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Thursday, April 27, 2017

Congrats Special Services Art Show!

Congratulations to the students and faculty of the DGN Special Services Department on a terrific Art Show tonight!

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Free Concert! Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra @DGN This Sunday Afternoon!


The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra will present a FREE concert at North High School this Sunday, April 30, at 3:00 PM.  

Details may be found HERE.

Since its first season in 1946, CYSO’s Symphony Orchestra has achieved international recognition for its excellence and innovation in orchestral performance. The orchestra is known as an important training ground for the cultivation of the next generation of professional musicians. In fact, you can hear CYSO alumni playing in more than 40 orchestras around the world including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Presidents Own, Cleveland Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam, among many others. See some of CYSO’s notable alumni.
The Symphony Orchestra is a leader in the performance of contemporary orchestral music among youth. Among its honors are eleven ASCAP awards for adventurous programming; three Illinois Council of Orchestras Youth Orchestra of the Year awards; two Illinois Council of Orchestras Programming of the Year awards; broadcasts on National Public Radio and WFMT; and international tours to the music capitals of Central and Western Europe, Asia and South America, and our 2014 tour of China. Read more about Symphony Orchestra touring.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

DGN Jazz Ensemble at BaseCamp

Congratulations to the DGN Jazz Ensemble on their great performance tonight at BaseCamp in Lisle, IL. The band played to a full house of enthusiastic/appreciative listeners, and they did not disappoint! 

Special 'kudos' to senior trombonist Caleb Schmurr who was invited to sit in with the Pete Ellman Big Band on their set tonight. Well done Caleb!







DGN Jazz Ensemble at BaseCamp (April 25, 2017) - Facebook Live Video

Did you miss the DGN Jazz Ensemble's performance at BaseCamp tonight? See a replay on Facebook Live ...

Thursday, April 13, 2017

2017 DGN Winter Guard "Disconnected" - Season Finale Showcase

Click HERE, or on the play button below, to enjoy the final performance of the 2017 Winter Guard Season.

Winter Guard Season Showcase

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Winter Guard on a terrific season and many thanks for sharing season highlights with the community tonight! Bravo to all!

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

D99 / Woodridge Public Library Art Show 2017 @WoodridgePL


Congratulations to the student visual artists from Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South High Schools who had artwork selected for exhibition at the 2017 D99/Woodridge Public Library Art Show.  

CLICK HERE for an album of DGN visual art images featured in the public exhibition.



Tuesday, April 11, 2017

DGN Jazz and Percussion "Sharing Is Caring" Concert 2017

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab Band, and Percussion Ensemble for terrific performances tonight!











Jazz Residency 2017

DGN Fine Arts was pleased to welcome four nationally acclaimed jazz artists to campus today to work with students in the DGN Jazz Ensemble & Jazz Lab Band. Tim Coffman, Jeremy Kahn, Marlene Rosenberg & Bob Rummage shared their passion for music in a series of day-long clinics and master-classes.

Many thanks are extended to the DGN Fine Arts Boosters for their generous support of the event.

Sharing Is Caring Jazz & Percussion Concert Tonight!



Come out tonight to hear and support the Downers Grove North High School Jazz Lab Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble as they perform in the annual "Sharing Is Caring" Concert. Doors open at 6:30 PM and the concert will begin at 7:00pm in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium. Admission is Free! Guest guest artists include: Tim Coffman (Trombone), Jeremy Kahn (Piano), Marlene Rosenberg (Bass), and Bob Rummage (Drums). You won’t want to miss this great evening of music!

The concert will be live-streamed on High School Cube. Click here for the direct link to the broadcast.  This link will remain active for 30 days.  

Wednesday, April 05, 2017

District 99 Named One of the Best Communities for Music Education in 2017



The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation has named District 99 as one of the best communities in the nation for music education. The award recognizes the outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, and students at Downers Grove North High and Downers Grove South High, as well as the entire community, who make music education part of the curriculum.

According to The NAMM Foundation, awards are made to districts that demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment and access to comprehensive music education. It evaluates funding, staffing of highly qualified teachers, commitment to standards and access to music instruction to select the winning districts.

“We are privileged to offer a broad and dynamic music program that impacts the lives of thousands of students each year,” says Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele. “One very important gauge of the quality of a school system is the extent to which it supports and celebrates the arts, and this award speaks to and reinforces our strong commitment to the fine arts.”

The Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) award program started in 1999; this year, District 99 is one of 10 school districts in Illinois recognized by The NAMM Foundation.

“This award is a tremendous honor, as well as a testament to both the skills of our students and the quality of our music educators,” says Fine Arts Department Chair at North High Brayer Teague. “It also highlights the positive ripple effect that music has in engaging the entire community.”

“I cannot imagine teaching in a more supportive community than District 99,” says Fine Arts Department Chair at South High Glenn Williams. “As we foster appreciation for music in our students, we also enrich the lives of those in our community with our programs and performances.”

Both Downers Grove North High School and Downers Grove South High School offer comprehensive programs that include concert bands, jazz bands, orchestra, and choirs as well as courses in AP Music Theory, Guitar and Digital Music composition.  Abundant curricular and extra-curricular opportunities exist for students, including frequent community performances like marching and singing at Independence Day and Memorial Day parades in Downers Grove. Instrumental and choral ensembles from D99 have been accepted to perform at state and national conventions. They also create special programming for preschool children, middle school students, alumni groups and older adults. In addition, student musicians represent the schools outside the community; for example, recent performances have taken place at Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Sugar Bowl, and Disneyworld.  Students also continue to participate in a 25+ year old musical and cultural exchange with a music school in Beitigheim-Bissingen, Germany.

“We have been awarding the Best Communities for Music Education for 18 years, and it is heartening to see how many parents and community members check to see if their schools have been recognized,” says Executive Director of The NAMM Foundation Mary Luehrsen. “Parents are choosing to live where schools are committed to music education offerings that are part of the curriculum.”

Click here for additional information about the 2017 Best Communities for Music Education.

Sunday, April 02, 2017

Winter Guard Takes Third Place at Midwest Color Guard Circuit Championships!

Congratulations to the DGN Winter Guard who competed in the Midwest Color Guard Circuit Championships in La Porte, Indiana. The team placed 3rd in their SRA competitive division with a score of 76.59. 

In addition, Senior Emily Grigg was presented with the Dot Dahnke Scholarship.

A special congratulations to graduating Seniors Olivia Featherstone, Natalie Flynn, Emily Grigg, and Lizzie McNamara who received their "age-out" certificates as well at the awards ceremony. 

The Winter Guard Showcase will be the last chance to catch a performance of this year's show. The Showcase will be held on Thursday, April 13th at 7:30pm in the Purple Gym.

The Winter Guard is coached by Ms. Crystal Zaragoza.









Fine Arts @ DGN Mission

North High School endeavors to provide an enriching, vibrant, multidisciplinary environment for the study, creation, and presentation of the Fine Arts.