Downers Grove North Musicians Find Solo & Ensemble Success at State Contest!

Downers Grove North High School student musicians participated in the Illinois High School Association State Solo and Ensemble Contest on March 7, 2015.

59 students from Downers Grove North High School earned 72 Division I ratings of SUPERIOR.  A Division I score is categorized as “A Superior Performance – outstanding in nearly every detail.”  In addition, 20 students from Downers Grove North High School earned 21 Division II ratings of OUTSTANDING.  A Division II score is categorized as “An excellent performance – only minor defects.”

“Preparing for a Solo and Ensemble contest is a great opportunity for our students to express their individualism as soloists and to develop team-work skills with small ensembles,” said Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chair at North High.  “We’re very proud of all our students who entered the state contest this year.  They did a terrific job representing North High with their musicianship.”

Seven North High student musicians received perfect scores at the State Contest.

Lauren Birkmeier, Daniel Brethauer, Jen Casey, Tim Edwards, Todd Griffin, Hannah Kutchek, and Kadance Taba earned perfect marks from the judges. 

Five North High events (encompassing seven musicians) received a “Best of Day Award” for garnering the highest achievement score in their event room.  Vocal soloist Keara Corbett, Clarinet soloist Kevin Atwater, Cello Soloist Tim Edwards, Euphonium soloist Jen Casey, and a String Quartet of Seth Collins, Bryan Monk, Matt Monk, and Abby Pfeiffer were all recognized by judges to be the most outstanding performers of the day in their performance venues. 

The following North High Music Events received a “Division I—Superior” rating:

Kevin Atwater – Clarinet – BEST OF DAY

Belle Banke – Percussion Ensemble

Jack Barkei – String Ensemble (2)

Lauren Birkmeier – Euphonium – Perfect score

Alyse Bondarowicz – Flute (1) & Saxophone Ensemble (1)

Daniel Brethauer – Trombone – Perfect score

Allie Casey – Flute

Jen Casey – Euphonium – Perfect score / BEST OF DAY

Elise Cismesia – Female Voice

Seth Collins – String Ensemble – BEST OF DAY

Patrick Connery – Tuba Ensemble

Keara Corbett – Female Voice – BEST OF DAY

Ben Cortez – Trumpet

Evan Culligan – Alto Saxophone (1) & Saxophone Ensemble (1)

Maria D’Ambrose – Oboe

Katie Donnelly – Alto Saxophone

Tim Edwards – Cello – Perfect score / BEST OF DAY (1) & String Ensemble (1)

Alison Elgass – Bass Clarinet

Jamie Gamonez – Female Voice

Robert Gartlan – Male Voice

Ben Goedert – Male Voice

Kevin Griffin - Trombone 
Todd Griffin – Tuba – Perfect score (1) & Tuba Ensemble (1)

Emily Heppner – Violin

Elizabeth Heyler – Flute

Megan Hung – Clarinet

Tatiana Jordan – Violin (1) & String Ensemble (2)

Allison Kirkegaard – Female Voice (1) & Treble Ensemble (1)

Ryan Knezevich – Trombone

Eirene Kowal – Marimba

Cecilia Kowara – Female Voice

Hannah Kutchek – Flute – Perfect score

Jack Langan – Male Voice

Julija Lemenaite – Violin

Marissa Leo – Treble Ensemble

Monica Lim – String Ensemble (2)

Emily Little – Trombone

Kaylee McCarthy – Trombone

Matt McCoy – Saxophone Ensemble

Anthony McMahon – Saxophone Ensemble

Adam Mills – Trombone

Bryan Monk – Violin (1) & String Ensemble (1) – BEST OF DAY

Matt Monk – Cello (1) & String Ensemble (2) – BEST OF DAY

Liam Morgan – Cello

Lauren O’Neil – Violin

Nick Pantazopoulos – String Ensemble

Jeremy Pike – French Horn

Abby Pfeiffer – String Ensemble – BEST OF DAY

Kaleb Pfotenhauer – String Ensemble

Brendan Quealy – Male Voice

Nate Rapach – Trumpet

Caleb Schmurr – Trombone

Allie Sheetz – Flute

Amelia Smerz – Cello

Kadance Taba – Tuba (1) – Perfect score & Tuba Ensemble (1)

Jennifer Vetrone – Trumpet

Emily Wilson – Percussion Ensemble

Bre Yano – Flute

Fred Zimmerman – Male Voice

The following North High Music Events received a “Division II—Excellent” rating:

David Atwater - Horn Ensemble

Jack Barkei – Viola

Cassandra Broholm – Horn Ensemble

Arianna Calleja – Trumpet

Fiona Cismesia – Violin

Becky Donnelly – Flute

Georgia Gregory – Horn Ensemble

Gavin Harker – Trumpet

Beth Jensen – String Ensemble

Tatiana Jordan – Female Voice

Fiona Kelly – Violin

Gina Kowalewicz – Flute

Marissa Leo – Female Voice

Madi Lynch – Violin (1) & String Ensemble (1)

Elizabeth McNamara – Female Voice

Maggie Nevrly – Viola

Nick Pantazopoulos – Violin

Kaleb Pfotenhauer – Violin

Chandana Sooranahalli – String Ensemble

Samantha Young – Cello