Hi all,
Great work on Sunday (11/2). I think this is going to be a great concert!
See below for a rehearsal recap, a detailed plan for each weeknight rehearsal and other important information.
Best,
Dr. G.
Rehearsal Recap – November 2, 2025
- First half of rehearsal:
- Flute Concerto by Castro D’Addona (all three movements, no soloist). Solid work all around. Please focus on the fast section of the 2nd movement (with metronome), and make sure to understand all the rhythms in movement 3.
- Max’s “Erin’s First Sabbath.” – thanks for picking up the new parts. If you were missing on Sunday, please make sure to grab the new parts on Thursday. There are important differences. Strings: make sure to copy the bowings from the first stands into your parts. We worked backwards on Sunday, covering from R to the end of the piece in good detail. We did a little work from K to R, and the transition to letter G for a few bars.
- Second half:
- Brahms, movement 4: I intended to also cover movements 3 and 2, but we ended up spending the whole time on the 4th movement. We did good work on it, though. From now until Thursday evening, please make sure to practice difficult passages in the whole symphony, and just as importantly, please listen to recordings!! “Know how it goes,” as I often find myself saying.
- Keeping this bullet point from last week: This whole symphony requires constant engagement and attention, so we can realize all the many small (but very important) details. The moment we disengage and go into “automatic pilot,” that’s when we lose details like articulation, intention and balance.
Rehearsal Plan for Thursday, November 6, 2025
- Arrival: 6:45pm at the latest – EVERYBODY SIGN IN IN CAFETERIA.
- 7:00pm-7:30pm: Evans-McGlothin, Erin’s First Sabbath – if you were missing on 11/2, get your final parts here.
- 7:30pm-9:30pm: Brahms Symphony – Working run-through of whole symphony, in order. We’ll take a break somewhere in the middle.
- 9:30pm – help reset the room and make sure no doors are left propped open.
Rehearsal Plan for Friday, November 7, 2025
- Arrival: 6:45pm at the latest – EVERYBODY SIGN IN IN CAFETERIA.
- 7:00pm-8:00pm: Castro D’Addona, whole concerto (with soloist)
- 8:00pm-9:30pm: Brahms Symphony – Work based on how things went Thursday night. We’ll take a break somewhere in the middle.
- 9:30pm – help reset the room and make sure no doors are left propped open.
Rehearsal Plan for Saturday, November 8, 2025
- Arrival: 6:45pm at the latest – EVERYBODY SIGN IN IN CAFETERIA.
- DRESS REHEARSAL IN CONCERT ORDER (times are approximate)
- 7:00pm-7:20pm: Evans-McGlothin, Erin’s First Sabbath
- 7:20pm-8:00pm: Castro D’Addona, whole concerto (with soloist)
- 8:00pm-8:10pm: break
- 8:10pm-9:30pm: Brahms Symphony – Full run-through and spot-checking after.
- 9:30pm – help reset the room and make sure no doors are left propped open.
Call Sheet and Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, November 9, 2025
- Everybody got a hard copy of our call sheet on Sunday 11/2. If you were missing, you can find it here. It’s also on our website, and Mark has sent it out via email.
- 2:30pm – call time for percussionists and Group Managers
- 3:00pm – call time for everybody else (see instructions on call sheet)
- Rehearsal plan (times are approximate)
- 3:30pm: Evans-McGlothin
- 3:45pm: Castro D’Addona
- 4:00pm-4:50pm: Brahms
Looking ahead: Rehearsal on November 16
We will start new music on 11/16 (Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6). CAN.NOT.WAIT!!!!!!!!
I’ll send new part assignments on Wednesday, 11/12, based mostly on your leadership auditions.
Also, please note that we will have an earlier start and an abbreviated rehearsal on 11/16 (4:30pm-6:30pm) due to the MYS Community Concert that evening. It would be fantastic for all of you to attend this concert. Our Jazz Ensembles are performing, as well as MYSfits with GRAMMY-winning guests from Boston A Far Cry.
We have a regular rehearsal on 11/23, and then we’re off on 11/30.
String Players: represent MYS at this Oregon Chorale program
Represent MYS in a couple of performances with the Oregon Chorale in December: the Oregon Chorale will be the choir joining MYS Symphony Orchestra in June 2026 for our performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, and we are thrilled to collaborate with them.
They are looking for a small string ensemble to join them for their holiday concerts. Please click here for details and to sign up.
MYS SYMPHONY Part Assignments, Orchestra Schedule, Repertoire, Audio Reference, etc…
Winds + brass players: we will remove some of the doublings in Castro D’Addona’s flute concerto, but everybody will play. I’ll let you know the plan before our Thursday rehearsal.
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)
Dr. G.
IT’S CONCERT TIME!!!!!!