Next Wednesday evening, April 16th (7 PM), students from the Bietigheim-Bissingen Musikschule (Germany) will present a wonderful concert in our community. These students – who are arriving on April 11 to spend the next week in “home stays” with District 99 families, are continuing a rich cultural and musical tradition shared between our community and that of Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany. Historical highlights of this exchange follow at the end of this announcement.
When our District 99 music students have traveled to Germany on past tours, they have always been privileged to perform for large/appreciative audiences. There is nothing that can help a student music ensemble feel more welcomed or appreciated than the response of a community to come out and support their efforts. With this in mind, we are asking our community to please thoughtfully consider attending this concert, and supporting these wonderful student musicians from Germany.
Details of the concert may be found in the poster above.
We hope to see you, your family and friends, at the Tivoli next Wednesday night, at 7:00 PM. The concert is FREE and open to the community, so please invite your neighbors as well!
EXCHANGE
BACKGROUND HIGHLIGHTS:
The cultural exchange that we enjoy
today is the product of almost 30 years of ongoing musical tours between the
District 99 schools and the Bietigheim-Bissingen Musikschule.
1985: Mr. Bob Jacobs of the Downers Grove Morning
Kiwanis Club was contacted by a Kansas City area Kiwanis Club, inquiring about
the possibility of finding a high school music program that would host a German
student band from Bietigheim-Bissingen. Mr. Jacobs then contacted Mr.
Alan Roselieb, the music teacher at Downers Grove South High School. Mr.
Roselieb coordinated the first visit of the German students to the Downers
Grove area.
1993: District 99
sends first music ensembles to visit Germany and participate in the
exchange. Student participants included the band from Downers Grove South
and the District 99 Orchestra. Tour directors included Mr. Alan Roselieb,
Mr. Pat Annelo, and Mr. Craig Roselieb.
1997: Second
District 99 tour to Germany. The ensemble is an honors band made up of
students from both North and South High Schools. Tour directors included Mr.
Craig Roselieb and Mr. Brayer Teague.
2001: Third
District 99 tour to Germany. The ensemble is an honors band made up of
students from both North and South High Schools. Tour directors included Mr.
William Miller, Mr. Ronald Hornish, Mr. Craig Roselieb, and Mr. Brayer Teague.
2005: Fourth
District 99 tour to Germany. Student participants included the band from
Downers Grove North and the District 99 Orchestra. Tour directors included Mrs.
Anne Branch, Mr. William Miller, and Mr. Brayer Teague.
2008: Fifth
District 99 tour to Germany. The ensemble is an honors band made up of
students from both North and South High Schools. Tour directors included Mr.
William Miller, Mr. Craig Roselieb, Mr. Brayer Teague, and Mr. Glenn Williams.
2010: Sixth
District 99 tour to Germany. The ensemble is a District 99 honors
orchestra made up of students from both North and South High Schools. Tour
directors included Ms. Jennifer Mullen, Mr. William Miller, Mr. Ronald Hornish.
2012: Seventh
District 99 tour to Germany. The ensemble is a District 99 honors band
made up of students from both North and South High Schools. Tour
directors included Mr. William Miller, Ms. Jennifer Mullen, Mr. Craig Roselieb,
Mr. Brayer Teague, and Mr. Glenn Williams.
2014: Upcoming -
Eighth District 99 tour to Germany. The ensemble is a District 99 honors
orchestra made up of students from both North and South High Schools.
Tour directors include Ms. Jennifer Mullen, Mr. Gregory Hensel, and Mr. Craig
Roselieb.
District
99 has hosted many different Musikschule tours over the past 30 years,
including multiple visits by their concert band, string orchestra, guitar
orchestra, recorder ensemble, and accordion band. Our District 99
Administration and our Downers Grove Village Government has been very
supportive of welcoming these guests.
