SYMPHONY Orchestra Notes for January 18, 2026
Dear MYS Symphony Orchestra,
Thank you for a fun rehearsal on Sunday, January 11. We didn’t get to the flute concerto, but I thought we did very important work on the 4th movement of the Tchaikovsky symphony.
Please see below for our rehearsal plan for January 18, as well as information and excerpts for our upcoming leadership auditions (due Feb. 10). — Note for Concert Orchestra brass players: you will be considered to join Symphony Orchestra permanently with your leadership audition for this group.
Best,
Dr. G.
weekend rehearsals left before concert:
6
Recap – January 11, 2026
- Winds/brass sectional: we worked on the 3rd movement of the symphony. We covered letter [I] to 4 after [K], and [T] to the end. Brass: remember that you have power in numbers, so, loud dynamics should generally be one dynamic level softer.
- String coachings: each section worked with a coach on the 3rd movement of the symphony.
- Tutti: we did deep, satisfying work on the 4th movement of the symphony.
Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, January 18, 2026
- Arrival: 5:15pm – EVERYBODY SIGN IN IN CAFETERIA.
- 5:30pm-6:45pm: sectionals
- Strings sectional @ cafeteria: Tchaikovsky, Mov 1 (RGR)
- Woodwinds+brass sectional @ pavilion: Tchaikovsky, Mov 1 (Robert Wakeley)
- 6:45pm-7:00pm: break
- 7:00pm-7:45pm: Reinecke Flute Concerto (no soloist)
- 7:45pm-8:30pm: Gganbu by James Lee
- 8:30pm – help reset the room and make sure no doors are left propped open.
Leadership Audition for Spring Term – Instructions and Excerpts
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…
I have updated the YouTube playlist with the audio of the final version of Gganbu by YCP composer James Lee. Please use it to prepare for Sunday. The playlist 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 | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, November 9, 2025 | Photo by Richard Kolbell