Hi everyone,
What an exhilarating first rehearsal of the 4th movement of Brahms! Great work.
Please see below for a rehearsal recap and our rehearsal plan for 9/14. I’m also including other important information. Please make sure to read this whole post.
Thanks!
Dr. G.
Rehearsal Recap – 9/14/25
- We had our initial informational meeting. We set clear expectations for our rehearsals and season. I brought special attention to the three GIANT major-rep symphonies we’ll be playing this year.
- 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 our June concert.
- We read through (and worked a tiny bit) on the entire 4th movement of the Brahms Symphony.
Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, September 14, 2025
- Please arrive by 5:15pm at All Saints: 601 NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97232.
- 5:15pm – EVERYBODY SIGN IN IN CAFETERIA. Then, strings go to the Pavilion; winds/brass stay in the cafeteria.
- 5:30pm-6:45pm – strings sectional in Pavilion with me; winds/brass sectional with Adam Eccleson in cafeteria
- I’d like to carry some of the momentum of the 4th movement of Brahms into this sectional, so, please practice the entire 4th movement at home this week. Our goal tempo for the main Allegro section will be quarter = 136. For this week, prepare all fast passage work at quarter = 110.
- 6:45pm-7:00pm – break (strings: come back to cafeteria)
- 7:00pm-8:00pm – Brahms: movement 4
- 8:00pm-8:30pm – Castro D’Addona: movement 1 – please practice this at home!! You should NOT be sight reading at this rehearsal. I’ve added audio reference tracks to our YouTube playlist (linked on the sidebar or bottom of this page). Listen to the music as part of your preparation!
- 8:30pm – help reset the room
MYS SYMPHONY Orchestra Updated Part Assignments
I made a few updates to our part assignments (violin 1, viola, horns) to reflect personnel changes. Please click on the button on the sidebar under “SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LINKS” (or scroll down if you’re on your phone) to see the most updated version of the PDF.
MYS SYMPHONY 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 “S.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! I did just add audio files for Giancarlo’s flute concerto.
PDF Practice Parts
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 “S.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.
Reminder: Concerto Competition
This is coming fast!! The first deadline for pre-approval is Monday, October 6. You must email me with your music selection(s) by this date. This webpage on our website has all you need to know about our Concerto Competition. I hope many of you will participate. Your completed forms (registration and teacher approval) are due by Wednesday, October 8. Video entries are due Friday, October 10, and the live final round is October 24.
Recruit for 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 percussionists, french horns and one trombone. Concert Orchestra has openings too.
Need celesta (piano) player for Castro
If anybody in the orchestra is a highly advanced piano player, and you’d like to play the celesta part in the Flute Concerto, please let me know! I’d love to fill this part with someone who’s already in the orchestra. Here’s the part for your perusal.
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 on Sunday)
Dr. G.
MYS students in last season’s photo shoot (August, 2024) | Photo by Sheepscot Creative