SYMPHONY Orchestra Notes for November 8, 2026
Dear MYS Symphony Orchestra,
Happy November! Our concert is coming up soon, and I’m proud of the work we’ve been doing together.
Please triple-check that you have our upcoming pre-concert rehearsals on your calendars. These rehearsals are required, just like our regular Sunday rehearsals. And for your convenience, here’s a direct link to our call sheet for concert day.
Remember that tomorrow (Wednesday, November 4) is the deadline to apply to our new classes that start in January: Conducting 101 and Recording 101.
If you enjoy the band Portugal. The Man, you might be interested in two shows that I will be conducting with them and the Oregon Symphony. The shows are on November 11 and 12.
Please see below for a rehearsal recap, plans for 11/8, and more details.
Best,
Dr. G.
weekend rehearsals left before concert:
1
Rehearsal Recap: Sunday, November 1
- 5:00pm-6:30pm: tutti
- We rehearsed Skye Neal’s Coalesce, from letter [O] to the end, with Felipe conducting.
- Then, we worked on Shostakovich: Mov 4: [116] to the end, and Mov 2.
- 6:30pm-7:00pm: break
- 7:00pm-8:30pm: sectionals
- Strings with Amanda Grimm (Principal Viola, Oregon Symphony) @ Contrabassment – Movement 3 of Shostakovich
- Woodwinds and Brass with James Shields (Chatter PDX, former Principal Clarinet, Oregon Symphony) @ Fireside Room – Movement 1 of Shostakovich
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, November 8
- 4:45pm: arrival & check-in
- 5:00pm-6:30pm: tutti with RGR
- 5:00pm-5:45pm: Movement 3 of Shostakovich
- 5:45pm-6:05pm: Bernstein’s Overture to Candide
- 6:05pm-6:30pm: Skye Neal’s Coalesce (with Felipe conducting) – beginning to [O]
- 6:30pm-7:00pm: break
- 7:00pm-8:30pm: sectionals
- Strings with Eric Alterman (cellist, Delgani String Quartet) @ Contrabassment – slow work on passages in Candide and Shostakovich (movs 1 and 4)
- Woodwinds and Brass with Adam Eccleston (flutist, Orchestra Nova Northwest) @ Fireside Room – slow work on passages in Candide and Shostakovich (movs 1 and 4)
Rehearsal Plans for CONCERT WEEK
- I’ve made a separate post with rehearsal plans for our pre-concert rehearsals on Monday 11/9, Friday 11/13, Saturday 11/14 and Sunday 11/15. Please check it out here.
Applications due tomorrow (Wednesday, November 4) for Conducting and Recording Classes
Conducting 101 with Dr. Gómez-Rojas
The class will help students develop a solid foundation in areas including baton technique, musical gestures, non-verbal communication, score study, rehearsal management and aural skills. Class sessions will often utilize excerpts from the repertoire currently being performed by MYS Symphony Orchestra, as well as selections from the standard orchestral repertoire. Sessions will include individual podium time, where each student will conduct the rest of the class membership playing their primary instruments. Conducting students will conduct short pieces by MYS Composition students on Tuesday, April 27, 2027 (open to the public).
Recording 101 with Nick Emerson
Students will have the opportunity to learn music production fundamentals for recording classical ensembles large and small. Students will learn about human perception of sound, the harmonic series, acoustics, how different types of microphones work, mono/stereo recording techniques, and editing/mixing on a digital audio workstation (DAW) in a studio environment. Students will have the ability to get hands-on experience with the tools of music production and learn how to approach sound engineering from the perspective of a musician.
More information and links to application forms here.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Audio/Video Reference Playlist
I’ve created a YouTube playlist that you can use as a resource to listen to our repertoire. This playlist is linked on the side bar of this page (or at the bottom if you’re on a mobile device).
Please use it! Or even better: use it and find even more recordings by different orchestras and conductors. The more you listen to our repertoire, the better you’ll understand the big picture of the music.
MYS Online Music Library
All parts are available on our website as PDF files. Please go to our Online Music Library. It is linked on the side bar of this page (or at the bottom if you’re on a mobile device). The password is playmys.
This is useful if you lose your hard copies and need to print fresh ones at home, or if you want to use a digital device (like an iPad with a Bluetooth page turning pedal).
2026-2027 Concerto Competition
Symphony Orchestra musicians are eligible to enter our Concerto Competition. All information can be found on this page. Below are important dates to keep in mind (these are also on our Season Schedule):
- November 20: deadline to have repertoire pre-approved by Dr. G.
- November 27: registration and teacher approval forms due
- December 4: audition videos due
- December 8: finalists announced
- January 8: live, in-person finals, open to the public
2026-2027 Repertoire
You can find the latest draft of our season repertoire on the sidebar of this page (or bottom of the page if you’re on a mobile device). Here’s a direct link for your convenience.
The repertoire might still change, especially as we plan for our Japan tour on June of 2027. Thanks to those of you who sent me repertoire suggestions.
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 violas, basses, clarinets and percussion.
Availability for private lessons
I don’t take long-term regular private students, but this season I will have some availability for “one-off” violin, viola or conducting lessons. The lessons can be at MYS, 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,
Dr. G.
Raúl teaching conducting | June 2026 | Photo by David Kinder