Hi all,
Welcome (or welcome back) to a new MYS Symphony Orchestra season! It’s MYS’s 51st year, and my 10th as Music Director. I’m exceedingly grateful to get to work with all of you each week for most of the year.
As you may know, I email the orchestra every Tuesday with a link to my blog on the MYS website. These blog posts typically include a quick rehearsal recap, our rehearsal plan for the following week, and other important information. This is the first of such posts for the 2025-2026 season.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: You are expected to arrive at least 15 minutes before the posted rehearsal start time, and you must always show up to rehearsal prepared. This means practicing (at home) the music that we will be working on at each rehearsal. This starts today! See our rehearsal plan below, check your part assignment, download a PDF practice part, and start preparing for Sunday.
Please read on, and note any action items.
Thanks!
Dr. G.
Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, September 7, 2025
NEW REHEARSAL TIME FOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IS 5:30PM-8:30PM
- Please arrive by 5:15pm at All Saints: 601 NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97232. Bring a music stand!
- 5:15pm-5:30pm – grab your folder, grab your printed sheet music, say hi to friends!, find your seat
- 5:30pm-6:50pm – Welcome meeting (parents welcome but not required), activities
- 6:50pm-7:00pm – break
- 7:00pm-8:30pm – Brahms Symphony No. 1, movement 4
MYS Symphony Orchestra 2025-2026 Schedule
Please click here to download our season schedule. Please make sure to add all rehearsals and events to your calendars. Please note the few dates with modified rehearsal times and our weeknight rehearsals leading up to each concert. If you identify any conflicts, please let me know as soon as possible. If you are a member of this orchestra, I expect that music plays an important role in your life and has a high priority in your scheduling. That said, we’re always happy to support our students’ other interests and school commitments. Communication and advance planning are key. Thank you in advance!
MYS Symphony Orchestra 2025-2026 Repertoire
Click here to see our 2025-2026 season repertoire. This season’s theme is “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants,” as we anchor our selections on three major core-repertoire masterworks: Brahms’s Symphony No. 1, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. At the same time, we continue performing and celebrating the music of local young composers and traditionally underrepresented composers.
Part Assignments for Fall Term
Please click here to see your part assignments for the fall term. We’ll speak about this on Sunday, but I’d like to remind you that my part assignments are not rankings. I rotate sections and leadership as much as possible. The most experienced players are not always in the front or first chair.
After you’ve noted your part assignments, please find and print practice parts below.
PDF Practice Parts
Click here to find practice parts for Brahms. As noted above, we’ll start working on movement 4 this Sunday.
After this week, you’ll be able to find PDFs of all of our music at the MYS Digital Music Library. I’ll send a link and further instructions next week.
Leadership Auditions
In our Season Schedule, you’ll note that there will be leadership auditions in the fall (for winter term) and in the winter (for spring term). These auditions will be done via self-submitted video. Further instructions will be sent later this month. This is an opportunity for you to show me your work, especially if you are not quite satisfied with your part assignments.
Concerto Competition
In our Season Repertoire document, you’ll note that both our March and our June concerts include a soloist. This could be you! This webpage on our website has all you need to know about our Concerto Competition. I hope many of you will participate.
Audio Reference
There are many recordings of most of our repertoire that can be easily found online. I strongly encourage you to create your own playlists and add our repertoire to your regular listening rotation. For your convenience, all throughout the season, you can always find audio (or video) reference tracks selected by me on this YouTube playlist. The more you listen, the more you’ll enjoy playing this music.
Online orientation tomorrow! (Wednesday 9/3)
Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, September 3 from 7:00-8:00 pm, for our online Family Orientation. Meet our staff and artistic team, learn about the upcoming season, and ask questions about all things MYS!
The meeting will be recorded and available for later viewing.
Join the online Family Orientation via the Zoom link below. Contact Mark at production@playmys.org or Sarah at programs@playmys.org with any questions.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89429130641
Meeting ID: 894 2913 0641
Please complete tuition payment and enrollment confirmation
If you haven’t already done so, please complete these important steps. We haven’t heard from a few of you. Please email programs@playmys.org or call the MYS office if you need help: 503-239-4566
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.
Recent photo shoot with members of MYS Symphony Orchestra | August, 2025 | Photo by MYS