Symphony Side-by-Side Details

Dear GTCYS Symphony Families,

Your rescheduled side by side event with the Minnesota Orchestra is on Thursday, February 19. Osmo Vänskä, the Minnesota Orchestra’s conductor laureate, will lead two combined ensembles:

• The Minnesota Orchestra side by side with GTCYS.
• The Minnesota Orchestra side by side with the Minnesota Youth Symphonies (MYS).

GTCYS Symphony students will learn by participating in GTCYS’ rehearsal on stage with the Minnesota Orchestra, and by listening to MYS’ rehearsal with Maestro Vänskä.

Please read the following details carefully and report absences by Tuesday, February 10 at 5pm if you are not able to attend.

Schedule

Thursday, February 19, 2026, 5:30–8:30pm
Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

• 5:30pm: All students’ call time at the Stage Door. Check in, pick up a nametag, follow signs to unpack your instrument in the ring corridor, and wait for instructions to move on stage.
  • Violas, Cellos, Oboes, Bassoons, Brass, and Basses will enter stage left
  • Clarinets, Flutes, Second Violins, First Violins, Harp, and Percussion will enter stage right.
• 5:45pm (approx.): GTCYS students move on stage and warm up.
• 6:00–6:50pm: GTCYS Symphony rehearses Wagner’s Die Meistersinger: Prelude with the Minnesota Orchestra.
• 6:50–7:10pm: Stage reset and transition. GTCYS students exit the stage, pack instruments, and move to the audience.
• 7:10–8:00pm: Listen to MYS rehearse Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture with the Minnesota Orchestra.
• 8:00–8:30pm: Reception in the Orchestra Hall Lobby for students, Minnesota Orchestra musicians, parents, and all other guests.

Absences & Seating

• This special event is required for GTCYS Symphony musicians, but if you must be absent, please complete a Symphony Absence Form by Tuesday, February 10 at 5pm.
• Please note that any absences from GTCYS’ rehearsal on stage from 6:00–6:50pm will affect seating for the evening, so please complete the absence form ASAP if you will miss any part of the event.
• GTCYS’ portion of the event will occur two shifts.
• We will send new seating charts based on the attendance information we receive by February 10.

What to Bring & Attire

• Music folders and your Meistersinger music. (Minnesota Orchestra musicians will be reading YOUR parts, so you must remember your music!)
• Bring instruments and accessories (rock stops, extra strings, reeds, etc.).
• Wear your family concert attire as outlined in the handbook

Please contact miranda@gtcys.org with any questions about this event. I hope that you enjoy this spectacular opportunity to learn alongside the musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra!

Miranda Bryan, Program Director (she/her)
Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies
10 River Park Plaza, Suite 730, St. Paul, MN 55107
Email miranda@gtcys.org | Tel 651.602.6807
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