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I am incredibly proud of our orchestra and every single one of you. Congrats on an extremely successful concert. Below are a few quotes from e-mails that I’ve received since Sunday.

“The young musicians of MYS were amazing. From the first note to the encore, their poise and excellence under Raúl’s exceptional and encouraging direction, captivated the entire audience which was brimming with enthusiastic and curious listeners of all ages.”

Suzanne Nance, President and CEO | All Classical Portland

My wife and I went to the concert on Sunday, and really enjoyed it.  The young players of the MYS all played excellently, and it was wonderful to see this partnership between All Classical and ICAN and MYS.  I know that this concert had been in the planning stages for a long time, and it came off beautifully. 

John Pitman, Director of Music and Programming | All Classical Portland

“BRAVO on a wonderful concert yesterday! The entire thing was so lovely, and the students played so brilliantly. I feel lucky to have been able to attend.”

Kristina B.

“Wow, what a brilliant concert! A thank you for bringing such joy to my family.”

Elaina S.

You should know that about two-thirds of the audience on Sunday afternoon were *not* related in any way to MYS, and many of them were first-time concert-goers. Way to go!! This is truly how we serve as ambassadors to our art, and bring joy to our audiences.

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WHAT’S NEXT

“Tales of Love and Justice with Jennifer Higdon”

• We go right into work for our BIG DEAL March 5th concert, featuring music and a visit from Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon. This is a big deal and I will say it a thousand times. Very very exciting.
• The concert will also feature music by the extraordinary American composer Margaret Bonds and our very own Margot Pullen, as well as one of the winners of our upcoming concerto competition.
• This Sunday (1/15), we will hand out the parts for Jennifer’s piece. We will listen to a recording and watch some videos. We will read sections of the piece.
• I will send a separate e-mail tomorrow or Thursday when I have completed part assignments. There will be no seating audition for this term.

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Part Assignments

Check back later this week.

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HEADS-UP!! REHEARSAL DATES/TIMES!!

Go to our full season schedule here. Please mark your calendars very carefully for this term. Please note our weeknight and Saturday rehearsals on concert week.

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Thank you, and see you Sunday!

Dr. G. 

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Happy New Year!!! I look forward to seeing you all Thursday evening.

During our upcoming concert, we will do instrument demonstrations between pieces. Please see below for details, so you can prepare accordingly.

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From “Papa, Please Get The Moon For Me”: (demos will happen right before each piece)

• Flute: m. 1-10
• Oboe: m. 12-19
• Clarinet: m. 159-166
• Bassoon: m. 39-46
• All woodwinds: m. 123-130

From “The Very Quiet Cricket”:

• Violins: m. 34-41
• Violas: m. 42-45
• Cellos: m. 42-45 (twice, first time as printed, second time octave lower)
• Bass: m. 42-45
• Pizzicato demo: violas, cellos, m. 34-37
• All strings: m. 34-45

From “The Mixed Up Cameleon”:

• Horn solo: m. 2-10
• Horn section: m. 22-29
• Trumpet: m. 26-29
• Trombone: m. 26-29
• All brass: m. 22-29

From “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”:

• Bass clarinet: m. 33-37
• Harp: m. 15-18
• Celesta: m. 15-18
• Harp and celesta together: m. 15-18
• PERCUSSION!! – demonstrate all instruments for the concert ad libitum

Before “Wallace and Grommit”

• Contrabassoon: descending scale all the way to lowest note.
• Tuba: descending scale all the way to lowest note.

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Part Assignments

Click here to go to the blog post that contains part assignments for our January 8 concert. No changes from 12/11.

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Wallace & Grommit Tempo Indications

Click here to add important tempo indications to your W&G parts, as well as the YouTube video with reference audio for our performance.

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TRIPLE-CHECK WEEKNIGHT REHEARSAL DATES/TIMES!!

Go to our full season schedule here, and please make sure you can make the additional rehearsals on January 5, 6 and 7.

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Thank you, and happy practicing!

Dr. G. 

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Hi everybody! I hope you are all having wonderful year-end holidays. I look forward to seeing you all in the new year, for our weeknight and Saturday rehearsals, and concert on Sunday, January 8.

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Rehearsal Recap, 12/18

After working with Valery Saul on Pirates, W&G and I See a Song, we worked with narrators on the rest of the pieces.

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Rehearsal Plan for Concert Week: Jan 5 to Jan 8, 2023

(percussion: click here to check your plan on our “MYS Percussion Corner”) – you’ll be with the full orchestra all week. Next coaching with Kevin is January 15 (new repertoire/MYSticks)

Thursday, January 5, 7pm-9:30pm @ The Madeleine Catholic School

• Orchestra-only rehearsal (no narrator)
  • Pirates
  • I See a Song
  • Papa
  • Cricket
  • Chameleon
  • Caterpillar
  • Wallace & Gromit

Friday, January 6, 7pm-9:30pm @ The Madeleine Catholic School

• 7pm: Papa
• 7:30pm: Caterpillar
• 8:00pm: Cricket
• break
• remainder of rehearsal: Pirates, Wallace & Gromit

Saturday, January 7, 2:00pm-5:00pm @ The Madeleine Catholic School

• 2:00pm-3:15pm: Orchestra only (as needed)
• 3:30pm: Chameleon
• 4:00pm-5:00pm: run through of whole program

Sunday, January 8, 1:00pm call time!!! @ Newmark Theatre

• 1:30pm-3:00pm: run through of whole program in concert order
• 4:00pm: concert

REMINDER: don’t forget to practice what we did in the last rehearsal during the first half of your week. Then, after Tuesday, you can focus on what we’re doing at the next rehearsal.

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Part Assignments

Click here to go to the blog post that contains part assignments for our January 8 concert. No changes from 12/11.

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Wallace & Grommit Tempo Indications

Click here to add important tempo indications to your W&G parts, as well as the YouTube video with reference audio for our performance.

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TRIPLE-CHECK WEEKNIGHT REHEARSAL DATES/TIMES!!

Go to our full season schedule here, and please make sure you can make the additional rehearsals on January 5, 6 and 7.

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Thank you, and happy practicing!

Dr. G. 

[back to blog home]

Hi everybody! Nice work on Sunday. Thank you for being so well prepared for our first time playing through the remaining Eric Carle pieces. Please note that this Sunday, rehearsal will end early (6:30pm).

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Rehearsal Recap, 12/11

You worked with Valery Saul on Pirates and W&G. After the break, we worked together on Cricket and Papa.

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Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, 12/18

(percussion: click here to check your plan on our “MYS Percussion Corner”) hint: no Kevin this Sunday.

• 4pm-5pm: Work on Pirates, W&G and I See a Song with guest conductor Valery Saul
• 5:00pm-5:20pm: The Very Quiet Cricket, with me conducting and Sarah Smith, guest narrator.

— break —

• 5:30pm-5:50pm: Chameleon, with narrator Adam Eccleston
• 5:50pm-6:10pm: Papa, with narrator Christa Wessel
• 6:10pm-6:30pm: Caterpillar, with Sarah Zwinklis
• 6:30pm: end of rehearsal

REMINDER: don’t forget to practice what we did in the last rehearsal during the first half of your week. Then, after Tuesday, you can focus on what we’re doing at the next rehearsal.

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Part Assignments

Click here to go to the blog post that contains part assignments for our January 8 concert. No changes from 12/11.

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Wallace & Grommit Tempo Indications

Click here to add important tempo indications to your W&G parts, as well as the YouTube video with reference audio for our performance.

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TRIPLE-CHECK WEEKNIGHT REHEARSAL DATES/TIMES!!

Go to our full season schedule here, and please make sure you can make the additional rehearsals on January 5, 6 and 7.

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Thank you, and happy practicing!

Dr. G. 

[back to blog home]

Hi everybody! Great to see you again on Sunday 12/4.

We only have 2 (two!!!) rehearsals left before our holiday break (12/11, 12/18), and then it will be concert week. There will be 18 (EIGHTTEEN!!) days that we will not see each other between 12/18 and our first weeknight rehearsal on Thursday, January 5.

This means that it is extremely important that everybody spend the required time for individual preparation for this concert. It’s not a long concert, and it’s not super hard music, so let’s take this opportunity to present a remarkably polished performance. I am excited for the solo opportunities for many of you in the Eric Carle films.

Also, a heads-up that we will have a guest conductor for the first half of rehearsal on 12/11 and 12/18. Her name and a link to her website are below. I will be coming to the second half of these rehearsals after conducting performances of The Nutcracker with Oregon Ballet Theatre.

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Rehearsal Recap, 12/4

We spoke briefly about our November 13 concert. There were congratulatory words from some of you to other members and sections of the orchestra, and we also discussed what can improve for our next performances (in short: ensemble and control, i.e. not rushing).

Then, we read Margot Pullen’s second draft of her piece for our March 5 concert. Thank you so much for your notes for Margot.

We watched all 5 Eric Carle short films, with music by Julian Nott (orchestrated by Nic Raine), and then we took our break.

After the break, I promptly forgot about “Project Back Pocket.” I apologize. Then, we had good read-throughs (with a little work) of Pirates and W&G.

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Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, 12/11

(percussion: click here to check your plan on our “MYS Percussion Corner”)

• Work on Pirates with guest conductor Valery Saul
• Work on W&G if time allows

— break — (I will be back for the second half of rehearsal)

• Cricket
• Papa
• I See a Song

REMINDER: don’t forget to practice what we did in the last rehearsal during the first half of your week. Then, after Tuesday, you can focus on what we’re doing at the next rehearsal.

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UPDATED Part Assignments

Click here to go to the blog post that contains part assignments for our January 8 concert. Please note a few changes: seating in violins, assignments in winds and trumpets.

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Wallace & Grommit Tempo Indications

Click here to add important tempo indications to your W&G parts, as well as the YouTube video with reference audio for our performance.

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TRIPLE-CHECK WEEKNIGHT REHEARSAL DATES/TIMES!!

Go to our full season schedule here, and please make sure you can make the additional rehearsals on January 5, 6 and 7.

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Thank you, and happy practicing!

Dr. G. 

Tempo Markings

There are a few tempo indications missing in our score and parts. Please add the following:

• pick up to m. 43: nobilmente (quarter = 108)
• m. 47: a tempo (quarter = 140)
• pick up to m. 55: nobilmente (as before)
• 3 eight-note pick-ups to m. 74: piu mosso
• m. 75: faster! (quarter = 160)

Reference Audio

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Hi everybody! I hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday. I very much look forward to seeing you all this coming Sunday (12/4), at our regular venue and rehearsal time.

We have a little bit of catching up to do, as we missed our 11/20 rehearsal. Below is our rehearsal plan.

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Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, 12/4

(percussion: click here to check your plan on our “MYS Percussion Corner”)

• Debrief about 11/13 concert
• Read Margot Pullen’s 2nd draft (for March 5 concert)
• Watch Eric Carle short films (for January 8 concert)

— break —

• Project Back Pocket!! (2 volunteers)
• Read through Pirates of the Caribbean
• Read through Wallace and Gromit
• Read through “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “The Mixed-Up Chameleon”

REMINDER: don’t forget to practice what we did in the last rehearsal during the first half of your week. Then, after Tuesday, you can focus on what we’re doing at the next rehearsal.

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Part Assignments

Click here to go to the blog post that contains part assignments for our January 8 concert

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TRIPLE-CHECK WEEKNIGHT REHEARSAL DATES/TIMES!!

Go to our full season schedule here, and please make sure you can make the additional rehearsals on January 5, 6 and 7.

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Thank you, and happy practicing!

Dr. G. 

[back to blog home]

Hi everyone. HUGE CONGRATS on a very successful concert on Sunday!!! I look forward to debriefing in person this Sunday (11/20).

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RECAP (November 10, 11, 12, 13)

• We had a busy week with our weeknight/Saturday additional rehearsals and our Sunday sound-check and concert. Despite some attendance challenges, we managed to have efficient and productive rehearsals that were conducive to a fun, dynamic, passionate and engaging concert.
• REMINDER: don’t forget to practice what we did in the last rehearsal during the first half of your week. Then, after Tuesday, you can focus on what we’re doing at the next rehearsal.

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NOTES ABOUT PART ASSIGNMENTS / SEATING AUDITIONS

There will be no seating auditions to define part assignments for our January 8 concert.

Winds/brass: There are 5 short films in this concert, so we will have a rotation similar to the YCP pieces from our fall term, where everybody gets to play different roles (1st, 2nd, or tacet). I will be creating part assignments in the coming days.

Tutti: please keep an eye out for an e-mail tomorrow or Friday with a seating chart for our January concert.

There *will be* seating auditions to define part assignments for our March concert. The due date for these short video auditions will be Wednesday, January 11. The audition excerpts will be announced in the coming weeks.

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REHEARSAL PLAN FOR 11/20

(see below in red for percussion)*

• Debrief on 11/13 concert
• Watch Eric Carle short films (January 8 concert)
• Listen to Jennifer Higdon “Cold Mountain Suite” (March 2023 concert)

— break —

• Project Back Pocket!! (2 volunteers)
• Read through Pirates of the Caribbean
• Read through 2 of the Eric Carle pieces

* PERCUSSION ON 11/20

Percussionists:
– You will be with the full orchestra the whole time this week.

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Thank you, and happy practicing!

Dr. G. 

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Hi everyone! It’s concert week!! I’m excited to work together this week for a thrilling concert on Sunday.

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REHEARSAL RECAP (11/6)

• In the first half of rehearsal, you worked with guest conductor Deanna Tham on sections of the 1st and 4th movements of the Dvořák Symphony.
• In the second half, we worked together on movements 3, 1, and a bit of 4.
• REMINDER: don’t forget to practice what we did in the last rehearsal during the first half of your week. Then, after Tuesday, you can focus on what we’re doing at the next rehearsal.

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REHEARSAL PLAN FOR CONCERT WEEK

(see below in red for percussion)*

Thursday, November 10 – 7pm-9:30pm

@ The Madeleine Catholic School – 3240 NE 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97212

• Dvořák, Movements 2 and 1
• YCP: Mississippi Delta Reel, Minuet

Friday, November 11 – 7:00pm-9:30pm

@ The Madeleine Catholic School – 3240 NE 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97212

• Dvořák, Movements 3 and 4
• YCP: Waltz in C# Minor, Swinging 60’s, Courante

Saturday, November 12 – 2:00pm-5:00pm

@ The Madeleine Catholic School – 3240 NE 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97212

• RUN-THROUGHS: YCP (no percussion)
• RUN-THROUGHS: Dvořák (no percussion)

Sunday, November 13 – call time 5pm

Please, please, please be on time. We have VERY limited rehearsal time on stage. The call sheet is here if you need to reference it, though you should have a hard copy and you may also find it on the website.

* PERCUSSION ON CONCERT WEEK

Percussionists:
– You will be with the full orchestra on Thursday and Friday evenings.
– On Saturday, you have your MYSticks concert. You will not be at the Symphony Orchestra rehearsal. Instead, please show up at your call time (3:30pm at the latest) at the concert venue (Rose City Park Presbyterian Church) for MYSticks set-up, soundcheck and concert. Call Sheet for Saturday here.
– On Sunday, please get to the Schnitz at 4:45pm to be ready to help unload the truck and set up the stage right at 5pm.

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Thank you, and happy practicing!

Dr. G. 

[back to blog home]

Hi everyone! I hope you had a fun Halloween. Great rehearsal on 10/30. Recap below.

REHEARSAL RECAP (10/30)

• In the first half of rehearsal, we rehearsed Waltz in C# Minor and Mississippi Delta Reel. These are our final parts, so please mark them up for yourselves and practice. We will continue work in our last few rehearsals to get everything up to tempo.
• Then, we did some very detailed work on the trio and coda of the 3rd movement of Dvořák. Next time we play this movement, we should clean up the transition between the scherzo and the trio, with a very gradual, imperceptible tempo adjustment.
• After the break, we took a few minutes to write on index cards for Nancy Ives, and Project Back Pocket.
• Finally, we worked on the 1st movement of Dvořák
• REMINDER: don’t forget to practice what we did in the last rehearsal during the first half of your week. Then, after Tuesday, you can focus on what we’re doing at the next rehearsal.

REHEARSAL PLAN FOR SUNDAY 11/6

(see below in red for percussion)*

4:00pm-5:30pm – Dvořák, select spots in movements 1 and 4 (guest conductor: Deanna Tham, pictured below).

— break —

5:45pm–7:00pm – Dvořák, Mov. 2 and 4

* PERCUSSION ON 11/5

Percussionists:
4:00pm-5:30pm: MYSticks repertoire rehearsal downstairs
5:45pm-7:00pm: full orchestra
Please make sure to GET THERE EARLY SO YOU CAN BE SET UP IN TIME FOR OUR 4PM START! I would recommend getting there at 3:30pm at the latest. Hopefully you can do some pre-setting up upstairs, then head downstairs for MYSticks, then come back up at 5:45pm.

LOOKING AHEAD: CONCERT WEEK!

• Please double-check you have our weeknight and Saturday rehearsals on your calendars!!
• Thu 11/10 and Fri 11/11, 7pm-9:30pm; Sat 11/12, 2pm-5pm
• Soundcheck rehearsal and concert on 11/13 as per the call sheet.

Thank you, and happy practicing!

Dr. G.