DGN Musicians Find Solo & Ensemble Success! #WeAreDGN #99Learns

Downers Grove North High School student musicians participated in the Illinois High School Association State Solo and Ensemble Contest on March 5, 2016.

85 students from Downers Grove North High School performed Solos and Ensembles that earned a Division I rating of SUPERIOR.  A Division I score is categorized as “A Superior Performance – outstanding in nearly every detail.”  In addition, 30 students from Downers Grove North High School performed Solos and Ensembles that garnered a Division II rating 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.

Alyse Bondarowicz, Jennifer Casey, Tim Edwards, and Eirene Kowal earned perfect marks from the judges for their solo work.  The DGN String Ensemble comprised of Lucie Boyd, Amelia Korbitz, Katie Lyda and Shea Tillotson also received a perfect score.    

Three North High events received a “Best of Day Award” for garnering the highest achievement score in their event room.  Euphonium soloist Jennifer Casey, Vocal soloist Elise Cismesia, and Cello soloist Tim Edwards were each 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:

Aleena Albert – French Horn

David Atwater – French Horn

Tim Berberich – Male Voice

Shelby Berghorst – Viola

Lauren Birkmeier – Euphonium

Emily Blanchard – Flute

Alyse Bondarowicz – Flute – Perfect Score

Lucie Boyd – Viola

Daniel Brethauer – Trombone

Allison Burke – Alto Saxophone

Jennifer Casey – Euphonium – Perfect Score & Best of Day Award

Elise Cismesia – Female Voice – Best of Day Award

Keara Corbett – Female Voice

Benjamin Cortez – Trumpet

Maria D’Ambrose – Oboe

Becky Donnelly – Flute

Katie Donnelly – Alto Saxophone

Patrick Doyle – Trumpet

Tim Edwards – Cello – Perfect Score & Best of Day Award

Will Fulton – Viola

Jamie Gamonez – Female Voice

Jamie Gamonez – Flute

Robert Gartlan – Male Voice

Mariah Godar – Trumpet

Benjamin Goedert – Male Voice

Kevin Griffin – Trombone

Todd Griffin – Tuba

Gavin Harker – Trumpet

Ben Heppner – Xylophone

Megan Hung – Clarinet

Brian Hsu – Trumpet

Ryan Knezevich – Trombone

Amelia Korbitz – Violin

Eirene Kowal – Timpani – Perfect Score

Hannah Kutchek – Flute

Jack Langan – Male Voice

Katie Lyda – Violin

Margaret Lyons – Flute

Chloe Mason – Oboe

Parker McGuire – Violin

Maggie Miller – Violin

Bryan Monk – Violin

Matt Monk – Cello

Liam Morgan – Cello

Liam Ninneman – Cello
Lauren O'Neil - Violin 

Jessica Oliveros – Female Voice

Brian Perillo – Euphonium

Kaleb Pfotenhauer – Violin

Jeremy Pike – French Horn

Brendan Quealy – Male Voice

Nate Rapach – Trumpet

Caleb Schmurr – Trombone

Will Stefanisin – French Horn

Kadence Taba – Tuba

Bre Yano – Flute

Fred Zimmerman – Male Voice

David Atater, Arianna Calleja, Nate Rapach, Caleb Schmurr, Kadence Taba – Brass Quintet

Jack Barkei, Bryan Monk, Kaleb Pfotenhauer & Chris Wilford – String Ensemble

Alyse Bondarowicz, Maria D’Ambrose, Megan Hung, Jeremy Pike & Ashley Pirl – Woodwind Quintet

Lucie Boyd, Amelia Korbitz, Katie Lyda & Shea Tillotson – String Ensemble – Perfect Score

Kevin Chow, Joe Delorto, Fiona Kelly & Kaleb Pfotenhauer – String Ensemble

Seth Collins, Bryan Monk, Matt Monk & Abby Pfeiffer – String Ensemble

Kevin Griffin & Todd Griffin – Mixed Brass Ensemble  

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

Kayla Asonye – Clarinet

Erin Callaghan – Female Voice

Fiona Cismesia – Violin

Luc Collo – Alto Saxophone

Phoebe Covey – Trumpet

Tatiana Jordan – Violin

Fiona Kelly – Violin

Gina Kowalewicz – Flute

Madison Lynch – Violin

Kaylee McCarthy – Trombone

Elizabeth McNamara – Female Voice

Olivia Morrow – Timpani

Andi Ohk – Flute

Abby Pfeiffer – Viola

Claire Tarvin – Tuba

Alex Teng – Violin

Riley Wagner – Female Voice

Brooke Walsh – Female Voice

Aleena Albert & Maggie Miller – String Ensemble

Fiona Cismesia, Xanthe Huspen, Tatiana Jordan & Maggie Nevrly – String Ensemble

Patrick Connery & Todd Griffin – Tuba Ensemble

Will Fulton, Parker McGuire, Max Ourada & Joe Salerno – String Ensemble