"Sprinter" Concert Warms Spirits!

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Choirs for a wonderful concert that warmed the spirit of all who had the pleasure of attending.  Students in the Concert Choir, All Access Choir, Freshman Ensemble, Acafellas, Treble Ensemble, Freshman Choir, Concert Singers, Treble Choir, Chamber Choir, and A Cappella Choir, treated the audience to a wide range of repertoire and musical styles.

The temperatures outside still feel like Winter, but the music this evening gave us all hope for Spring!

DGN Choirs In Concert Tuesday Night!

The students of the North High School Choirs are busy preparing for the 2014 "Sprinter" (Spring-Winter) Choir Concert which takes place on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 7:00 PM in the Clarence Johnson auditorium at North High School. We hope you will be with us for a wonderful night of music!

This concert will also be broadcast live on High School Cube.  Please tell all your friends and relatives out of the area that the concert can be viewed by following this link:

http://tinyurl.com/DGNChoirSprinter2014

Sent from my iPad

2014 College Music Award - DGMC $1,000 Scholarship

The Downers Grove Music Club (DGMC) is pleased to announce the 2014 College Music Award. The application is available via the website for the DGMC, http://downersgrovemusicclub.org.  The College Music Award information and application is available in the Educational Opportunities section of the website or it can be accessed directly at this link:

http://downersgrovemusicclub.org/scholarships_college.html. 

Email inquiries may be made to the following address:  musiced@downersgrovemusicclub.org.

Two awards will be given and each recipient will receive $1,000.  As outlined in the actual application, the requirements of the application are as follows:

Purpose:  to recognize TWO District 99 High School Music students for excelling at a high level of achievement.

Eligibility:  current high school Seniors who are actively pursuing music and who will be attending college in the fall of 2014, are eligible to apply.  These students need NOT be pursuing a music degree program at their chosen college.

How to Apply:  complete the written application, along with a required recording.

Selection Criteria:  the merit of the applicant's musical accomplishments and the quality of the applicant's musical performance.

Award Notification:  the announcement of the College Music Award recipients will be made at the spring awards ceremonies at both Downers Grove North and South.

The application must be submitted either via hardcopy, postmarked no later than April 1, 2014.  Or it must be submitted electronically with a date and time stamp of no later than 11:59 pm April 1, 2014.  

Mailing address:  Downers Grove Music Club, Attn: DGMC College Music Awards, P.O. Box 551, Downers Grove, IL  60515

Email address:  musiced@downersgrovemusicclub.org

The DGMC thanks Grove Dental for their generous donation as sponsor of one of these awards.

Cast Prepares for SHREK Opening

The cast of 'SHREK' are hard at work learning their steps for this year's All-School Musical at North High.  Make plans now to see Shrek, Donkey, Pinocchio, the Dragon, Lord Farquaad, all the fairytale creatures, and the lovely Fiona as they stumble their way through the pangs and pitfalls of love and adventure in "SHREK: The Musical."  You won't want to miss the fun, the special effects, the music, the dancing, and of course the amazing story of SHREK, playing March 14-16 at DGN.

DGN Jazz @ 47th Annual Elmhurst College Jazz Festival

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Jazz Ensemble for a tremendous performance at the 47th Annual Elmhurst College Jazz Festival.  One of the oldest and most prestigious events of it's kind, drawing top high school and college bands from the United States and Canada, DGN Jazz students were honored to have been invited to this year's festival.

The band's continued hard work and dedication were affirmed by a panel of three critically acclaimed jazz legends who offered only effusive praise to DGN for the ensemble's sound, style, and attention to musical detail.  

"It's pretty amazing, you guys," said jazz trumpet great Bobby Shew.  "High school kids playing like that.  Very inspiring.  For you guys to be playing this well in high school, it's just really impressive."

Gary Smulyan, considered by many to be the leading baritone sax voice in the world today, said, "I was really impressed with the way you share your joy of music with the audience. There was a really beautiful feeling behind what you were playing for us.  That really came across."  

Trombone virtuoso Andy Martin said, "I thought you guys were fantastic.  As a listener, the variety was great.  The soloists were all fantastic.  The singers were fabulous. The woodwind doubles and colors were just great.  It was a beautiful way to start the festival this year!"

Garnering "Outstanding Musician" awards were Sebastian Calvino (trombone), Zack Foster (bass), Rob Kulik (drums), Spencer Schillerstrom (tenor sax), and Amelia Smerz (cello).

Kudos to the DGN Jazz Ensemble for yet another outstanding festival performance on an international stage!

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp - Campus Auditions Wednesday!

The Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (in Michigan) is one of the nation’s leading arts immersion camps.  BLFAC is a non-profit summer school of the arts specializing in two-week arts programs for intermediate and high school students. 

Because there is a strong tradition of highly qualified District 99 students attending Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, the institution actively recruits in our schools.  Additionally, BLFAC sends a representative to our building each February to hear interested students play and sing.  From those ‘mini auditions’ BLFAC frequently awards merit-based scholarships to attend the camp.  This year’s BLFAC scholarship auditions will be held on Wednesday, February 19^th during periods, 5, 6, 7, 8 and for a short time after school.  If you are interested in playing or singing a short audition for the BLFAC rep, please express your interest on a sign-up sheet in the Fine Arts Office (room 131).  Please see Mrs. DePeder or your music teacher on TUESDAY to sign up for a time. 

What should you be prepared to play or sing in your audition?  Plan to perform 2-3 min of music that you have been working on with a private music teacher, or in class.  This could be an etude, a solo, or a piece of literature that you have really enjoyed playing.  Pick something that shows off your abilities!

The Blue Lake representative will share some basic information with your child to bring home to you.  In the meantime, you are encouraged to check out Blue Lake’s website at www.bluelake.org.  

Many DGN musicians have received significant scholarships to attend Blue Lake as a result of these mini-auditions.  Please consider this fabulous opportunity!

Winter Guard takes 3rd Place at Midwest Color Guard Circuit Contest

Congratulations to the DGN Winter Guard for taking 3rd Place in their competitive class at the Midwest Color Guard Circuit contest sponsored by Downers Grove South High School.  Beginning at 11 AM this morning, 30+ Winter Guards competed in the event.  

Way to go Trojans ... we are proud of you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOVE this Band! They sound SWEET

Scholarship Alert for Seniors: Rotary Music Scholarship applications now being accepted!

Rotary Music Scholarship applications now being accepted!

The Rotary Club of Downers Grove is now accepting applications for their annual Charles Dickerman Music Scholarship. Each year the Rotary Club of Downers Grove gives a $2,000 scholarship check to a deserving high school senior who resides in Downers Grove or the District 99 attendance area. Charles Dickerman was a founding member of the Rotary Club of Downers Grove.  He was a nuclear physicist at Argonne National Laboratory who had undergraduate degrees in both physics and music. Charles stayed involved in music throughout his life and was an avid bagpiper.

A scholarship application can be downloaded at www.dgrotary.com.

Applicants must have their forms postmarked by March 10, 2014. If selected as a finalist, candidates must be available for an interview and audition in the evening of April 7, 2014.

The qualifications to apply for this scholarship are:

· Be a graduating senior attending a public, private, parochial or home school, and reside in Downers Grove or the High School District 99 attendance area.

· Plan to pursue a post-secondary education program.

· Have participated in high school curricular music activities and/or extracurricular music activities. 

· Composers and/or arrangers qualify for this scholarship. 

· Pursuit of an undergraduate music major or minor is not required.

· Financial need is not a criterion for selection.

Composer or Pasta?

Nothing says Valentines Day like a romantic Italian dinner or an aria from a beautiful Italian opera. Today's "bell ringer" in DGN Band classes? Yes, you guessed it: a friendly game of "Composer or Pasta?"... where contestants attempt (with frequent inaccuracies) to place Italian names into one of two categories.

You're Invited to a "Frozen" Sing-A-Long Saturday Night!

Tired of the cold weather outside?  This idea is sure to warm you up: The students of the DGN Band, Choir and Orchestra Boards invite you to a Frozen Sing-A-Long!

You are invited to join fellow DGN music students and buy tickets to the Saturday, February 15 (7:05 PM) Frozen Sing-A-Long at Cinemark-Seven Bridges.

This is not an official school event, but rather an informal opportunity for DGN music students to come together for a fun night of cinema & singing!  (Students are responsible for their own transportation, tickets and supervision.) So get a car-pool together, and make plans to join fellow DGN music students on Saturday night!

CLICK HERE to pre-order your tickets for Saturday night (7:05 PM), or go to ...

http://tinyurl.com/DGNMusicFrozen

Scholarship Alert for Juniors: Downers Grove Music Club Rising Stars Music Awards

Downers Grove Music Club Rising Stars Music Awards

This is to announce the availability of the Downers Grove Music Club Rising Stars Music Awards.  The application is available via the website for the DG Music Club.  The website address is http://downersgrovemusicclub.org/.  The Music Award information and application is available in the Educational Opportunities section of the website or it can be accessed directly at this link:  http://downersgrovemusicclub.org/scholarships.html 

Please make this monetary award opportunity available to all Juniors enrolled in music at both South and North.  Six awards will be given and each recipient will receive $400 toward furthering their musical education through continued study during the summer.  As outlined in the actual application, the requirements of the application are as follows:

• Purpose:  to recognize SIX District 99 High School Music students for excelling at a high level of achievement;
• Eligibility:  current high school Juniors who are actively pursuing music are eligible to apply;
• Requirement:  the award recipients are required to perform the following year at the Downers Grove Music Club’s Rising Stars program scheduled annually in April;
• How to Apply:  complete the written application, along with a required recording;
• Selection Criteria:  the merit of the applicant’s musical accomplishments and the quality of the applicant’s musical performance.
• Award Notification:  the announcement of the Rising Stars Music Award recipients will be made at the spring awards ceremonies at both Downers Grove North and South.

The application must be submitted either via hardcopy, postmarked no later than April 1, 2014.  Or it must be submitted electronically with a date and time stamp of no later than 11:59 pm April 1, 2014.  

• mailing address:  Downers Grove Music Club, Attn: Rising Stars Music Awards, P.O. Box 551, Downers Grove, IL  60515
• email address:  musiced@downersgrovemusicclub.org

Last year we tested the response to allowing applicants to submit an optional audio/video recording of a musical performance.  Given the overwhelming positive response (the vast majority of the applicants submitted recordings), we have made this a required component of the application.  

Last year's winners are performing on Tuesday, April 8th at 7:30 pm.  The location is Four Corners Community Church, 8251 Lemont Road in Darien.  Faculty, friends and family are welcome to attend this exciting event.

Congrats Rob Kulik and 'The Resolution'

Congratulations to North Fine Arts student and DGN Band member Rob Kulik (drums), DGN alumnus Trevor Utz (lead guitar), as well as DGS students Brian Moroney (lead singer) and Patrick Mitchell (bass) - "The Resolution" - for their new single Maple Avenue - now available on iTunes!

Check out the promo video below, here.

2014 Chicagoland Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Exhibit

The auditorium lobby at North High School in Downers Grove was abuzz with artistic activity today as DGN and D99 hosted the 2014 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards exhibit for the Chicagoland region. 1,059 student artists from 30 area schools submitted 2,430 works of art for adjudication.  This regional exhibition features the award winning pieces from the extremely competitive judging process.   The exhibition takes place in the auditorium lobby just off the Main Street entrance to DGN.  The works will continue in exhibit for one week following the opening reception from 8 AM until 4 PM daily.

District 99 student artists claimed over 200 awards in a variety of art and writing categories from the 2014 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition.  North High student artists won 93 awards, including 24 Gold Key Awards, 22 Silver Key Awards, and 47 Honorable Mention Awards. At South High, student Maria Padilla received the highest award--an American Vision Award nomination for her photograph, “Lost.” In addition, South High students merited another 127 awards, including 47 Gold Key Awards, 37 Silver Key Awards, 43 Honorable Mention Awards. God Key winners will advance to the national competition in New York; national winners will be announced in March.

“We are very excited to host the regional exhibition at North High,” said Fine Arts Department Chairman Brayer Teague. “This show is always an amazing display of student creativity and a testament to the wonderful art teaching that is happening in District 99.” 

According to Teague, the art teachers from both North High and South High School play an important role in putting the exhibition together.  “Our District 99 art teachers are the engine behind this regional affiliate of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.  Their dedication and tireless commitment enables student artists from all over the suburban region to have their work evaluated by professional artists.”

“We are exceedingly proud of both the process followed by our student artists, and, of the products they all create,” said South High Fine Arts Department Chairman Glenn Williams.  “Scholastic Art Awards represent a high point of artistic achievement for a high school Visual Artist.”

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, which date back to 1923, are an important opportunity for students to be recognized for their creative talents. Past winners include Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote and others. For more information, please go to www.artandwriting.org.

Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition / Opening Reception

District 99 and North High School in Downers Grove are pleased to host the  2014 Chicago area regional Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition held at Downers Grove North High School. 1,059 student artists from 30 area schools submitted 2,430 works of art for adjudication.  This regional exhibition features the award winning pieces from the judging process.  The opening reception is on Sunday, February 9, 2014 from 1-4:00 PM in the auditorium foyer at Downers Grove North High School, 4436 Main Street in Downers Grove.  The exhibition takes place in the auditorium lobby just off the Main Street entrance to the school.  The works will continue in exhibit for one week following the opening reception.