SYMPHONY Orchestra Notes for 10/5/25 | Metropolitan Youth Symphony

Posted on September 30, 2025October 5, 2025 by mys-staff

Hi everyone,

Well, Sunday’s rehearsal was “one of those,” wasn’t it? I found myself having to give a “speech.” The level of preparation of many members of the orchestra fell quite short of the expectations that were set on day 1. I hope it was clear that my words come from a place of trust and kindness. You all have earned a spot in this orchestra through your hard work. Please continue honoring your commitment to the group by practicing regularly and always being fully prepared for every single rehearsal. That’s how we make it fun, enjoyable and productive.

So, again; please, please, please: you must be prepared for rehearsal. Look at my rehearsal plan on Tuesday and plan your practicing based on it. Come Sunday, you should:

know what we’re rehearsing
have practiced what we’re rehearsing
have listened to recordings of what we’re rehearsing
have all necessary materials (printed sheet music, mutes, accessories, auxiliary instruments)
have the correct instrument (relevant to transposing instruments), or the correct printed parts for your instrument

Of course, you can always dig even deeper: read about the composers and pieces we’re playing, listen to other compositions by the same composer, watch videos about the composers and the music, consult a full score (available in our digital music library), mark your part with information from the score, etc, etc, etc… The more you can do, the more you’ll get out of the music and the experience of playing it.

Finally, as per our season schedule, I am due to announce winter term leadership audition excerpts this week. Expect another email from me on Thursday with this information. These short video auditions will be due on Tuesday, October 28.

Alright, see below for a rehearsal recap and rehearsal plan for Sun, Oct. 5.

Best,

Dr. G.

Rehearsal Recap – September 21, 2025

First half of rehearsal: Horns had a coaching with Jeff Garza from the Oregon Symphony, while trumpets and low brass had a coaching with Joe Klause. I worked with the strings and woodwinds on movements 2 and 3 of the Brahms Symphony. We read both movements, and then did some detailed work on movement 2 (beginning to right before letter C).
It was in the midst of the first half of rehearsal that I spoke to the orchestra about commitment to the ensemble, and the expectation of regular practice at home and excellent preparation for each rehearsal.
After the break, we enjoyed a solo violin performance and Q/A with Simone Porter, who is the Oregon Symphony’s new Artist in Residence.
After our time with Simone, the tutti orchestra worked on the 3rd movement of Brahms (beginning to m. 108). It went better than the first half of rehearsal.

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, October 5, 2025

Arrival: 5:15pm – EVERYBODY SIGN IN IN CAFETERIA.
5:30pm-6:45pm – coachings and sectionals
- Strings with RGR in cafeteria – work on Brahms – mov 1
- Brass with Adam Eccleston in pavilion – work on Castro – rhythmically tricky spots in whole piece
- Flutes with Zach Galatis – work on Brahms (coach’s choice from whole symphony)
- Oboes with Martin Hebert – work on Brahms (coach’s choice from whole symphony)
- Clarinets with Lisa Lipton – work on Brahms (coach’s choice from whole symphony)
- Bassoons with Kai Rocke – work on Brahms (coach’s choice from whole symphony)
6:45pm-7:00pm – break (everybody back to cafeteria)
7:00pm-7:30pm – “Erin’s First Sabbath” by Max Evans-McGlothin (YCP piece). You picked up your parts on Sunday. Please practice! I’ve posted the computer-generated audio on our YouTube playlist.
7:30pm-8:30pm – 3rd and 2nd movements of Castro‘s Flute Concerto.
8:30pm – help reset the room and make sure no doors are left propped open.

Come hear me play viola with Oregon Symphony musicians

I’ll be playing viola with Oregon Symphony musicians at the upcoming ChatterPDX concert on Sunday, October 5 at 10:30pm. We’ll be performing Tchaikovsky’s String Sextet “Souvenir de Florence.” Details and tickets here. I hope to see many of you there.

Brahms: 1st Violin fingerings from San Francisco Symphony

Our coach from Sunday (Eri) shared this with me. If you play 1st violin in the Brahms Symphony, feel free to check out these fingerings, and transfer them to your parts if you like them.

Reminder: Concerto Competition

This is coming fast!! The first deadline for pre-approval is ~~Monday, October 6~~ Wednesday, October 8. 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.

MYS SYMPHONY Part Assignments, Orchestra Schedule, Repertoire, Audio Reference, etc…

No updates to any of these documents this week. Be sure to visit the YouTube playlist (now for Giancarlo’s piece and Max’s piece). Feel free to create your own playlists on your favorite streaming service. The important thing is that you LISTEN regularly and frequently.

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.

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.

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)