DGN Band Featured at NU

The DGN Pep Band performed with high energy, great musicianship and tremendous professionalism at today's NU vs UIC game in Evanston. From start to finish our students were "first class" in every way.

Special thanks to all of our students (and their families) who gave of their time during the Winter Break to create this special opportunity for our program. Great job!

District 99 Bands at Carnegie Hall - Tickets on Sale Tuesday!

Tickets for the March 2, 2015 concert at Carnegie Hall will go on sale at 10:00 AM (CST) on Tuesday, December 23, 2014.

Tickets may be purchased online, at the Carnegie Hall website.  Click here.

If you are traveling with Bob Rogers Travel as a part of the official "Fan Package," you do not need to order tickets independently.  Your seats have already been secured for you, prior to the public sale (and they are great seats!).

Season of Service

It's great to see DGN musicians using their gifts in service for others during this holiday season!

Important Fannie May Sale Update from DGN Fine Arts Boosters

Dear DGN Music Parents,

 

I would like to thank all of you for your patience as we have been working through the challenges associated with the Fannie May Fundraiser this year.  This has been a very difficult time for the company and its employees as they try to honor their commitments in the aftermath of a devastating warehouse fire in Maple Heights, OH, on Thanksgiving Day.

 

The most recent "intelligence" from Fannie May is that the last shipments were sent out on Wednesday night, December 17^th.  I would expect that these shipments would be at your front door by Monday, December 22^nd, at the latest.  Fannie May was able to ship the core items in their repertoire (Pixies, Colonials, Trinidads, Meltaways, etc.), but they do not have some of the special Christmas items in their inventory or even in the "proverbial pipeline."   Those special Christmas items will not be shipped to anyone.  I understand that some families have opted for FM gift cards as a suitable substitution when they have talked with the customer service representatives directly.  And some of you ordered the gift cards way back in November.  Regardless, the gift cards come separately from the chocolates.  The customer service number at Fannie May is 800-444-3629 for any additional questions.

 

Going forward, I have asked Fannie May to supply me with a detailed accounting of what was sent to whom so that we can cross reference this information with our spread sheets.  Refund checks will be issued after I have had a chance to go over the reports.  I ask for your patience as this will be a time-consuming task—currently, I cannot even give you a time frame because I do not have the necessary reports from Fannie May.  In some instances, the checks can simply be returned if an entire order was not filled.  Also be aware that none of the checks from this fundraiser have been deposited---we were waiting to see if FM could in fact deliver product.

 

I would ask that the students notify their customers of this latest development and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused---but this was truly unavoidable.  We will work as quickly as possible to issue refunds, but customers might need to make other arrangements if their items were not delivered. 

 

Thank you again for your patience and understanding.

 

Best,

Barb Webster - Sale Chairperson 

 

 

Happy Holidays from DGN Fine Arts!

Students, faculty, alumni, and pros form "Rhapsody in Blue" Jazz Orchestra for Carnegie Hall Finale

As preparations for the March 2, 2015 Carnegie Hall concert (#NYNouveau) continue, students, faculty, alumni and professional guest musicians joined forces this evening to rehearse the scheduled concert finale: an authentic recreation of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, as premiered in New York City by the Paul Whiteman Jazz Orchestra in 1924.

Under the baton of Northwestern University Professor Emeritus Don Owens, special guest musicians will include Ian Williams (piano soloist), Kristin Bowers (clarinet), Peter Wilson (violin), Lauren Wood (saxophone), and members of the Gaudete Brass Quintet.

Enjoy this "teaser" video, shot at tonight's rehearsal ...




And these images from the session ...

Carnegie Hall Concert Prep Continues

United States Air Force Band Concert Master - and DGN Alumnus - Kristin Bowers was on campus today to rehearse the Scott McAllister clarinet concerto "Black Dog." Technical Sergeant Bowers will perform the work with the DGN Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall on March 2, 2015.

Also on campus today is Class of 2012 DGN alumnus Hannah Young (who will be accompanying the DGN Bands on harp at Carnegie Hall) as well as composer & conductor Don Owens (Northwestern University Professor Emeritus).

It was wonderful to welcome all of these special guests to campus today!

Chamber Choir Holiday Cheer

Thank you to the members of the Chamber Choir for their spirited performance at the annual DGN Parents' Club Holiday Buffet.

2014 DGN Holiday Mosaic Art Show - Impressive Display of Artistry!

Congratulations to all of our North High Fine Arts students who were celebrated this evening at the 2014 DGN Holiday Mosaic Art Show.  The gallery is an impressive display of artistry!





Visit the link below for a virtual gallery walk of the 2014 DGN Holiday Mosaic Art Show:

tinyurl.com/2014DGNHolidayMosaicArtShow

What goes up, must eventually come down ...

It took two weeks to build the Mosaic 2014 set ... and just several hours to tear down.

Thanks to all the student elves of the Fine Arts Department that made many non-musical contributions to #dgnMosaic2014 today!

2014 Holiday Mosaic Concert a Resounding Success!

Congratulations to the students, faculty and staff who created - and brought to life - the 2014 Holiday Mosaic Concert.  400+ student musicians performed for 2,000+ community members this evening, proving the arts are alive and flourishing in Community High School District 99!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Windows

Members of the DGN Art Club recently participated in a window painting contest at Pugi Hyundai.  Congratulations to all involved, and thanks for brightening the holidays with your creativity!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like #dgnMosaic2014

800+ student musicians and visual artists wait in anticipation of the opportunity to share sonic and visual gifts with the community this week.  

Don't miss the 2014 Holiday Mosaic Concert (December 9th at 5:30 or 8:00 PM), and the 2014 Holiday Mosaic Art Show Reception (December 10th, 6:00 - 7:30 PM).

DGN Holiday Mosaic Art Show Opening Reception Invitation

Chamber Choir at the Tivoli

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Chamber Choir for their performance today in the West Towns Chorus "Christmas By The Fireside" at the Tivoli in Downers Grove.

Holiday Mosaic Concert Teaser 2014 - #dgnMosaic2014

Angels We Have Heard On High? #dgnmosaic2014

It takes many hands to prepare for our DGN Holiday Mosaic.  This year's concert is shaping up to be extremely memorable.  We hope to see you in the audience Tuesday, December 9, at either 5:30 or 8:00 PM.

 

 

DGN Chamber Choir performing at Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove

The North High School Chamber Choir will participate the the 23rd annual Christmas Extravaganza sponsored by the West Towns Chorus.  The Chamber Choir will be a part of the "Preview Show" (closed to general public) on December 5th and then perform again at the December 6th 2:00 PM performance (open to general public).  Information on how to purchase tickets for the December 6th performance is available on the poster above.  Take the time to celebrate the season through the lens of great choral music in the Village of Downers Grove!

Holiday Sounds

Members of the District 99 Orchestra are hard at work this morning preparing for the annual North High Holiday Mosaic (12/9 @DGN) and South High Holiday Concert (12/11 @DGS). Both concerts are free of charge and the public is cordially invited. We hope to see you there!

Ten DGN Student Musicians Earn All-State Honors

Ten student musicians from Downers Grove North High School have earned All-State Honors in the 2014-2015 Illinois Music Education Association All-State Band, Choir, and Orchestra.  

“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.”

The All-State Band, Choir, and Orchestra will convene for a series of rehearsals in Peoria, IL, January 28-31, 2015.  Their concerts will be held at the Peoria Civic Center on the afternoon of January 31, 2015.

ALL STATE BAND

Alyse Bondarowicz (11) Flute
Evan Culligan (12) Alto Saxophone 
Megan Hung (11) Clarinet 

ALL STATE CHOIR

Abby Huskisson (12) Alto II
Shannon Kennedy (12) Alto II

ALL STATE ORCHESTRA

Jack Barkei (10) Viola
Timothy Edwards (11) Cello
Liam Morgan (11) Cello
Ari Scott (11) Cello

Amelia Smerz (11) Cello

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Congratulations to the runners/walkers in today's Bonfield Express.  It was fun to see so many flashes of PURPLE as DGN students (past and present) flew by.  Just a few pictured here.   

Happy Thanksgiving to all!