Hi all,
I’m grateful for another productive rehearsal on Sunday, 10/26. We’re in the home stretch! Only one more Sunday rehearsal before our concert, and our weeknight rehearsals leading up to it are just around the corner.
Don’t forget about Daylight Saving Time ending this coming Sunday.
See below for a rehearsal recap, our plan for 11/2 and other important information.
Best,
Dr. G.
Rehearsal Recap – October 26, 2025
- First half of rehearsal:
- We worked on the Flute Concerto by Castro D’Addona with Adam – movements 2 and 3
- We worked on Max’s “Erin’s First Sabbath.” – note: there are NEW parts for this piece created after our Sunday rehearsal. Please access those new parts here.
- Second half:
- Brahms, movements 1 and 4 – we spent most of our time on the 1st movement of the symphony. It’s important to be aware and understand which sections of the movement are at a slower, more relaxed pace. It’s equally important to understand when we push forward, or relax back. We worked only on the transition to the coda and the coda of movement 4. We’ll need to catch up on this movement.
- 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 Sunday, November 2, 2025
- Arrival: 5:15pm – EVERYBODY SIGN IN IN CAFETERIA.
- 5:30pm-6:15pm: Castro D’Addona, whole concerto (no soloist)
- 6:15pm-6:45pm: Evans-McGlothin, Erin’s First Sabbath (TRUE final version) – get your final parts here.
- 6:45pm-7:00pm: break
- 7:00pm-8:30pm: Brahms, movements 4, 3 and 2.
- 8:30pm – help reset the room and make sure no doors are left propped open.
Reminder: Leadership Auditions due by EOD today (Tue 10/28)
Leadership Auditions are due from everyone by end-of-day today, Tuesday 10/28. All the information you need, including the link to the Google form to submit your video, can be found here.
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.
New FINAL parts for Erin’s First Sabbath
As I mentioned above, we have new parts for this piece (finalized AFTER our Sunday rehearsal). We’ll have new hard copies on Sunday, but for the meantime, please get these final parts here. You know you have the latest version if the rehearsal letters to up to the double digits after “Z.” (AA, etc).
Call Sheet for November 9 Concert
Here’s our call sheet for November 9th. We’ll have hard copies on Sunday 11/2. Please read and understand everything on it! Let me know if there are any questions. Please note that our call time is 3:00pm!!
Congratulations to the winners of our Concerto Competition
MYS Symphony Orchestra members competed on Friday, 10/24 for a chance to be featured as soloists with our ensembles. Dana Sparling (flute) and Margaux Hicks (cello) will perform as soloists with Symphony Orchestra (March and June, not necessarily in that order). Soren Holbrook (viola, runner-up) will perform as soloist with Concert Orchestra (May).
MYS SYMPHONY Part Assignments, Orchestra Schedule, Repertoire, Audio Reference, etc…
No changes this week. Winds + brass players: stay tuned a little later this week for final assignments for Castro D’Addona and Evans-McGlothin.
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.
Cover image for Max Evans-McGlothin’s Erin’s First Sabbath