CONCERT Orchestra Notes – 9/9/25 | Metropolitan Youth Symphony

Posted on September 9, 2025September 9, 2025 by mys-staff

Hi all,

Thanks for a great first rehearsal! I was very pleased with our first session on Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 6, and look forward to continuing work on the Smyth Symphony.

Please see below for a rehearsal recap, our rehearsal plan for 9/14, and more. Please make sure to read this entire post!

NOTE for low brass: our arranger sent me the new low brass parts for the Smyth piece. I had a few corrections and edits, and we expect the final version back soon. I’ll email you separately with the parts when we have them.

Thanks!

Dr. G.

Rehearsal Recap – 9/7/25

We had our initial informational meeting. We set clear expectations for our rehearsals and season.
You filled out your questionnaire, imagining you were answering in June of 2026 and looking back on this season. I’ve saved everybody’s sheets and will give them back to you at the end of the school year.
We did good work on the first half (or so) of the Brahms. We did lighter work on the second half of the piece.
We did a slow, basic read-through of the exposition of the Smyth piece.

Rehearsal Plan – 9/14/25

Please arrive by 1:45pm at All Saints: 601 NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97232. We can always use extra hands to help set up the room if you are able to get there closer to 1:30pm.
1:45pm – EVERYBODY SIGN IN IN CAFETERIA. Then, strings go to the Pavilion; winds/brass set up in the regular space (cafeteria)
2:00pm-3:15pm – strings sectional in Pavilion with Casey Bozell; winds/brass sectional with Adam Eccleson in cafeteria
- Please focus on Smyth: beginning to letter D – our goal tempo for this piece will be dotted quarter = 112. For this rehearsal, be prepared to play accurately at dotted quarter = 90.
3:15pm-3:30pm – break (strings: come back to cafeteria)
3:30pm-4:30pm – Smyth: beginning to letter D, dotted quarter = 90
4:30pm-5:00pm – Brahms: letter [F] (“Vivo”) to end – our goal tempo for the “vivo” sections of this piece will be quarter = 148. For this rehearsal, be prepared to play accurately at quarter = 120.

MYS CONCERT Orchestra Updated Part Assignments

I made a few updates to our part assignments (in the winds only) to reflect changes made at rehearsal. Please click on the button on the sidebar under “CONCERT ORCHESTRA LINKS” (or scroll down if you’re on your phone) to see the most updated version of the PDF.

MYS CONCERT Orchestra Schedule, Repertoire, Audio Reference, etc…

You can always find the most updated versions of these documents on the sidebar of this blog (or down below if you’re on mobile). I will always give you a heads-up if there are any changes in any of these PDFs.

Regarding the YouTube playlist linked under “C.O. Audio/Video Reference Playlist” (also linked on the sidebar), I won’t necessarily give you a heads-up when I add stuff here. Check weekly just in case!

Taking suggestions for our spring term challenge piece!

On Sunday, a member of the orchestra gave me the wonderful idea of asking YOU for suggestions for our spring term challenge piece. I think that’s brilliant. Thank you for the idea! Below are the overall requirements for this piece. If you think of anything, please email me and I’ll add your suggestion to my list! If there are 2 or 3 suitable options, I might have you all vote.

Duration: about 10 minutes maximum (this can be a single movement of a larger piece, a stand-alone concert piece, or a combination of a few shorter movements).
Instrumentation: full symphony orchestra (woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings). Harp and piano are welcome too.
Difficulty: realistic for the ensemble. We want it to be challenging, but not overwhelmingly difficult. If in doubt, send me your suggestion anyway and I’ll let you know.

Find PDF Practice Parts at the MYS Online Music Library

If you lose your part, or need to access a digital copy for any reason, you can find one in our Online Music Library. Look for the button “C.O. Music Library” on the sidebar or the bottom of this blog page. The password is playmys.

Register for Music Theory

Our intermediate and advanced Music Theory classes take place on Monday or Tuesday evenings, starting September 29 or 30. This class is STRONGLY recommended for everyone. More information and registration here.

Availability for private lessons

I don’t take long-term regular private students, but this season I will have some availability on Monday afternoons for “one-off” violin, viola or conducting lessons. The lessons can be in person at my home studio in SE Portland, 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,
(and don’t forget to bring a music stand)