Happy Halloween from DGN Fine Arts!

IMEC Preparation with Glenn Williams

Last spring the DGN Jazz Ensemble was honored with an invitation to perform this coming January (2014) at the Illinois Music Education Conference in Peoria.  Students continue their work in preparing music for that important performance, and tonight the band welcomed DGS Fine Arts Department Chairperson, and trombonist, Glenn Williams as a guest jazz mentor.  Mr. Williams is the second of seven guest-conductors who have agreed to serve as mentors to the band leading up to the January 23rd performance.  

Mr. Williams' work with the ensemble tonight was not only educationally insightful, but musically inspiring.  Every student in the ensemble benefitted tonight from Mr. Williams' perspective and passion for jazz literature.  

Mr. Williams has been tapped to guest-conduct the Illinois All-State Jazz Ensemble this year, and will lead Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp International Jazz Band on a tour of Europe this summer.

Thank you, Mr. Williams, for "crossing the tracks" and inspiring us with a great night of music making and learning!

 

 

 

 

North High Musicians Earn 53 All-District Honors

Student musicians from Downers Grove North High School earned an impressive fifty-three placements, by competitive audition, to the 2013 Illinois Music Educators Association District Band, Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Band.  Auditions were held on Tuesday, October 15, at Carl Sandburg High School.  The top placing scores were selected for participation in the District Music Festivals, to be held during the month of November. 

“Selection to the ILMEA All-District ensembles is a distinct honor for a high school musician,” said Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chairperson.  “Our faculty is excited for these students who will now have the opportunity to collaborate with the most outstanding musicians in our region.”

The music faculty, private teachers, and sender school music teachers associated with North High School are proud to congratulate the following students who have earned ILMEA All-District Honors:

CHOIR
Yessenia Barrera (12) Alto II

Elizabeth Brunell (12) Soprano I

Anna Burton (12) Alto II

Emmy Cook (12) Soprano II

Keara Corbett (10) Soprano I

Abby Huskisson (11) Alto II

Shannon Kennedy (11) Alto II

Annie Ketchmark (12) Soprano II

Allison Kirkegaard (11) Alto I

Alison LeBeda (11) Alto II

Zach Ligmanowski (12) Tenor I

Megan MacArtney (11) Alto II

Martin Whitmore (11) Tenor II

Freddy Zimmerman (10) Bass II

ORCHESTRA STRINGS
Jack Barkei (9) Viola

Timothy Edwards (10) Cello

Zach Foster (12) Cello

Mantas Kisielius (12) Violin

Julija Lemenaite (11) Violin

Monica Lim (11) Violin

Matt Monk (10) Cello

Liam Morgan (10) Cello

Rachel Pfeifer (11) Cello

Jonathan Poortinga (11)

Katherine Portman (12) Violin

Ari Scott (10) Cello

Amelia Smerz (10) Cello

Robert Whitmore (11) Double Bass

Sarah Williams (12) Viola

Samantha Young (11) Cello

WINDS and PERCUSSION (CLASSICAL)

Kevin Atwater (11) Clarinet (Orchestra)

Alyse Bondarowicz (10) Flute (Band)

Ben Casey (12) Tuba (Orchestra)

Tommy Donnelly (12) Trumpet (Orchestra)

Alison Elgass (10) Bass Clarinet (Band)

Katie Goldsmith (12) Clarinet (Band)

Todd Griffin (10) Tuba (Band)

Megan Hung (10) Clarinet (Band)

Joseph Pacheco (12) Trumpet (Band)

Katherine Severt (11) Oboe (Orchestra)

WINDS and PERCUSSION (JAZZ)

Sebastian Calvino (12) Trombone

Tommy Donnelly (12) Trumpet

Rob Kulik (12) Drum Set

Kyle Lewandowski (12) Tenor Sax

Lucy Lu (12) Alto Sax

Matt McCoy (9) Alto Sax

Anthony McMahon (11) Baritone Sax

Joseph Pacheco (12) Trumpet

Spencer Schillerstrom (12) Tenor Sax

Grant Severt (10) Guitar

Andrew Slobidsky (12) Trombone

Amelia Smerz (10) Trombone

Jennifer Vetrone (11) Trumpet

District 99, District 58, and Project Trio Share the Spotlight

Congratulations to the musicians of the District 99 and District 58 Orchestras for their performance tonight with Project Trio.  Playing to a packed house, each the three orchestras that accompanied Project Trio did so with poise and musical passion.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Trio In The House

District 99 instrumentalists are having an amazing afternoon collaborating with the internationally acclaimed Project Trio.

Don't miss tonight's concert, at 7 PM, in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium of North High.  Tickets are free, but required.  Approximately 200 unclaimed tickets remain, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis when the doors open at 6:30 PM.

D99 Fall Orchestra Concert (with Project Trio) - Live Webcast

Can't be with us in Downers Grove tonight, but want to hear and see the District 99 Fall Orchestra Concert?

Click here for our live webcast!

http://www.highschoolcube.com/event/2013-14-d99-fall-orchestra-concert-with-project-tr-325887


The performance will also be available for online viewing after the concert!

Project Trio in District 99

The internationally acclaimed ensemble Project Trio will be appearing in District 99 on Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 7:00 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium at North High School in Downers Grove.  Alongside Project Trio, the orchestras from District 99 and District 58 will be featured.

Tickets are free, but, arrive early as a full house is expected due to the luminosity of these exciting guest artists!

Band-O-Rama Brings Crowd To Their Feet!

A prolonged and heart-felt standing ovation for the members of the Trojan Marching Band was a fitting tribute and acknowledgment of the hard work and dedication displayed by the 185 student musicians performing tonight at DGN.

Special thanks are extended to the Athenas, JV Cheerleaders, and Varsity Cheerleaders, for sharing the spotlight at this evening's Band-O-Rama ... and for all their great work this season in support of the North High community.

Well done Trojan Marching Band!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live Webcast of Band-O-Rama

Can't be with us in Downers Grove tonight, but want to hear and see the 2013 Band-O-Rama?

Click here for our live webcast!

http://www.highschoolcube.com/event/2013-14-band-o-rama-325693

The concert will also be available for viewing after the show!

Join Us For Band-O-Rama 2013!

You are cordially invited to join the members of the Trojan Marching Band, the Athenas, and the Cheerleaders, for Band-O-Rama 2013 ... a high-energy concert featuring the sights and sounds of Friday Night Football!

Band-O-Rama is Tuesday night, at 7 PM, in the Purple Gym of North High.  We hope you can join us for a showcase of terrific student tallent.

DGN Visual Artist - Finalist in Illinois Tollway Art Contest

Congratulations to DGN Visual Art student Nathan Eisenhut who has been named as one of 10 semi-finalists to have his artwork selected as the cover-art of the official 2014 Illinois Tollway Map.  

The Illinois Tollway reached out to talented high school at students to create the artwork for the cover of the Tollway's 2014 Complimentary Map.  More than 125,000 copies of the map are distributed annually to motorists and many more view the map via the Tollway's website.  This year's contest theme this year is "Work Zone Safety."

The Tollway is inviting members of the general public to go online to the Illinois Tollway website to vote for their favorite.  The semi-finalists art is also currently on display at seven Illinois Tollway Oases, with a display gallery that allows visitors to vote by QR code via smartphones.  

The top four entries will move on to the next level of judging.  A grand prize winner and three runners-up will be selected by a panel of judges including members of the Tollway Board of Directors and representatives from U.S. Equities.  Prizes include being featured on the 2014 Tollway map cover, as well as gift certificates from Blick Art Materials.  

Click here for a direct link to cast your vote.  (We believe you may "vote early and vote often.")

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2014MapCoverArt

2014 Tollway Map Art Contest Semi-Finalists

Kate Arnson, Lake Forest High School

Nathan Eisenhut, Downers Grove North High School

Lauren Gould, Bolingbrook High School

Grayson Lichtenstein, Highland Park High School

Vladan Malnovic, Lyons Township High School

Rachel Pickus, Lake Forest High School

Austin Rice, Lyons Township High School

Samantha Sanders, Bolingbrook High School

Veronica Severini, Glenbard East High School

Crystal Thorns, Lincoln-Way North High School

Grandparents Day

Thank you to the members of the A Cappella Choir for sharing their music this afternoon at DGN's annual Grandparents Day celebration. Great job!

IMEC Preparation with Tom Tait

Last spring the DGN Jazz Ensemble was honored with an invitation to perform this coming January (2014) at the Illinois Music Education Conference in Peoria.  Students are hard at work preparing music for that important performance, and tonight the band welcomed professional trumpeter and music teacher Tom Tait as a guest clinician.  Mr. Tait is the first of seven guest-conductors who have agreed to serve as mentors to the band leading up to the January 23rd performance.

Thank you, Mr. Tait, for a great night of work with the full ensemble, as well as the trumpet section.  It was a pleasure to have you with us, and to learn from you.

 

 

 

 

Is Music the Key to Success?

Is Music the Key to Success? (New York Times - 10-12-13)

The above article mentions several notable professionals as well as several non-musical benefits of studying music.   While greater understanding of the human condition through the aesthetic of sound remains a primary focus for Music Educators, the extra-musical benefits mentioned in this New York Times piece are very poignant and worthy of consideration.

Seniors Honored

Congratulations - and thank you - to our Seniors (Class of 2014) for over 140 years of combined service to the Trojan Marching Band and the North High Community.

Great Cake!

Impressive work Allison P.!

All In The Family ...

Tonight the Trojan Marching Band will honor the Senior Class of 2014 as they perform in their final regular season home game on Carsten's Field.

We often refer to the DGN Band as a 'family.'  This notion rings especially true for Jess Chika (Class of '14) who has been attending DGN Football Games for many years.  Enjoy this image of Jess with her brother Chris (3rd grade), her brother Kevin (7th grade), and this year ... as a senior herself!

Thanks Jess, and all the seniors of the DGN Trojan Marching Band, for a great four years!

Fall Choir Concert a Sonic Success!

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Choirs on a terrific performance at this evening's Fall Choir Concert!  Each of the large choral ensembles, as well as the select ensembles, performed with confidence, vocal maturity, and great musicianship.  Kudos to all!

 

 

 

 

 

Live Webcast of Tonight's DGN Fall Choir Concert

Can't be with us in Downers Grove tonight, but want to hear some wonderful sounds?

Click here (http://www.highschoolcube.com/event/2013-14-fall-choir-concert-324543) for our live webcast!

The concert will also be available for viewing after the show!

DGN Purple Pride

DGN Band members showed their Purple Pride last week at Thursday night's marching band practice as Mr. Kasik stopped by to thank the band for their notable energy, passion and spirit for North High.  

 

 

 

 

Fall Choir Concert Tonight!

DGN Choirs will present their Fall Choral Concert tonight, October 9th, at 7 pm in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium. The concert will feature the Freshman Choir, Concert Choir, Treble Choir, A Cappella Choir, Concert Singers, Treble Ensemble, Chamber Choir, All Access and the Acafellas.  Admission is free. We hope to see you there!

He Plays QB Too!

Congratulations to senior quarterback (and DGN Band Principal Trombonist) Sebastian Calvino on a spectacular four-touchdown performance during tonight's 42-21 victory of crosstown rival Downers Grove South!

2013 Cross Town Classic

Congratulations to the Marching Mustangs, Trojan Marching Band, Athenas and Fillies for their collaborative half-time and pre-game performances during the 2013 Crosstown Classic in District 99.  Special congratulations to the members of the choral  programs from both campuses that joined the combined marching ensembles on the field during pre-game to lead the crowd in attendance in honoring America through the playing and singing of our National Anthem.

As is tradition, the drum majors from each ensemble exchanged season t-shirts after half time.  During the entire course of the contest, both ensembles contributed to the spirited nature of the event in a positive way. While the evening is framed around the competition on the gridiron, the students in the music and dance organizations combined in multiple ways this evening to show the collaborative spirit that exists in the arts in District 99.