CONCERT Orchestra Notes – September 15, 2026
Hi everyone,
What a joyful way to start our season! Thank you for being a part of our first ever set of rehearsals at our new space.
Please remember to plan your practicing strategically so that you are fully prepared for each rehearsal. Also, please write your name on your sheet music!! I forgot to remind you to do this on Sunday.
Keep an eye out for Mark’s Weekly Announcements tomorrow (Wednesday).
Finally, please see below for important rehearsal notes.
Best,
Dr. G.
weekend rehearsals left before concert:
8
Rehearsal Recap: Sunday, September 13
- We spent the first portion of rehearsal time together with Symphony Orchestra musicians in our Performance Hall. We introduced our Group Managers and Coaches, and talked about expectations for the season, including:
- Arrive 15 minutes before the beginning of rehearsal.
- Sign in upon arrival by initialing next to your name on the sign-in sheet.
- Add all concerts and rehearsals to your calendars, including additional rehearsals the day before concerts, and any Thursday evening rehearsals for strings (check the Season Calendar linked on the side bar – or at the bottom of the page if you are on a mobile device).
- Please communicate absences in advance, and keep in mind that the maximum number of absences allowed per term is three. (That said, ideally, you’ll have zero absences).
- Remember that MYS is NOT a hyper-competitive environment. Rather, it is a nurturing environment where STUDENTS SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND INSPIRE ONE ANOTHER. That said, there is a clear expectation of being prepared for each rehearsal (meaning you have to practice and learn your part at home and with your private teacher).
- Please always bring a pencil (and use it!), a full spill-proof water bottle and a music stand.
- After our welcoming meeting, we split into sectionals.
- Strings went downstairs to the Contrabassment and worked with Vijeta Sathyaraj.
- Woodwinds, brass and percussion went to the Fireside Room and worked with Adam Eccleston.
- After the break, the full orchestra worked with me (RGR) on Les Toréadors and a tiny bit on Habanera.
- Les Toréadors:
- Strings: bow placement is essential. Most of the fast, short stuff should be played in the lower half.
- Tutti: dynamic contrast is super important. Make sure to practice dynamics as well as rhythm and notes.
- Cellos and basses: pay special attention to 4 bars before [B]. This should be 100% ready to go next week.
- Woodwinds and strings: please pay special attention to 8 bars before [E]. This should also be 100% ready to go next rehearsal.
- Habanera:
- Trumpets and clarinets: we’ll figure out your parts for this movement. We’ll look for parts in B-flat for you. I’ll be in touch this week about this. Clarinets: in the meantime, see if you can borrow an A clarinet at school or from your teacher(s), or rent one. You’ll 100% need one when you join Symphony Orchestra eventually. Trumpets: this might also be a good opportunity to practice transposing. Feel free to add names of transposed notes with pencil on your parts.
- The habanera rhythm in the bass line will be played with a slightly delayed 16th note. Almost closer to the last note in a sextuplet.
- We only spent about 2 minutes on this movement. Essentially, just a read-through.
- Les Toréadors:
CONCERT ORCHESTRA – Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, September 20
- 5:00pm: arrival & check-in
- Please go directly to your sectional rooms. The sign-in sheets will be in each room (Contrabassment and Fireside Room).
- 5:15pm-6:30pm: sectionals! – work on Danse Bohème, and if there’s extra time revisit spots in Les Toréadors and Habanera.
- Strings with Vijeta Sathyaraj (violin, Oregon Symphony) @ Contrabassment.
- Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion with Kimberly Minson (horn, Oregon Symphony) @ Fireside Room.
- 6:30pm-7:00pm: break
- 7:00pm-8:30pm: full orchestra rehearsal with RGR
- Les Toréadors: review 4 bars before [B] and 8 bars before [E].
- Habanera: I’ll explain the fermata 3 after [D] and 2 before the end.
- Danse Bohème: work through entire movement. Note my tempos below:
- beginning: quarter = 100
- 4th bar of [I]: quarter = 126
- 1 before [N]: quarter = 138
- 2 before [P]: quarter = 152
Audio/Video Reference Playlist
I’ve created a YouTube playlist that you can use as a resource to listen to our repertoire. This playlist is linked on the side bar of this page (or at the bottom if you’re on a mobile device).
Please use it! Or even better: use it and find even more recordings by different orchestras and conductors. The more you listen to our repertoire, the better you’ll understand the big picture of the music.
MYS Online Music Library
All parts are available on our website as PDF files. Please go to our Online Music Library. It is linked on the side bar of this page (or at the bottom if you’re on a mobile device). The password is playmys.
This is useful if you lose your hard copies and need to print fresh ones at home, or if you want to use a digital device (like an iPad with a Bluetooth page turning pedal).
Bring your friends to MYS
If you have friends at school who would enjoy playing with us, send me their name and email and I’m happy to reach out. Or, you could give them my email. Right now, in this orchestra, we could use more violas, basses, brass and percussion.
Availability for private lessons
I don’t take long-term regular private students, but this season I will have some availability for “one-off” violin, viola or conducting lessons. The lessons can be at MYS, 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!
Dr. G.
MYS Conductor Erica Boland in rehearsal with Interlude Orchestra at our new building | 9/12/26 | Photo by MYS