D99 Orchestra Banquet 2014

Students, families and friends associated with the District 99 Orchestra gathered tonight in the cafeteria at South High School to celebrate the sonic successes of the ensemble and of the individuals that comprise the ensemble.

Special thanks to the parent volunteers from both North and South for presenting such a fabulous event for the student musicians.  Thanks also to director Jennifer Mullen for coordinating the banquet experience for the D99 Orchestra families and friends. 

Final Reminder: DGN Music Boosters provide Summer Music Camp Scholarships

The DGN Music Boosters provide Summer Music Camp Scholarships for North High student musicians (current Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors) who will engage in music camp activities this June, July and August.  

Applications are easy to complete, and available online.  The due-date to complete the application is Friday, April 25th.  

You may access the application for this scholarship by clicking here.  

http://tinyurl.com/DGNMusicBoosterScholarships

We encourage any DGN Freshman, Sophomore or Junior who will be attending a summer music camp to fill out the application so we can work to support your efforts!

In case you missed it ...

In case you missed it or just want to remember what a wonderful evening of music it was, you may click on the link below and view the archived performance of the Guitar Orchestra, Recorder Orchestra and String Orchestra from the Music School in Beitigheim-Bissingen, Germany.  Enjoy!

Bietigheim-Bissingen Music School Tivoli Concert/04-16-14

D99/Woodridge Public Library Art Show Adjudication Results

The 2014 D99/Woodridge Public Library Art show opened last night to a capacity crowd.  The results of the judging are posted below listing award winners in each category.  Special congratulations to the "Best in Show" Award winners in both 2D and 3D.

The show will remain in exhibition until the end of April at the Woodridge Public Library during normal operating hours.  The public is cordially invited to walk the gallery and examine the remarkable student work on display.

2014 Woodridge Library NORTH HIGH WINNERS

Best of Show 3-D: Emma Brzezinski       “Lord Chubbington”

Best of Show 2-D: Aubrey Saha              “Self-Portrait”

Ceramics 1^st Prize:  Isabelle Ghanayem 

Ceramics 2^nd place:  Sydney Schoolcraft 

Ceramics 3^rd place:  Nesma Hamouda 

Portrait Drawing 1^st Prize:  Elizabeth Langan         

Portrait Drawing 2^nd place:  Brooke Pryor      

Portrait Drawing 3^rd place:  Leanne Jackson  

Imaginative Drawing and Painting 1^st Prize:  Claire Kozik  

Imaginative Drawing and Painting 2^nd place:  Livija Rainyte

Imaginative Drawing and Painting 3^rd place:  Isabelle Ghanayem 

Photography 1^st Prize:  Alexa Castelvicchi  

Photography 2^nd place:  Andra Jankauskaite 

Photography 3^rd place:  Briana Gastaldello 

Digital Art 1^st Prize:  Zach Baltrus 

Digital Art 2^nd place: Claire Kozik  

Digital Art 3^rd place: Nathan Eisenhut       

Jewelry 1^st Prize:  Lili Mayoral                  

Jewelry 2^nd place: Tied for Second       Alex Olsen & Julia Madej            

Jewelry 3^rd place: Tied for Third       Audrey Bican & Kari Brewton       

Mixed Media 1^st Prize:  Suzi Smulkaitis    

Mixed Media 2^nd place:  Tyler Plachy  

Mixed Media 3^rd place:  Stephanie Urbancik  

A musical "Auf Wiedersehen" to our friends from Beitigheim-Bissingen

Time to bid a fond farewell to our friends

The air still resounds with the sounds of the concert at the Tivoli in Downers Grove last evening.  With over 500 people in attendance and more than 500 people viewing the concert online, our friends from Beitigheim-Bissingen, Germany performed with a musical elegance beyond their chronological years.  The transformational nature of this exchange was experienced fully by all in attendance through the sounds performed, the words spoken, and the interactions observed.   Our hearts are already sad to see our friends depart this morning!

D99/BB exchange expands to the Visual Arts

The students in the Digital Photo curriculum experienced a cross-cultural, mulit-disciplinary masterclass in photography.  Ideas were shared and boundaries were expanded through the realm of photography and digital photography.

Helfried Strauss presented the student artist with a history of his work, which included capturing the transformation of the city of Leipzig, Germany after the Berlin Wall came down.  Herr Strauss also spent time examining the work of DGN student artists, providing them formative feedback on their work and asking them probing questions about concepts and meaning within their photographs.

Special thanks to the Mrs. Herrmann who served as linguistic translator during the presentation.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't Miss Tonight's German Music Concert!

7:00 PM at The Tivoli. Please join us for a wonderful exchange concert!

2014 D99/Woodridge Public Library Art Show

The North and South High Art teams are busy hanging the 2014 D99/WPL Art Show, a show which features the finest 2D and 3D work from District 99 visual artists.

The show opens tonight, April 16, 2014 at 6 PM at the Woodridge Public Library and will be in exhibition through the month of April.  Results of the show adjudication will be announced in a brief ceremony at 6:30 PM.  The public is cordially invited to attend the opening and the exhibiton.  

April Jazz (Sharing Is Caring) Concert

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab Band, and Percussion Ensemble for a terrific concert last night.  Each group played with musical passion, and great artistic style.  

Special thanks are extended to the Recorder Orchestra and Guitar Orchestra from the Bietigheim-Bissingen Musikschule for their Prelude performances!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Concert - Tuesday Night!

Don't miss the 2014 "Sharing Is Caring" Jazz Concert at North High, Tuesday, April 15, 7:00 PM.  This concert will feature the DGN Jazz Lab Band, DGN Percussion Ensemble, and DGN Jazz Ensemble.  Artist-in-Residence Kirk Garrison will be featured as soloist with both jazz groups.

Do you have family or friends out-of-town who would like to "tune in" for the concert?  The concert will be streamed live on The Cube here.

http://www.highschoolcube.com/event/2013-14-sharing-is-caring-jazz-bands-concert-340555

Krik Garrison - Artist In Residence

DGN is pleased to welcome Mr. Kirk Garrison to campus for a two-day residency where he is working with students of the DGN jazz band and concert band programs.  Today Mr. Garrison worked with Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble, as well as rehearsals with the Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Ensemble.

Mr. Garrison will headline the "Sharing is Caring" April Jazz Concert, Tuesday evening (7:00 PM) in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium at North High.

A veteran of the Chicago jazz scene, trumpeter Kirk Garrison attended Mankato State University in his home state of Minnesota before honing his skills in the United States Air Force Band. After leaving the Air Force in 1992, he completed his Master's degree in Jazz Studies at DePaul University where he is now a member of the jazz faculty. Garrison's recent performance credits include the International Music Festival in Hue, Vietnam with Kimotion, the Ravinia Music Festival with Dave Brubeck, the North Shore Jazz Festival with Joey DeFrancesco. Kirk was recently commissioned to write arrangements for internationally renowned jazz saxophonist Phil Woods with big band and an arrangement of 'Nature Boy' for orchestra and choir which will premiere in January of 2010. He has been on several tours of Europe and the United States with the Lt. Dan Band featuring actor Gary Sinise.

Kirk has also appeared with such jazz stalwarts as Louie Bellson, Kenny Burrell, Ron Carter, Kurt Elling, and Herbie Hancock. In addition, Kirk Garrison is in high demand as a writer and arranger. In this capacity, he has received commissions from DePaul University, Rob Parton's Jazz Tech Big Band, the Chicago String Ensemble, and the Millar Brass Ensemble at Northwestern University.

Howard Reich, jazz critic for the Chicago Tribune wrote, "The spectacular trumpet solo that Kirk Garrison offered... reminded listeners why the Jazz Members Big Band stands among the best repertory units in the country." Cadence Magazine's jazz critic Jack Bowers wrote "Kirk Garrison's marvelous trumpet work ... so moving it brought tears to my eyes." His trumpet artistry was described as "cool work" by John Von Rhein, music critic of the Chicago Tribune. John Killoch of Mainly Big Bands (UK) wrote in a review, "This guy nails the section with a big, accurate lead sound and when he flexes his chops ... the sound is again right down the middle, in tune, big and so high. Musical is a good way to put it. An object lesson to anyone who aspires to be a top lead trumpeter."

Kirk Garrison uses Denis Wick mutes and mouthpieces and is a Denis Wick performing artist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D99/BB Exchange goes on the road.

Our friends from Beitigheim-Bissingen traveled today to experience the gracious hospitality and musicianship from the students and staff at  Lincoln-Way Central High School.

The recorder orchestra participated in clinics and workshops with Laura Kuhlman, the current president of the American Recorder Society, and with Glen Shannon, internationally acclaimed recorder composer and performer.  After the time of the learning, the BB Recorder Orchestra performed for the Lincoln-Way Central Wind Ensemble.

The Guitar Orchestra spent time rehearsing and then shared the stage with the Lincoln-Way Central Guitar Studio Ensemble.  A favorite moment of the day was a spontaneous international guitar jam session which took place right after the performance.

The Orchestra performed for the Lincoln-Way Central HS Orchestra, ending with a fabulous vocal feature.

After the morning of music, the Lincoln-Way staff treated our German friends to a pizza lunch before sending us on our way back to Downers Grove.

Special thanks to Stacy Williams-Jackson and the Lincoln-Way Central music team for their rich hospitality today.  The world was made a smaller place today through the exchange of culture and music.