horn

Please record the Brahms excerpts from the 1st horn part, and the Castro excerpt from the part you’ll be playing at the concert.

• Brahms, mov 2: E (with pick-ups) to m. 105 (quarter = 48)
• Brahms, mov 4: B to 3 before C (quarter = 60)
• Castro, mov 1: L to M (eight note = 136)

Trumpet

Please record from the part you’ll be playing at the concert.

• Brahms, mov. 1: m. 313 (with pick-up) to L (dotted quarter = 108)
• Brahms, mov. 3: m. 101, take first ending, end at m. 87
• Castro, mov 1: D with pick-ups (thinking in 4; dotted eight note = 136)
• Castro, mov 1: m. 63 to m. 70 (eight note = 136)

Trombone

Please record from the part you’ll be playing at the concert.

• Brahms, mov 1: E to m. 186 (from adapted part; dotted quarter = 108)
• Brahms, mov 4: C to m. 61 (from original part; quarter = 66)
• Castro, mov 1: L to M (eight note = 136)
• Castro, mov 2: 4 after C (quarter = 86)

Violin 1

• Brahms, mov 1: K (with 1 note pick-up) to downbeat of M (dotted quarter = 108)
• Brahms, mov 4: 1 before D (with pick-up) to downbeat of 132 (quarter = 132)
• Castro, mov 2: m. 152 (with pick-ups) to P (dotted half (aka each bar) = 72)

Violin 2

• Brahms, mov 1: K to downbeat of M (dotted quarter = 108)
• Brahms, mov 4: 1 before D (with pick-up) to downbeat of 132 (quarter = 132)
• Castro, mov 2: m. 155 (with pick-up) to downbeat of P (dotted half (aka each bar) = 72)

Viola

• Brahms, mov 1: K to downbeat of M (dotted quarter = 108)
• Brahms, mov 4: K to m. 249 (quarter = 132)
• Castro, mov 1: m. 80 to downbeat of M (dotted quarter = 68)

Cello

• Brahms, mov 1: K to downbeat of M (dotted quarter = 108)
• Brahms, mov 4: K to m. 248 (quarter = 132)
• Castro, mov 2: m. O to 187 (dotted half (aka each bar) = 72)

Bass

• Brahms, mov 1: E to m. 189 (dotted quarter = 108)
• Brahms, mov 2: m. 47 (with pick-up) to m. 60 (quarter = 48)
• Castro, mov 1: K to downbeat of M (dotted quarter = 68)

All members of the orchestra are expected to submit their audition video by the deadline of Tuesday, October 28.

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. The tempos are as follows:
  • Smyth: dotted quarter = 112
  • Brahms (vivo tempo): quarter = 148
• Upload your video to YouTube and make sure to set the video privacy to “unlisted.”
• Submit your audition on this Google form.

Audition Excerpts

Flute 1

• Smyth:  H to m. 233
• Smyth: m. 263 to M
• Brahms: (piccolo part): 8 before H to end

Oboes (both parts)

• Smyth: letter B to m. 53
• Smyth: m. 261 to M
• Brahms: 11 before H to end

Clarinets (both parts)

• Smyth: letter H to m. 228
• Smyth: m. 263 to M
• Brahms: letter G to end

Bassoon 1

• Smyth: letter H to m. 233
• Smyth: m. 263 to M
• Brahms: letter G to end

Horns (all parts)

• Smyth: m. 68, take 1st ending and repeat, end at m. 8
• Smyth: m. 182 to letter G
• Brahms: H to end

Trombones (both parts)

• Smyth: m. 68, take 1st ending and repeat, end at m. 8
• Smyth: m. 182 to letter G

Tuba

• Smyth: m. 179 to letter G
• Brahms: H to end

Violin 1

• Smyth: m. 106 to downbeat of m. 142
• Smyth: m. 265 to downbeat of M
• Brahms: letter G to end (play your assigned divisi)

Violin 2

• Smyth: m. 109 to downbeat of m. 142
• Smyth: m. 263 to downbeat of M
• Brahms: letter G to end (play your assigned divisi)

Viola

• Smyth: m. 105 to downbeat of m. 142
• Smyth: m. 263 to downbeat of M
• Brahms: letter G to end (play your assigned divisi)

Cello

• Smyth: m. 67, take 2nd ending, end at m. 86
• Smyth: 2 before E to downbeat of m. 142
• Brahms: letter C (take repeat and finish at second ending) – quarter note = 69

Bass

• Smyth: m. 35 to m. 51
• Smyth: 2 before E to downbeat of m. 137
• Brahms: letter H to end

Hi MYSfits,

Great work on Sunday at our Sunday Parkways performance. Really fantastic work in only two rehearsals. Please read on for important updates.

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Repertoire Update

Our performance at All Classical on September 25 is just around the corner. For this performance, we will only play Holst (all four movements). Please prioritize this in your practicing this week.

After our All Classical performance, we will add two more pieces to prepare for our concert with A Far Cry in November: Lyric by George Walker, and a movement of Songs of the River Po, by local composer Deena T. Grossman.

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Thursday, 9/25 – All Classical Thursdays @ Three arrival details

From our friends at All Classical:

• Location: All Classical Radio, 222 SW Columbia St. Suite 300, Portland, OR 97201
• Arrival time for soundcheck: 1:00 PM. Your group will perform on the first half of the show.
• Parking: There are several *paid* parking options near KOIN:
  • KOIN Center Parking – 151 SW Clay St; located on the right side of the street between 1st and 2nd Aves
  • Street Parking – pay via the Parking Kitty app
• Video/photography: While photography is allowed during the show, taking videos of any kind is not permitted (by audience or performers). You are welcome to record video footage during soundcheck. Thank you for your understanding.

Parents/families: you may reserve tickets to attend this free performance here. 

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Updates to MYSfits calendar in November

A few changes to our calendar in November:

• New: rehearsal with A Far Cry on Wednesday, 11/12, 6pm-9pm
• Time change: rehearsal with A Far Cry on Friday, 11/14: now 7pm-9:30pm
• Cancelled: rehearsal with A Far Cry on Saturday, 11/15

I’ve reflected these changes on the calendar that’s linked on the sidebar of this blog. Please update your calendars accordingly. 

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Thanks,
Dr. G.

MYSfits at All Classical Radio – November 21, 2024 | Photo by MYS

Hi all,

We’ve had a few more people sign up to join us since my last email. Woohoo! Below are answers to a few questions I’ve received, as well as the information that went out in my previous email, before a few folks signed up. 

1. Memorization: not required! Though please familiarize yourself with the words and music so you can look up as much as possible and connect with esperanza and the audience. 

2. Attire: all black. For more details go to page 6 here. (ignore the “black mask optional” part, it’s outdated!)

3. Sheet music. Please print your own. However, if you cannot print, please shoot me an e-mail and we’ll print for you. 

4. Black binder. Please bring a plain, black binder for your sheet music. If you cannot source one, please let us know and we’ll help out. 

5. Call sheet. Our current call sheet for the concert day can be accessed here. Most important information: call time at the Schnitz on 6/17 is 2:30pm. Rehearsal on stage from 3pm to 4:15pm. At the concert, singers will enter the choir loft during intermission. Stay tuned for more information about backstage space for you, etc. 

6. Sign-ups will be open until Friday 6/13. Please feel free to spread the word further. We’d love to welcome even more singers. Here’s a link to the sign-up form: https://forms.gle/NdQpQt77ZSYyGNnU7
———————————-
Information from original email: 

REPERTOIRE

1. esperanza spalding: Ebony and Ivy

– UPDATED CHOIR PART (AS OF 6/12/25)

– Full score for reference. 

– Reference recording.

2. esperanza spalding: Dispelling the Lie of Lies (MYS commission, world premiere)

– Voice part (PRINT THIS ONE – unison for all, to be sung with orchestra singing as well)

– Full score for reference

– MIDI mock audio reference (the three singing sections happen at 5m46s, 11m33s and 13m24s)

– Video for practicing vocal part.

SCHEDULE

– Detailed rehearsal plans are here. Location is All Saints Catholic School: 601 NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97232

[update 6/10/25]

Hi all,

This event has been canceled. We will keep everybody posted about a rescheduled date in the 2025-2026 season.

Thanks!!

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The Oregon Symphony has selected MYS to take part in a side-by-side opportunity in June, in collaboration with the Young Composers Project.

We will be workshopping a brand new piece from the OS’s first-ever Emerging Composer Fellowship. Their inaugural fellow is Caleb Palka, an MYS alum. Caleb was the first composer to be commissioned by The Authentic Voice, MYS’s collaboration with the Young Composers Project, back in 2017.

Please mark your calendars for:

• Saturday, June 21 – 10:00am-12:00pm (rehearsal with Dr. G.)
• Sunday, June 22 – 4:00pm-6:30pm (session with Oregon Symphony musicians and David Danzmayr)

Location will be All Saints Catholic School (our usual rehearsal space).

I realize that this is after our last concert on June 17, and some of you might be unavailable. We will send out an RSVP form so you can let us know if you can be there.

For now, please do pencil in those dates. We are honored to have been invited by the Oregon Symphony.

Thanks!

Dr. G.

Oregon Symphony with Music Director David Danzmayr | Photo by Oregon Symphony

Hi all,

A quick note about tempi in “Drums,” for those of you joining this Sunday or next week:

All tempi will be performed as printed, with the following exceptions/notes:

• m. 421: no subito tempo change. Instead, stay at half-note = 126 and ritardando to 88.
• m. 441: tempo should be half note = 108
• m. 473: tempo should be half note = 88
• m. 489: we will play this a tempo (no allargando), at half note = 126

Thanks and see you soon!

James P. Johnson

With MP3s from each composer. Enjoy!

MP3s can be accessed here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/rbekpm67t4k791o09bf66/AIwtRJF8ynTXUoFnpRQT8Ag?rlkey=z9qk13kbakxvq2ngmxsvez2y8&dl=0