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Friday, November 17, 2006

Grammy Award Winning Artist - Jeff Coffin


Mr. Jeff Coffin worked with District 99 students on November 17, 2006. His one-day residency at North High was supported through grants from the North High Music Boosters, Music & Arts Centers, Yamaha, and Vandoren.

Jeff Coffin, well-traveled saxophonist, composer, and Grammy Award winning member of Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, rejects all labels and categories other than "music" and "musician." In the face of his epic 2005 release "BLOOM", even those once-broad tags fall short of defining the close coiling of sound, philosophy, and humanity that is the core of his art.

Since 1997, Coffin has traveled the world with the Flecktones, performing with musicians of all walks. Those with whom Jeff has shared the stage and/or the recording studio include such diverse artists as Baaba Maal, McCoy Tyner, The Dave Matthews Band, Umphrees McGee, Savion Glover, Branford Marsalis, Jeff (Apt. Q-258) Sipe, Mike Clark's Prescription Trio, Keller Williams, Mavis Staples, Garth Brooks, Van Morrison, J.D. Souther, Vinnie Colaiuta, Bob Moses, Stanton Moore, George Porter Jr., Anders Osborne, Jerry Douglas, Derek Trucks, John Scofield, Prasanna, Yonder Mountain String Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Wailers and many, many others. Along the way, Coffin has absorbed an astounding range of influences. "Whether it be New Orleans Second Line, African music, Indian Ragas, folk songs, Alan Lomax field recordings, jazz, or funk," he says, "the spirit and breath of the music is what I take away from listening and playing. It's what decides for me whether I like it or not."

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Raku Firing


On Saturday, November 11, students from the Ceramics curriculum were invited to participate in a "Raku firing." Raku firing is done in an outdoor area. The glazed pottery is heated in the kiln to a shiny, red glow. Then the pottery is removed from the kiln with tongs and allowed to cool in a closed metal can filled with combustible materials. The result is generally a black piece of pottery contrasted by the colorful glazed areas of the piece. Students involved gain an appreciation of the process and the product of Raku art.
North and South visual art teachers colloaborated to provide students with an outstanding experience. Thank you to Mrs. Myles and Mrs. O'Brien-Prusa (from DGS) who worked along side Mrs. Miller and guest artist Carl Mankert.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Oliver Pit Orchestra














Fine Arts Department students participated in the All-School Musical November 10-12, 2006 in a variety of capacities. Many of the actors and actresses were from North High choral classes, and the instrumentalists of the Pit Orchestra were the top performing students on their instruments in their respective Band and Orchestra classes.

Congraulations to all North High students who participated in this year's All-School musical!

Fine Arts @ DGN Mission

North High School endeavors to provide an enriching, vibrant, multidisciplinary environment for the study, creation, and presentation of the Fine Arts.