DGN Alumnus Garners First Grammy Nomination

DGN Alumnus, and member of the DGN Choirs, Matthew West, received a GRAMMY nomination for "Best Gospel Song" of 2009.


“This is the icing on the cake to what has been an incredible year thanks to the song ‘The Motions.’ It’s been overwhelming how people have responded to the song and its message, and I am grateful for having been able to connect with listeners on that level. This is my first GRAMMY nomination, and for an artist/songwriter, there is no greater recognition,” said West.


Click here for the full story.


Congratulations Matthew!

Caroling, Caroling ...

The DGN Select Vocal Ensembles are out and about in the community this weekend, caroling for a variety of organizations and audiences.  This morning the Concert Singers brought holiday cheer to dozens of children and their parents at the Good Samaritan Hospital "Breakfast With Santa."

Mosaic Concert Preparations

Preparations are in full-gear for the 2009 Mosaic Concert, which will be held on Tuesday, December 8th.  This annual celebration of the holiday season will be offered twice: first at 5:30 PM, and finally at 8:00 PM.  The concert (and visual art show) are free events and open to the general public.  There are unconfirmed reports there will be a guest-appearance by a rather jolly man dressed in red.  You won't want to miss it!

Developing a Commission

Composer Don Owens was back on campus yesterday, working with three percussion soloists who will be featured in May of 2010 on a work commissioned by North High School.  The world-premiere of Triple Set for Wind Ensemble and Percussion Soloists is slated for May 20th at the annual 'Graduation Concert.'

Fourteen DGN Musicians Tapped for All-State Honors

Fourteen student musicians from Downers Grove North High School were selected by competitive audition to the 2009-2010 Illinois Music Educator’s Association All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra, Jazz Band and Secondary General Music Composition Contest. Performance auditions were held last October at Hinsdale Central High School; musical compositions were evaluated by professional musicians and composers from across the Midwest.

“We are really thrilled for these students and their families,” said Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chair at North High.  “Many people helped these students achieve this success, beginning with their very first elementary school music teachers and extending to their private-lessons teachers today.  North High is very proud to have these incredible musicians representing District 99 at the All-State level.”

In total, 28 student musicians from District 99 were selected for this prestigious performance honor.

The All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Band will convene for a series of rehearsals in Peoria, IL, January 27-30, 2010.  Their concerts will be held at the Peoria Civic Center on the evening of January 29, and the afternoon of January 30, 2010.

All-State Band

Nick Goergen – Jazz Drums (Senior)

Marie Kirkegaard – Clarinet (Junior)

Jennifer Poad – Bass Clarinet (Senior)

Emma Sassano – Orchestral Percussion (Senior)

Isaac Stevenson – Orchestral Percussion (Junior)

Mike Walser – Alto Saxophone (Senior)

All-State Choir

Tom Cannan – Tenor (Senior)

Catie Krygeris – Alto (Senior)

Collin Ludlow – Bass (Junior)

Josh Smith – Tenor (Junior)

Caroline Sterr – Soprano (Junior)

All-State Orchestra

Colette Mondragon – Viola (Senior)

Rudy Rendek – Violin (Senior)

All-State Music Composition

Patrick Long – Commercial/Popular – 1^st Place & Keyboard Solo – 3^rd Place (Senior)

Marching Band in DG Holiday Parade

H. ROBERT JACOBS - District 99 Fine Arts says good-bye to a good friend ...

It was with sadness that we learned this weekend of the passing of H. Robert Jacobs.  Bob, as the District 99 Music Team knew him, was a community activist extraordinaire, and a dedicated member of the local Kiwanis Club.



Through this organization Mr. Jacobs developed - in consort with then DGS Band Director Alan Roselieb - the International Music Exchange Program between the District 99 schools and the Musikschule of Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany.

Mr. Jacobs supported the music exchange program for nearly twenty-five years, hosting visitors from Germany on many occasions, and developing close friendships with many citizens of Bietigheim-Bissingen. 

Here Mr. Jacobs is seen in June of 2008, meeting with the members of the District 99 Honors Band just moments before the students boarded buses for O'Hare and their plane to Europe.  His message of friendship and compassion was always appreciated and inspiring.  He was quick to recognize and point out to our students that "music knows no borders." 

We will miss Mr. Jabob's very much, and District 99 sends deepest condolences to his family.


Click here, or on the image below to view a 10 min. video documentary of the music exchange program that Mr. Jacobs helped establish.

 







From the Chicago Tribune:

H. Robert Jacobs, age 83, beloved husband of Grace E. Jacobs, nee Kinsey, loving father of Susan K. (Robert M.) Zoelle, Richard L. Jacobs, Theresa M. (Scott A.) Beck, Robert C. (Pamela L.) Jacobs, John M. (Arlene L.) Jacobs and Thomas A. Jacobs, cherished grandfather of Marc, Bradley, Kristin, Joseph, Alexandra, Marissa, Logie, John Robert, Hannah, Clare, Rachel, Jared and Emma Grace, great-grandfather of Ryan Grace, brother of Richard A. (Marti) Jacobs and Marianne (Patrick) Hogan, fond uncle of many nieces and nephews. Visitation Monday 3 to 8p.m. Funeral Tuesday 9:15 a.m. from Adams-Winterfield & Sullivan Funeral Home, 4343 Main St., (1 blk. S. of Ogden Ave.) Downers Grove to St. Mary of Gostyn Church Mass 10 a.m. Interment Clarendon Hills Cemetery. Memorials to University of Illinois - College of ACES, Jonathan Baldwin Turner Scholarship Program I Jacobs Kinsey Scholarship Endowment Fund., 115 ACES LIBRARY, 1301 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801. Phone # 217-244-9150.

Video of Marching Band in Parade

Click on the image to be redirected to WGN-TV and video of the television broadcast.

Thanksgiving with the DGN Band

We are "Thankful" for the wonderful work ethic and musical performance exhibited by the members of the DGN Trojan Marching Band this morning. The band performed in the McDonalds Thanksgiving Day Parade for an audience estimated to be well over 200,000 spectators (and millions on television).

Gearing Up for the Thanksgiving Day Parade

Members of the DGN Trojan Marching Band spent time on Monday afternoon
preparing for their national television performance on Thanksgiving
morning. Be sure to tune-in to WGN-TV (or WGN-TV HD) on Thursday
morning to see the DGN Band. We are expected to pass the 'TV ZONE' at
approximately 9:00 AM CST.

2009 IMEA District 1 Festival

Fall Band Concert (Nov. 19)

Congratulations to the members of the Jazz Lab Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Symphonic Band on a great concert this evening!

Fall Band Concert (Nov. 17)

Congratulations to the members of the Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Ensemble for their terrific performances on this evening's Fall Band Concert!

2,000 (Cheesecakes) Thank Yous!

Many thanks to our wonderful Music Booster volunteers for executing this year’s Cheesecake Sale.  Over 2,000 cakes were sold in support of music activities.  A big thanks to chairpersons Tana Williams and Andria Barry for the many hours they contributed to this effort.  And thank you as well to all who helped unload/check/distribute the orders this past Saturday.  A great team effort!

IMEA Jazz Festival 2009

Congratulations to all the students from IMEA District I who
participated in this year's District Honors Jazz Ensembles.

Veterans Day 2009

Congratulations, and thank you, to the members of the North High Chamber Choir and the North High Wind Ensemble for their musical contributions to today's Veterans Day Assembly at DGN. 

Singin' In The Rain

Congratulations to the cast, crew and orchestra of the 2009 DGN Musical: Singin' In The Rain!

Trick or Treat?!

Our front office staff is second to none! The Fine Arts Department
wishes everyone a Happy Halloween!

Albert Einstein Gymnasium Jazz Band

DGN was pleased to welcome the Albert Einstein Gymnasium Jazz Band
from Germany. The band is on a two week American tour and performed
for 6th period music students in our Wind Ensemble and Orchestra.

"Build An Instrument" Project Presentations

Congratulations to the members of Mr. Miller's classes who presented
their new instruments in class today!

IMEA District Band/Choir/Orchestra/Jazz Results (2009)

This evening North High received notification that forty-two student musicians were selected to the Illinois Music Educators Association District Honors Ensembles.  Congratulations to the following All-District musicians:

BAND STUDENTS:
Shauna Bracken (10) Trumpet (Band)  
Brandon Broholm (11) Tuba (Band)
Emily Daugherty (12) Flute  (Band)
Joseph DePeder (12) Tenor Sax (Band)
Erin Elgass (9) Alto Sax (Band)
Nick Goergen (12) Drum Set (Jazz Band)
Kevin Gupana (11) Oboe (Orchestra)
Caroline Hlohowskyj (12) Trumpet (Band)
Caroline Hlohowskyj (12) Trumpet (Jazz Band)
Marie Kirkegaard (11) Bb Clarinet (Orchestra)
Jennifer Poad (12) Bass Clarinet (Band)
Rudy Rendek (12) String/Elec Bass (Jazz Band)
Emma Sassano (12) Percussion (Orchestra)
Stephen Shatzer (10) Bassoon (Orchestra)
Jonathan Sheetz (10) Contra-bass Clarinet (Band)
Bryn Sitkiewicz (12) Trombone (Jazz Band)
Andrew Stawarz (12) Tenor Sax (Band)
Isaac Stevenson (11) Percussion (Orchestra)
Mike Walser (12) Alto Sax (Band)
Mike Walser (12) Alto Sax (Jazz Band)
Josh Williams (12) Baritone Sax (Band)

CHOIR STUDENTS:
Tom Cannon (12) Tenor II   
Devin Collett (10) Soprano I   
Abby Gardner (11) Alto I   
Eileen Grogan (12) Alto I   
Ally Haley (11) Alto II   
Liz Havenga (11) Soprano II   
Kaitlin Jeffries (11) Soprano II   
Catie Krygeris (12) Alto I   
Colin Ludlow (11) Bass II   
Kirsten Rush (11) Soprano II   
Josh Smith (11) Tenor II   
Caroline Sterr (11) Soprano II   
Allison Williams (12) Alto II

ORCHESTRA STUDENTS:
Chloe Burnham (12) Violin
Lauren Kovanko (10) Viola
Meghan Lyda (10) Cello
Colette Mondragon (12) Viola
Erin Portman (11) Cello 
Rudy Rendek (12) Violin
Meghan Schmitt (11) Cello 
Hannah Young (10) Harp   

Marching Band Salutes Seniors

The 2009 Football Season concluded on Friday evening with a muddy loss to conference rival Glenbard West.  But the cold wet weather could not dampen the spirits of the Trojan Marching Band, especially the Class of 2010, who appeared in their final football game performance. 

Congratulations to all the members of the Trojan Marching Band for a great season.  The community looks forward to seeing you again - on Thanksgiving morning - at the McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago, IL. 

D99 Fall Orchestra Concert

The District 99 Concert Orchestra performed with musicianship and precision. The nuances of Dreams of a Midsummer Night show the sonic strengths of this ensemble.

Symphonic Orchestra performed all four movements of the challenging Simple Symphony by Benjamin Britten. The musical maturity and technical precision of this mature ensemble was evident in the professional performance of this masterwork.

The evening concluded with Concerto Grosso, conducted by DGN senior Rudy Rendek. Featured soloists Colleen Doyle (O'Neill MS,) Lindsay Klecka (Herrick MS) and our own Jennifer Mullen played kazoo along with the combined orchestra. Great job to all the students, staff and parents that collaborated to make this evening such a fabulous event.

Herrick Orchestra Opens Fall Concert

On Thursday, October 15, 2009 our District 99 Orchestra presented their Fall Orchestra Concert. This concert is annually shared with our two sender school string programs in District 58. This year, the renowned Herrick Orchestra opened the evening. Led by conductor Lindsay Klecka, the group performed four selections, including the exciting Russian Sailors' Dance. Great job to these future District 99 string musicians!

Guest Artist - Drew Nelson

Today North High welcomed critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Drew Nelson to campus.

"Every generation has its poets; the writers, musicians, and lyricists who capture the spirit and longings of their time.  Those who give expression to our own personal memories and dreams as though they know us.  They tell our stories, giving us the words we need to celebrate or let go.  That is the soil in which singer/songwriter Drew Nelson has been toiling.  Legendary songwriter John Gorka said "Drew's songs sound like the rest of us feel.  His characters are anything but defeated. They are dazed, angry, amazed and climbing."

Special thanks to our North High Music Boosters for supporting Mr. Nelson's appearance in guitar, orchestra, choir, band and MIDI music classes today.

Band O Rama 2009

Congratulations to the members of the Trojan Marching Band, as well as
the Athenas and Cheerleaders for great performances at the 2009 Band-O-
Rama!

Composer Returns to Campus

Composer Don Owens was back on campus this past week to check-in with several students who will be performing major segments of his new concerto for percussion trio and harp.  Professor Owens, pictured here with harpist Hannah Young, is working on a piece that will be debuted by the DGN Wind Ensemble in May of 2010.

Chamber Choir performs at the Traveling Wall

Members of the North High Chamber Choir, under the direction of Dr. Piekarz, performed the National Anthem this morning at a ceremony in Downers Grove honoring Vietnam War Veterans as well as those who died in combat.

London 2011 Tour Orientation Meeting / Tour Blog Launched

A new London 2011 Tour Blog has been launched to provide DGN Band students (current and future) with pertinent information relative to the 2010-2011 performance invitation. Click on the logo above (or here) to be redirected.

Parents/guardians of students who anticipate being enrolled in the DGN Band during the 2010-2011 academic year will be receiving - by email - an invitation to attend a Tour Orientation meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 (7 PM), in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium. Details will be distributed electronically to families by October 1.

A Hard Day's (Homecoming) Night

It was a long day ("A Hard Day's Night"?!) for members of the band, with many performances spanning the events of Homecoming 2009.

Images include the Marching Band at the Homecoming Assembly, DGN Fine Arts Teacher Barb Hertko, who was honored in the parade as one of our 2010 retiring teachers, the Color Guard in the Parade, and shots of Alumni Band members with their family members who are current members of the Trojan Marching Band.

Homecoming Week Celebrations Continue

Members of the Trojan Band perform in the Main St. Lobby on Thursday morning for Homecoming.

London Calling

Continuing coverage of the band's invitation to perform in the London New Years Day Parade (2011):

• Downers Grove Chronical (Blog)
• Reporter Progress Newspaper
  

Homecoming Variety Show

Congratulations to the students and faculty performers of the 2009
Homecoming Variety Show!

London Invitation Covered by ABC-7 News

Click on the image above to be redirected to the ABC-7 story and video from tonight's newscast.

DGN Band Invited to London - 2011

Click on any thumbnail for a larger image.

Dear North High Band Families:

We are extremely pleased to share with you some very exciting information. Today our school, and our band program specifically, was honored with an invitation to perform in the 2011 London New Year’s Day Parade.















The highly prestigious traditional turn of year celebration in the UK capital is established as the biggest event of its kind anywhere in the World. More than 10,000 performers from all corners of the globe entertain a street audience of around 500,000 – and a global TV audience of tens of millions. Patrons of the event include the Lord Mayor of Westminster, the Archbishop of Canterbury and senior representatives of the American community in London.

Lord Roger Bramble – the Deputy Lieutenant of London – Her Majesty The Queen’s Representative – traveled to North High School today to meet with members of the band and to extend the invitation to participate in the 25th Anniversary London New Year’s Day Parade on January 1, 2011. Accompanying Lord Bramble to North High this afternoon were Mr. Robert and Ms. Geraldine Bone, Directors of the London Parade.

This prestigious invitation, offered to a small handful of college and high school bands in the United States each year, honors the hard work, dedication and musicianship of our students. This includes our seniors, who – while contributing to the selection through their musical gifts – will not be enrolled at North High at the time when the band will make the trip. It also recognizes the tremendous support our school enjoys from parents and guardians. To each, we send our congratulations and gratitude.

All students enrolled in a curricular band course for the 2010-2011 school year will be eligible to participate in this tour. More information will be forthcoming in the next month about tour details, eligibility requirements, and opportunities for students to fund-raise in anticipation of the tour. As you can imagine, a “once in a lifetime” tour of this magnitude will only be successful if we work together to maximize resources and make every effort to support students who wish to participate and give them the tools they need to raise the funds associated with participation. In the meantime, we encourage students to begin saving now. We will also be sharing this information with current 8th grade band students who will be at North High next year so that they might also begin a process of fundraising.

We encourage families to begin learning about the London New Years Day Parade. Please visit:

www.londonparade.co.uk

Congratulations!

Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chairperson
William Miller, Music Teacher and Director – Trojan Marching Band

Cross-Town Collaboration

Congratulations to the members of the North High Trojan Marching Band, the South High Marching Mustangs, the North High Chamber Choir, and the South High Madrigal Singers for their combined performance of the National Anthem just prior to the start of the annual Cross-Town Showdown. Conducted by North High music teacher (and South High alumnus) Dr. Frank Piekarz, over 300 student musicians shared their musical gifts with the District 99 community.



































Following the shared performances at half-time, Drum Majors from both bands exchanged gifts in a show of unity and support.

Marching Band Thrills Audience at Home Opener

The accolades are pouring in via email after the Trojan Marching Band performed under the lights for the first time in 2009. Congratulations to all the members of the band for their hard work during Band Camp, and in the weeks that have followed, to prepare for the season.

Video of the pregame and halftime shows from 9.4.09 are posted here. Students are encouraged to view the video as a learning tool as we prepare for a busy upcoming week. Due to the holiday weekend, and two performances this coming week (Sept. 11 & 12) we will not be able to take time during class to review the video.