The fourth joint rehearsal took place on October 18th! While previous sessions had focused primarily on section-specific practice, this time we held both full-ensemble rehearsals and sectional rehearsals.

The morning began with a full-ensemble session, conducted by Professor Hiroyuki Hibino from Miyagi University of Education. Although a few of our members study under Professor Hibino at the university, for most of us, it was our first time working with him—a start filled with a mix of nervous anticipation and excitement.

We began by rehearsing the Prelude to Act I of *Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg*. As it had been over a month since our last joint rehearsal, there were moments where our timing didn't quite align. Professor Hibino kindly noted, "It was great to see you correcting things yourselves when you got out of sync," but we hope to achieve a more cohesive, well-coordinated performance as we continue our rehearsals.

In the latter half of the morning, we split into groups—strings, woodwinds, and brass—for sectional rehearsals. The string section was guided by Hiroki Hasegawa, an instructor from Music Force. Although Mr. Hasegawa is a cellist himself, he demonstrated passages for the violins and violas with such a rich, profound tone that it left a deep impression on us. Witnessing his delicate yet profound approach reminded us of the importance of carefully examining every single note in the score and thoughtfully envisioning how each one should be played.

After about 30 minutes of sectional work, it was finally time for our long-awaited lunch break! Recently, because we’ve been using two separate rehearsal venues and focusing mostly on section-specific practice, we’ve usually eaten lunch only with our own sections. It was wonderful to finally have the chance to sit down and chat with friends from other sections again.

Once lunch was over, we jumped straight back into practice, starting with a continuation of our sectional work. We worked on an "Etude," and since we rarely have the opportunity to play it with just the string section, it was a fresh and engaging experience. Although we were already familiar with the piece, Mr. Hasegawa provided various insights that prompted us to rethink our approach to the performance.

As those who attend our concerts will know, "Etude" includes several moments where the performers clap their hands. We spent some time practicing how to produce a crisp, resonant sound when clapping, which created a lighthearted and friendly atmosphere. A huge thank you to our instructors for fostering such a warm, enjoyable environment while also sharing so many valuable tips on how to achieve a great sound!

This was also our first session of sectionals for the current term—a highly productive time that allowed us to review and apply what we had learned in our individual part rehearsals, while also gaining a better understanding of how the other sections were playing.

After honing our skills in the sectionals, the full orchestra reconvened, once again under the baton of Mr. Hibino. When we revisited "Die Meistersinger"—which we had played through first thing that morning—the improvement was remarkable; the sectionals had clearly paid off! The tempo issues were resolved, and the sound had gained a richer, fuller quality. It was also encouraging to hear Mr. Hibino offer further suggestions, noting, "With an orchestra like this, you’re capable of even more." We are aiming for even greater heights, and we look forward to delivering a truly powerful, overwhelming sound this March!

We also had a delightful surprise during the rehearsal: Mari Watanabe, a board member of the Tohoku Youth Orchestra and the regular host of our concerts, stopped by! Despite her busy schedule, she came to show her support. Her words of encouragement—along with some sweet treats—gave everyone an instant boost in motivation and focus.

We wrapped up the full-orchestra session by working on "Etude." Even though we had been practicing for hours and were starting to show signs of fatigue, playing this piece made us forget our tiredness and lifted our spirits. Our focus shifted into a higher gear, and after one full run-through, Mr. Hibino simply said, "Wonderful!" Hearing those words brought a smile to my face—I felt such relief and joy. When the time comes for the actual performance, I want to ensure that everyone in the venue—audience and performers alike—can truly enjoy the music!

In our recent rehearsals, we focused intently on two pieces: "Die Meistersinger" and "Etude." The fact that just these two works took an entire day to rehearse really brought home to me just how profound music is. It’s not just about playing the notes written on the page; I want to be mindful of how to connect those notes and carefully consider the most appropriate tone color for each specific passage.

With less than six months left until our concert in March, the Tohoku Youth Orchestra is working hard every single day to ensure we deliver the best possible music to everyone who joins us at the venue!
This report was written by Kasuya, from the viola section. Thank you for reading until the end!