SYMPHONY Orchestra Notes for February 1, 2026
Dear MYS Symphony Orchestra,
Thanks for another fun rehearsal on Sunday, Jan 25. We only have 4 more weekend rehearsals before our concert on March 1st, and the month of February always flies by. And once more: please make sure our evening rehearsals leading up to the concert are on your calendar.
At this point, you should be covering our entire program in your practice sessions (not everything in one day, but everything throughout the week). Make sure you have enough mastery of your individual parts so that in rehearsal (and at the performance) you can be free to listen and FEEL.
Also, a reminder to NOT leave your leadership audition for the last minute. Details below.
Please see below for a rehearsal recap, plans for Feb 1 and more information.
Best,
Dr. G.
weekend rehearsals left before concert:
4
Recap – January 25, 2026
- Sectionals:
- Winds/brass worked with Mr. Wakeley on movement 1 (Allegro vivo to the end), and a bit of movement 2
- Strings worked with me on movement 1 (L to end), and most of movement 2
- Tutti: we spent 45 minutes on the 2nd movement of Tchaik., and 45 minutes on the Reinecke Flute Concerto with soloist Dana Sparling.
Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, February 1, 2026
- Arrival: 5:15pm – EVERYBODY SIGN IN IN CAFETERIA.
- 5:30pm-6:45pm: sectionals (last Sunday of sectionals in the winter term)
- Tchaikovsky, Movement 3
- Strings @ cafeteria (RGR)
- Woodwinds+brass @ pavilion (Robert Wakeley)
- Tchaikovsky, Movement 3
- 6:45pm-7:00pm: break
- 7:00pm-8:00pm: Tchaikovsky, Movement 4
- 7:45pm-8:30pm: James Lee’s Gganbu – please practice along to the YouTube video with the audio for this piece.
- 8:30pm – help reset the room and make sure no doors are left propped open.
Leadership Audition for Spring Term – Instructions and Excerpts
Keeping this here from last week, in case you missed it:
I’ve posted instructions and excerpts for our Spring Leadership Auditions here.
As per our season schedule, the videos are due on Tuesday, February 10th. Pro tip: don’t leave this for the last minute. Most orchestra sections have 4 excerpts to record. A possible plan could be to record one excerpt per week.
Every member of the orchestra is expected to submit a video. This will determine leadership roles for our spring term (along with attendance records).
MYS SYMPHONY Part Assignments, Orchestra Schedule, Repertoire, Audio Reference, etc…
No changes this week. Everything is linked on the sidebar of this page (or bottom of the page if on mobile).
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.
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 percussionists. 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.
MYS Symphony Orchestra | Fall 2025 | Photo by MYS