Winter Guard Takes 2nd Place at Cedarburg

Congratulations to the DGN Winter Guard for taking 2nd Place this weekend at the Midwest Color Guard Circuit Competition held at Cedarburg High School.  The Winter Guard improved an impressive 10 points from their initial competitive outing this season.  Great job ladies!

All State Concerts #WeAreDGN #99Learns @ilmea1 @Dist_99

Congratulations to the @dgnbands, @dgnchoirs, and @d99orchestra members for amazing performances at the 2016 All-State and All-State Honors Concerts. Bravo to all!

All State Music Composition #WeAreDGN #99Learns #imec2016 @ilmea1

Congratulations to Jeremy Pike on his First Place Award in the Illinois All State Music Composition Contest.

All State Future Music Educators #WeAreDGN #99Learns #imec2016 @ilmea1

Congratulations to Lauren Birkmeier on her selection to the Illinois Music Education Association All State "Future Music Educator Symposium."

All State Chorus #WeAreDGN #99Learns #imec2016 @ilmea1

Congratulations to Keara Corbett and Grace Reberg on their selection to the 2016 Illinois All State Chorus.

All State Band #WeAreDGN #99Learns #imec2016 @ilmea1

Congratulations to David Atwater (horn), Sarah Fantinel (flute) and Todd Griffin (tuba) on their selection to the 2016 Illinois All State Band.

All State Orchestra #WeAreDGN #99Learns #imec2016 @ilmea1

Congratulations to Jack Barki (viola), and Ari Scott (cello) on their selection to the 2016 Illinois All State Orchestra.

All State Honors Chorus #WeAreDGN #99Learns #imec2016 @ilmea1

Congratulations to Robert Gartlan and Sharon Stagaman on their selection to the 2016 Illinois All State Honors Chorus.

All State Honors Band #WeAreDGN #99Learns #imec2016 @ilmea1

Congratulations to Alyse Bondarowicz (flute), and Caleb Schmurr (trombone) on their selection to the 2016 Illinois All State Honors Band.

All State Honors Orchestra #WeAreDGN #99Learns #imec2016 @ilmea1

Congratulations to Maria D'Ambrose (oboe), Tim Edwards (cello), Megan Hung (clarinet), and Liam Morgan (cello) on their selection to the 2016 Illinois All State Honors Orchestra.

Congrats Wind Ensemble & Composition Contest Winner Jeremy Pike #imec2016 #WeAreDGN #99Learns

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Wind Ensemble on an outstanding performance today at the Illinois Music Education Conference in Peoria, IL. The band performed an arrangement "O Holy Night," by senior Jeremy Pike. Jeremy was awarded First Place in the Arranging Division of the Illinois All State Music Composition Concert.

Bravo to each and every member of the @dgnbands for the professionalism and musicianship on display for the State of Illinois today. #WeAreDGN!

The @dgnbands #JazzEnsemble on Indianapolis News #WeAreDGN #99Learns

District 99 Strong Presence at pending IMEC in Peoria, IL #99Learns #WeAreDGN #peoriaorbust

On January 27-30, 2016, the annual Illinois Music Education Conference will take place in Peoria, Illinois. In addition to the 31 student musicians at Downers Grove North High and Downers Grove South High who have been selected to participate in All-State ensembles, South High’s Madrigal Singers and North High’s Wind Ensemble will be featured performers during the conference, which is attended by thousands of student musicians and educators statewide.

The DGS Madrigal singers were selected through a competitive taped submission process to participate. National Certified Board Teacher Laura Coster conducts the DGS Madrigal Singers. Click here to watch a video of them practicing for the conference.

"Performing at the prestigious IMEC is a tremendous honor for us," says Fine Arts Department Chairman Glenn Williams. “It's a credit to our student musicians that the South High Madrigal Singers have been selected to perform.” The Madrigal Singers will perform at both the ILMEA All State Convention as well as the American Choral Directors Association Regional Convention in Chicago later in February.

“DGN senior and composer Jeremy Pike, an All-State composition contest award winner, will have his composition performed live by the DGN Wind Ensemble on Thursday, January 28, during the Composer Showcase at the 2016 IMEC,” says Teague.

In addition to student representation at the conference, District 99 faculty members also have leadership roles in the organization, including:

DGS - Joy Belt-Roselieb, All-State Honors Choir Organizational Chair

DGN/DGS - Jennifer Mullen, District 1 Orchestra Division Representative

DGN - Beth O'Riordan, District 1 Choral Division Representative

DGS - Craig Roselieb, Jazz Division President

DGN - Brayer Teague, ILMEA President-Elect

Also at the conference, South High music teacher Greg Hensel and English teacher Amy Stoops will present to other educators about the benefits of implementing literacy coaching techniques in music classes.

“Professional organizations run on the spirit of volunteerism, and District 99 is among the leaders in the state of Illinois with staff involvement in their professional

organization,” says Williams.

“You would be hard pressed to find another district in Illinois that has so many student musicians honored or so many faculty contributing to the professional leadership of the association,” notes Teague.

Winter Guard Opens Competitive Season #WeAreDGN @dgncolorguard

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Winter Guard on a terrific season-opening performance this past weekend at Naperville North High School!

DGN Fine Arts Salutes 2016 Scholastic Art Award Winners #WeAreDGN #99Learns

The Fine Arts Department at Downers Grove North High School is proud to announce the results of the judging from the 2016 Scholastic Art Awards held at Downers Grove North High School and hosted by the Community High School District 99 Fine Arts Departments.  1,053 student artists from 30 area schools submitted 2,894 works of art for adjudication. North High artists won 87 awards, including 1 American Vision Award (Best of Show), 34 Gold Key Awards, 27 Silver Key Awards, and 25 Honorable Mention Awards.

 “We are very excited to host the regional exhibition at North High,” said Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chairman. “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 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.”

Community High School District 99 will host the Scholastic Art Show Regional Exhibition from February 7-12, at the North High School campus Main Street Lobby (4436 Main Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515).  The public is cordially invited to attend the Exhibition Opening and Artists Reception on Sunday, February 7, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. 

For more information about the Fine Arts at North High School, contact Brayer Teague at bteague@csd99.org or, go to our department blog at http://northfinearts.blogspot.com.  

AMERICAN VISION AWARD (Best of Show)

Aubrey Saha, Drawing and Illustration (Am I Pretty?)

Am I Pretty? - Aubrey Saha

GOLD KEY AWARDS (34)

Emma Bochar, Digital Art

Ching Yi Chan, Jewelry

Natalie Costello, Ceramics & Glass

Benjamin Gartlan, Drawing and Illustration

Andra Jankauskaite, Art Portfolio

Andra Jankauskaite, Photography (2)

Brett Mills, Ceramics & Glass

Kayelee Newstrom, Drawing and Illustration

Lexi Nix, Mixed Media

Jessica Novotny, Photography (5)

Sarah Patrick, Photography (2)

Liam Perez, Digital Art

Liam Perez, Drawing and Illustration

Lauren Porcelli, Ceramics & Glass

Aubrey Saha, Drawing and Illustration (6)

Rachael Salman, Photography

Tony Sherifi, Photography

Kathryn Vaden, Jewelry

Sofia Wehrle, Painting

Emma Wilson, Digital Art

Olivia Wojciak, Ceramics & Glass

Angela Wong, Ceramics & Glass

Amber Wood, Design

SILVER KEY AWARDS (27)

Emma Bochar, Digital Art

Natalie Costello, Ceramics & Glass

Kellie Flavin, Ceramics & Glass

Benjamin Gartlan, Printmaking

Briana Gastaldello, Photography

Andra Jankauskaite, Photography (2)

Natasha Jung, Ceramics & Glass

Shannon Koegel, Ceramics & Glass

Elizabeth Langan, Drawing and Illustration

Carly Miller, Ceramics & Glass

Lexi Nix, Mixed Media

Jessica Novotny, Art Portfolio

Jessica Novotny, Photography (2)

Sarah Patrick, Photography

Liam Perez, Drawing and Illustration

Lauren Porcelli, Jewelry

Aubrey Saha, Drawing and Illustration (4)

Ari Scott, Drawing and Illustration

Audrey Staron, Drawing and Illustration

Makenna Tallon, Ceramics & Glass

Sofia Wehrle, Painting

Katie Whiteman, Digital Art

HONORABLE MENTION (25)

Susannah Browning, Ceramics

Julia Ebel, Ceramics

Briana Gastaldello, Photography

Claudia Hernandez, Digital Art

Andra Jankauskaite, Photography

Sidra Khan, Photography

John Klasing, Drawing and Illustration

Elizabeth Langan, Drawing and Illustration

Elyse Lyons, Drawing and Illustration

Stacy Mandujano, Ceramics

Emilija Miskinyte, Drawing and Illustration

Sophia Mogavero, Drawing and Illustration

Kayelee Newstrom, Drawing and Illustration

Sarah Patrick, Photography (3)

Liam Perez, Art Portfolio

Lauren Porcelli, Ceramics

Savannah Rodriguez, Ceramics

Aubrey Saha, Drawing and Illustration (3)

Aubrey Saha, Art Portfolio

Bridget Shatkus, Ceramics

Julia Yrkoski, Printmaking

DGN Jazz Ensemble @ the 2016 Purdue University Jazz Festival #WeAreDGN #99Learns

Video here.

DGN Jazzers Swing at 2016 Purdue Jazz Festival #WeAreDGN #99Learns

Congratulations to the student musicians of the North High School Jazz Program for an outstanding showing at the 2016 Purdue Jazz Festival.   Four ensembles performed and competed with more than 100 high school ensembles from five states across the Midwest.  In addition to receiving a score from the panel of adjudicators in each room, each group received real time formative feedback from each judge in an audio recording.  This feedback is essential to the continuing growth of both individual students and the musicianship of each ensemble.  

Each of the four ensembles from DGN received a Division I rating from the panel of judges.  This is the highest possible rating on the scoring rubric.  In addition to the outstanding ensemble performances, 20 Outstanding Soloist Awards were given by the panel of judges to DGN students for displaying outstanding musicianship.

The DGN Jazz Ensemble earned "Outstanding Performance" for their room (Loeb Playhouse), meaning they were one of the top two ensembles for the day.  The band was also a featured ensemble for an educational lecture presented by Don Owens, Jazz Studies Professor Emeritus from Northwestern University.  The "Jazz Technicians Combo" also earned "Outstanding Performance" for their division in the Anniversary Drawing Room. 

Jazz Ensemble – Division I Rating / Outstanding Performance Award (2nd Place)

Outstanding Soloist Awards: Ellie Banke (vocal), Josie Bondarowicz (bass), Michael Hardy (piano), Ryan Knezevich (trombone), Matthew McCoy (alto sax), Zachary McCoy (drums), Austin Moca (piano), Nate Rapach (trumpet), Vince Rybowiak (guitar), Caleb Schmurr (trombone), 

Jazz Lab Band – Division I Rating / 3rd Place 

Outstanding Soloist Awards: Kevin Griffin (trombone), Kaylee McCarthy (trombone)

Jazz Technician Combo – Division I Rating / Outstanding Performance Award (2nd Place)

Outstanding Soloist Awards: Josie Bondarowicz (bass), Gavin Harker (trumpet), Ben Heppner (drums), Andrew Jackson (tenor sax), Ryan Knezevich (trombone), Austin Moca (piano)

Double Take Combo – Division I Rating / 3rd Place

Outstanding Soloist Awards: Michael Hardy (piano), Caleb Schmurr (trombone)

@dgnbands Jazzers Gear Up For #PurdueJazzFest with @PurdueBands

The DGN Jazz Ensemble & Jazz Lab Band performed "warm up concerts" for one another this morning. Everyone is sounding great and excited for our annual pilgrimage to the greatest college Jazz Fest in the nation! @dgnbands boards the tour bus at 1:30 this afternoon. Best wishes to all for a sonically successful weekend with the @PurdueBands #PurdueJazzFest

Pep Band at Winter Classic #WeAreDGN #99Learns @dgnbands

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp - Campus Auditions on Tuesday, February 9

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 Tuesday, February 9th during periods, 5B, 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 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 studying.  Pick something that shows off your abilities!

The Blue Lake representative will share some basic information with the student to take home to parents.  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!

DGN Jazz Plays FitzGeralds #99Learns #WeAreDGN

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Jazz Ensemble on a stunning musical performance at the legendary FitzGerald's Nightclub!