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Monday, December 14, 2009

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Chamber Choir @ Hillcrest Elementary

Members of the North High Chamber Choir performed today at Hillcrest
Elementary School.

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Images from the 2009 Holiday Mosaic Art Show

Congratulations to the Visual Art students who were honored and recognized this evening at the 2009 Holiday Mosaic Art Show Reception. The stunning artwork produced by DGN students will be on display in the Main St. Lobby through the end of this week.

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Images from the 2009 Holiday Mosaic Concert

 Congratulations to all of the student musicians who performed in the 2009 Holiday Mosaic Concert!

Monday, December 07, 2009

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!

Saturday, December 05, 2009

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."

Friday, December 04, 2009

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.'

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

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 – 1st Place & Keyboard Solo – 3rd Place (Senior)

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Saturday, November 28, 2009

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.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Video of Marching Band in Parade




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

Thursday, November 26, 2009

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).

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

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.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Thursday, November 19, 2009

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!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

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!

Monday, November 16, 2009

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!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

IMEA Jazz Festival 2009




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

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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. 










































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.