The DGN Fine Arts Department is pleased to welcome Rachelle Denecke and Rachel West to our team!
Rachelle Denecke – Fine Arts
Department Secretary
College
attended/Major?
University of Illinois at Chicago – English
Favorite Styles of
Music and/or favorite music artists/composers?
If I’m listening, I like a little bit of everything. If I’m playing
saxophone, then my favorite style would be jazz, and for piano it would be
ragtime.
Favorite Visual
Artist?
My dad! He wrote and illustrated a children’s book, which was published
in 2014. (I did not inherit any of his drawing skills, unfortunately!)
What was your first
exposure to the Arts as a child? How did your involvement shape who you are
today?
My family received a free electric keyboard when I was about 10 years
old. I taught myself to play piano on it and loved it. When I got to high
school, one of my friends was in jazz band and she told me that they needed a
keyboardist, so I happily joined. I quickly realized that I loved playing with
the group and wanted to join the other school bands, so I taught myself to play
alto sax. I then joined concert band, marching band, and pep band, and
eventually became the band secretary (such foreshadowing!) I also played piano
for one of the school plays, learned that I really enjoyed theater, and went on
to perform onstage in several musicals through our school and park district.
These experiences showed me how much I loved being involved in the arts and that
has continued into my adult life. I now play alto sax in my community band, and
this summer I starred in our park district’s community theater production of
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” And best of all, my love of the
arts led me to work here at DGN! I now get to be surrounded by wonderful
musicians, artists, and lovers of art every day!
Favorite foods?
If I could survive on pizza alone, I would.
Favorite book or
series of books?
The Last Lecture, Flowers for Algernon, the Harry Potter series
Favorite movie of all
time?
I like fun movies with happy endings. One favorite is “The Emperor’s New
Groove.”
If you could travel
to one place in the world you have never been, where would you go?
Spain. After studying Spanish all my life, I have still never been to a
Spanish-speaking country and would love to go!
If you could get in a
time machine and travel back in time to witness any historical event, to which
event would you journey?
It would be pretty amazing to go back and see living dinosaurs; I think
that’s what I would choose.
What are you most
looking forward to this year at DGN?
I can’t wait to see each of our music groups perform! Since I was in
band myself, I am particularly looking forward to seeing the marching band
perform at football games, but I also can’t wait to hear each of the orchestra
and choir ensembles perform as well.
Rachel West – Collaborative Pianist
College
attended/Major?
BM in Piano Performance - Illinois Wesleyan University
Favorite Styles of
Music and/or favorite music artists/composers?
Rachmaninoff and Ben Folds
Favorite Visual
Artist?
Visual Artist - Edgar Degas
What was your first
exposure to the Arts as a child? How did your involvement shape who you are
today?
When I was growing up, my parents were always playing a
variety of music - symphonies, musicals, classic rock, and Frank Sinatra. I
clearly remember running around with my sister and playing little percussion
instruments along to Aaron Copland music. We both started piano lessons shortly
after.
Favorite foods?
Mashed potatoes and Mexican food (separately, not
together!)
Favorite book or
series of books?
Any mystery or thriller.
Favorite movie of all
time?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
If
you could travel to one place in the world you have never been, where would you
go?
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would go to
Croatia or Iceland.
If you could get in a
time machine and travel back in time to witness any historical event, to which
event would you journey?
If I could go back in time, I would travel to
the roaring 20's.
What are you most
looking forward to this year at DGN?
This year I'm really looking forward to working with
people that are passionate about the arts and about
truly collaborating together as a team.
