DGN Musicians Earn All-State Honors

Thirteen student musicians from Downers Grove North High School have earned All-State honors through the Illinois Music Education Association.  Student were selected to the All-State Band, All-State Choir, All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and All-State Orchestra. All-State musicians will travel to Peoria, IL, from January 23-26, 2019 to participate in the Illinois Music Education Conference.

“We are truly thrilled for these students and their families,” said Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chair at North High. “Many people helped these students achieve this success, beginning with their very first elementary school music teachers and extending to their private-lessons teachers today.  North High is very proud to have these incredible musicians representing District 99 at the All-State level, and we are excited they will now perform alongside the very best musicians in the State of Illinois.”

The music faculty of North High School is proud to congratulate the following students who have earned ILMEA All-State Honors:

CHORUS

William Berberich (11) - Tenor I

ORCHESTRA STRINGS

Lucie Boyd (12) - Viola
Rebecca Edmundson (11) - Violin 1
Amelia Korbitz (12) - Violin 1
Parker McGuire (11) - Violin 2
Braden Moore (11) - Cello
Jesse Wei (10) - Viola

WINDS and PERCUSSION

Daniel Atwater (12) - Trumpet (Band)
Sean Figuray (11) - Bass Clarinet (Band)
Emilija Irvin (11) – Bassoon (Orchestra)

Brian Perillo (12) – Euphonium (Band)

Miles Teague (11) – French Horn (Orchestra)

              

VOCAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Ellie Banke (12) - Soprano

Don't Miss "Flip The Script!"

DGN Fine Arts and North High Theatre presents student-directed Winter One Acts on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. The performances will take place in the Studio Theater (Room 248) at North High School (4436 Main Street, Downers Grove).

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students (outside D99) and senior citizens, and free for D99 students with their school ID. Tickets can be purchased at the North High Bookstore or at the door at the night of the event.

Synopsis: What if you could have a do-over on a first date, or if you could resurrect a dead relative, or if watching sports was the actual spectator sport? Why does society insist that the only way to have a bright future is to have a "sensible career path" or to make money in a "traditional" way? Come see DGN Theatre's Winter One-Acts, Flip the Script, and find out the answers to these and many other questions. Please note: some shows have mature language and situations.

"Flip The Script" Thursday - Saturday in DGN Studio Theatre

Don't miss the 2018 One-Act plays, presented in the DGN Studio Theatre!

Thursday, November 29 and Friday, November 30: 7:00 PM

Saturday, December 1: 5:00 PM

Tickets are $10 (adults), $5 (students and seniors), and FREE for students with District 99 ID.

Synopsis: What if you could have a do-over on a first date, or if you could resurrect a dead relative, or if watching sports was the actual spectator sport?  Why does society insist that the only way to have a bright future is to have a "sensible career path" or to make money in a "traditional" way?  Come see DGN Theatre's Winter One-Acts, Flip the Script, and find out the answers to these and many other questions.  Directed by some of your favorite DGN seniors, Jacob Trnka, Kate Sosnovsky, Ben Kulat, Emma Nykiel, and Ellie Cawthorne, and starring many fresh new faces, this show promises to be an evening of good fun!  Shows are at 7 pm on Thursday and Friday and at 5 pm at Saturday, and tickets are free for district 99 students.  Get your tickets in advance at the Bookstore all this week!

Please note: some shows have mature language and situations.

Act One
Sure Thing by David Ives, Directed by Jacob Trnka
Registration Day by Kate Sosnovsky, Directed by Kate Sosnovsky
May the Best Fan Win by Jonathan Rand, Directed by Ben Kulat

Intermission (15 minutes)

Act Two
Jimmy the Antichrist by Keith J. Powell, Directed by Emma Nykiel

Bank Withdrawal Symptoms by Jim Gustafson, Directed by Ellie Cawthorne

Muriel Anderson Returns Home to District 99

Internationally acclaimed guitarist and musician Muriel Anderson visited both North and South High Schools today, performing and giving a master class for the students enrolled in Guitar classes, and several other classes.  Ms. Anderson is a D99 alumnus, and returns every Thanksgiving to share her experiences and musicianship with students, and to encourage and promote attendance at her annual Homecoming Concert, which this year is on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at 8:00 PM in the Johnson Auditorium at North High School.  Special guest artist for this concert is guitarist and entertainer John McEuen - this is an event you won't want to miss!

We are grateful to Ms. Anderson for sharing her expertise and talents with our students each year!

DGN Musicians Perform with Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra

 

Congratulations to DGN student musicians Lucie Boyd (Viola), Amelia Korbitz (Violin), Emma Krause (Flute), Catherine Ramsey (Harp), and Miles Teague (Horn), for their outstanding performance this past weekend at Symphony Center, Orchestra Hall with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.

DGN All-District Musicians Perform at 2018 ILMEA Festival

Congratulations to the DGN student-musicians selected to perform in the Illinois Music Education Association District Festival. Students from across the Chicago region were selected by competitive audition to participate in day-long educational workshops with highly respected guest conductors, and present a culminating concert for family, friends, and educators.

Thank you to our colleagues at Oak Park - River Forest High School for opening their school as a Festival Host site this year.

CHOIR
William Berberich (11) – Tenor I
Renee Boone (10) – Alto II 
Kelly Brinkman (12) – Soprano I
Lily Buehler (11) – Soprano II
Delaney Durbin (10) – Soprano II
Peter Gartlan (11) – Bass II
Julia Isoniemi (11) – Alto I
Maureen Kelliher (11) – Alto I
Madeline Klockner (11) – Soprano I
MacKenzie McGuire (10) – Soprano I
Amber Moca (11) – Alto I
Travon Moore (11) – Tenor I
Amanda Smith (12) – Alto II
Kate Sosnovsky (12) – Alto II
Harry Stagaman (12) – Bass I
Caroline Weidman (12) – Soprano II
Caroline Young (11) – Alto II

ORCHESTRA STRINGS
Lucie Boyd (12) – Viola
Emma Duncan (12) – Viola  
Rebecca Edmundson (11) – Violin  
Amelia Korbitz (12) – Violin
Parker McGuire (12) – Violin
Braden Moore (11) – Cello  
Noah Pardue (10) – Viola 
Catherine Ramsey (11) – Harp 
Paige Sadler (10) – Violin 
Julia Szostak (10) – Cello 
Jesse Wei (10) – Viola 

WINDS & PERCUSSION (CLASSICAL)
Daniel Atwater (12) – Trumpet (Orchestra)
Sean Figuray (11) – Bass Clarinet (Band)
Emilija Irvin (11) – Bassoon (Orchestra) 
Justin Koblich (11) – Percussion (Orchestra)
Francesca Korbitz (9) – Flute (Band)
Angelica Kowara (10) – Trombone (Band)
Emma Krause (11) – Flute (Band) 
Owen Nystrom (10) – Bassoon (Orchestra)
Brian Perillo (12) – Euphonium (Band)
Aidan Purcell (12) – Bb Clarinet (Band) 
Miles Teague (11) – French Horn (Orchestra) 

Fannie May Fundraiser Recap

Thanks is extended to all of the families who supported the Fannie May Fundraiser.  We had an unprecedented 100 students sell candy and raised $4,421.11 for the Friends of Fine Arts!

Message to participating families: Orders have shipped and should be on your doorstep in the next couple of days.  Some of the specialty items will be shipped from a different distribution center and will take a little longer.  If you have ordered any of the following items, please allow a few extra days for delivery.  

Item # 97600 - Evergreen Traditions Tower

Item # 92005 - Chicago Premium Chocolate Bars Gift Set

Item # 92010 - Chicago Mini Pixies Tin

As promised, each student who sold candy will receive a Fannie May Candy Bar prize.  Students may stop in the Fine Arts Office on Friday to pick up their treat.

Thank you for your participation!

DGN Jazz Swings at ILMEA District 1 Jazz Festival

Congratulations to the DGN Jazz students who participated in the ILMEA District 1 Jazz Festival on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at Hinsdale Central HS. We are proud of your success as jazz musicians. 

Ellie Banke (12) – Soprano 

Jeremy Blumka (12) – Bass Trombone 
Ben Hodonicky (11) – Guitar
Kristen Karam (11) – Guitar 
Ish Mistry (11) – Trombone 
Jonathan Orjala (11) – Trumpet 
Andrew Swenson (10) – Trumpet 
Miles Teague (11) – Piano

Thanks you to our neighbors at Hinsdale Central HS for hosting the festival for the day - we appreciate your spirit of volunteerism!

D99 DG Public Library Art Show

The 2D and 3D work of over 75 District 99 art students is in exhibition at the Downers Grove Public Library.  Drawings, paintings, photographs, ceramics, metalwork and mixed media pieces are featured in this collaborative show.  The student art work is on display in the North and South Cafe galleries and the Window Displays until November 30th.

Special thanks to the Downers Grove Public Library for partnering with D99 on this exhibition.  Congratulations to the participating students for being selected to have their work in exhibition during this show.  Thanks also to the visual art faculty from DG North and DG South for mentoring these talented students towards artistic success.

London Practices Underway!

The DGN Trojan Marching Band held two special practices this week to begin learning their TV-Zone routine for the London New Year's Day Parade. The 2019 Parade will feature over 10,000 participants from the Unites States and countries throughout Europe. With a street audience of 500,000, and a TV audience that will exceed 300,000,000, band members are motivated to showcase their passion for music while representing Illinois in this prestigious international event. 

DGN Visual Artists and Faculty Earn Awards at Chicagoland 4x5

Dubbed the "largest small show in the nation," and dedicated to the memory of Fremd High School art teacher Lew Hubbard, the Chicagoland 4x5 High School Art Exhibition showcases student and faculty artist and forges connections and provides opportunities for student artists through a myriad of corporate and collegiate sponsors. All of the work in the exhibition must be within a 4x5 inch framework.

40+ schools submitted approximately 1,000 pieces of artwork in nine media categories for the competitive show. A historical gallery of winning artwork may be accessed HERE. 2018 winning artwork will be updated in the future. 

DGN Fine Arts is pleased to announce, after competitive judging, nine North High students and one faculty member were tapped as award recipients:

Computer Generated

Mia Knutson - Honorable Mention

Lucy Quinn - Honorable Mention

Digital Photography

David Matousek - Honorable Mention

Jack Papesh - Honorable Mention
Vivek Patel - Honorable Mention

Drawing

Kaitlyn Almazan - Honorable Mention

Relief

Lucy Quinn - 2nd Place

Mary Kate Mathy - Honorable Mention

Salvatore Rosario - Honorable Mention

Faculty

Ms. Amy Bernard - 3rd Place

The 4x5 opened on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 at Oswego High School at 7 PM.  The opening featured a reception and an awards ceremony.