Band Student Leaders Prep for Band Camp 2022

DGN Marching Band Section Captains and Drum Majors are back on campus this week participating in Leadership Training, reviewing marching and conducting fundamentals, and organizing materials for Band Camp 2022! Thank you to each of these dedicated students for their commitment to the Trojan Marching Band and Downers Grove North High School. It's great to have you back on campus!

Drumline & Color Guard Mini Camps Underway!

We are pleased to welcome members of the 2022 DGN Drumline and DGN Color Guard back to campus this week, as they prepare for Band Camp 2022 through mini-camp practices. 

Seeking DGN Band Alumni: Register for Alumni Band 2022!

Homecoming 2022 will be here before we know it! (Friday, September 23, 2022.)  Dust off your instrument and join us for a memorable evening of music and fellowship!! 

With two months to go, early signs indicate we will have one of our largest Alumni Bands ever, with pre-registrants ranging from the Classes of 1995 - 2022! We have alumni traveling from as far away as California, New York, Tennessee, and Texas to make music with us. So, what are YOU waiting for? Contact your classmates to exert peer-pressure, twist some arms, and let's make it happen! 

REGISTRATION DEADLINE is Friday, September 9. NOTE: To be guaranteed a new t-shirt or sweatshirt, you must register by Friday, September 1.

The schedule for the evening, preliminary details, and official REGISTRATION may be found at the following link:

tinyurl.com/DGNAlumniBandRegistration2022

Check back on this website in early August for scans of music, and further updates!

Students Build Culture Through Music: Inaugural D99 Summer Jazz Camp

32 student musicians from North and South schools recently participated in the inaugural District 99 Jazz Camp. The experience was powerful - fueled by a commitment students had to building culture, community, communication, and understanding through the great art form known as Jazz music. 

Coordinated and led by District 99 music faculty member, and DGS Fine Arts Department Chairperson Jerry Lowrey, guests clinicians included Ron Carter, Paul Levy, Kevin Schoenbach, and Lenard Simpson. 

After four days of clinics, rehearsals, jam sessions, and group conversations, the culmination of camp was a Friday night performance, presented publicly at the Fishel Park Band Shell.  

District 99 Jazz Quintet

District 99 We are JAZZ Ensemble

District 99 Guitar Trio

Combined Performance of "We Got That Fire"

Welcome New Fine Arts Faculty and Staff!

The DGN Fine Arts Department is pleased to announce the appointment of five outstanding professionals who will begin their work in District 99 this coming August.

Ms. Megan Clark - Theatre Faculty

Ms. Megan Clark will be joining the DGN faculty, teaching Acting and Theatre Design (Fine Arts), a Dramatic Literature course (English and Communications) and also working as a permanent substitute on the North campus.

Ms. Clark received her Bachelor in Fine Arts in Musical Theater from Western Illinois University. Within that time, Ms. Clark performed in the college’s musicals and plays, as well as participating with set and costume construction. After graduating from Western, she worked professionally at theaters around the country, where she performed in shows, acted on Theatre Improv teams, and immersed herself within the theatre’s artistic camps. Some of her favorite productions she has performed in include Noises Off, Little Shops of Horrors, Oklahoma!, Xanadu, and I Hate Hamlet.

When Ms. Clark returned to the Chicagoland area she started working as a substitute teacher in Chicago and Naperville. During that time she completed her Masters of Arts in Teaching at Rockford University, specializing in Theater and English. She also holds a Professional Educators License for Theater Arts and English Language Arts.

During Ms. Clark’s free time she enjoys going on walks with her dog, Tulip, and planting in her garden.

Ms. Robbi Hicks - Music Faculty

Robbi Hicks joins the music faculty of District 99, teaching Band and Digital Music classes at both North and South High School. Her duties will include curricular concert bands and jazz bands as well as extracurricular performance groups.

Before joining D99 staff, Ms. Hicks served as Director of Bands and taught Music Industry and Technology at Morris Community High School for two years. At Morris she taught all Concert Bands, Jazz Bands, and Marching Bands. She also built the beginnings of an accessible and flourishing digital music curriculum. Prior to her position at Morris, she taught music in the Joliet Public School District. In her career, she has also served as Brass Technician for Victor J. Andrew High School Marching Band and Social-Emotional Learning Liaison in D86.

Ms. Hicks graduated from VanderCook College of Music with a B.M.Ed. in 2018, studying with Mr. Brian Logan, Dr. Charles Menghini, Mrs. Stacey Larson-Dolan, and Dr. Leah Schuman.

In her teaching, she prioritizes making music accessible, writing strong curriculums, and serving the whole-child. Ms. Hicks has experience writing comprehensive curriculums from start to finish at all levels of public education, and she holds certifications in yoga and mindfulness. In her free time, she loves to attend concerts, basketball games, and spend time with her pup named Irie.

Mr. Allen Hogg - Department Assistant

Mr. Allen Hogg joins DGN Fine Arts as the Department Assistant, working with faculty, staff and students in the Fine Arts Office.

Mr. Hogg joins the department following an extensive career working for marketing research companies, most recently M/A/R/C Research, where he wrote and analyzed data from surveys and presented findings to clients in a wide range of industries.

Before working in marketing research, Mr. Hogg was a journalist. He began his professional journalism career at the University of Iowa’s Daily Iowan newspaper, where he served as Arts/Entertainment Editor and conducted interviews with such musicians as Sting and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

At the University of Iowa, Mr. Hogg earned a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. After earning a master's degree in American Studies at the University of Maryland, Mr. Hogg returned to the University of Iowa to earn his M.B.A.

Mr. Hogg resides in Downers Grove with his wife and two sons, both of whom are students at Downers Grove North. In addition to cheering on his sons at their sporting events, he enjoys hiking and bike riding. 

Ms. Valerie Lorimer - Collaborative Pianist

Ms. Valerie Lorimer joins the Fine Arts Department as Collaborative Pianist. She earned a Bachelor of Music from Michigan State University and a Master of Music from Northwestern University. Valerie played professionally in the Chicagoland area primarily for choirs and vocalists, at Chicago Opera Theater, the Ravinia Festival Chorus, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chorus. She had the pleasure of playing one of Sir Georg Solti’s last rehearsals with the chorus on the CSO stage.

Ms. Lorimer taught piano privately for many years and is also a composer. Her compositions have been performed in the United States and Europe. When not tickling the ivories, Ms. Lorimer loves creating art, reading and traveling.

Ms. Janet Taylor - Visual Art Faculty

Ms. Janet Taylor will be joining the DGN faculty part-time, teaching Drawing & Painting and Jewelry and Metalwork classes. 

Ms. Taylor has been an art educator for twelve years teaching high school art in Chicago and suburbs as well as preservice art teachers at Northeastern Illinois University. Prior to teaching, Ms. Taylor spent ten years as a Charge Scenic Artist painting and sculpting for theatre, film, and other industries in NYC and Chicago. In 2009 she decided to focus on long-term career interests as an art educator, earning a Masters of Education in Art Education through DePaul University.

Shortly into her teaching career, Ms. Taylor began presenting at national and state conventions, focused on best teaching practices, innovative approaches to art education, and creating a balanced, culturally relevant curriculum. She has guided the work of several visual and fine arts PLCs around the creative process and strategies to support students' diverse learning needs and interests. Ms. Taylor is deeply passionate about creative thinking, equitable teaching practices, and empowering student voice.  Ms. Taylor also works for The Art of Education University serving as their K12 Content and Assessment Specialist, bringing relevant content and equitable and accessible assessment practices to art educators across the globe.

In her "free time," Ms. Taylor is also an artist and enjoys hiking, playing games, and spending time with her husband, two children, and two pet snails (Peanut Butter and Jelly).

Register for the DGN Theatre Summer Workshop!

Want to find out how to get involved in DGN Theatre next year? Come join us on Monday, August 8th from 1pm - 3pm for our DGN SUMMER THEATRE WORKSHOP!

The DGN Summer Theatre Workshop is for any DGN student interested in participating in theatre this upcoming school year. Whether you're new to our program or returning, please join us for a fun afternoon. We will have games and snacks, as well as a full tour of our performance and work spaces. We'll also share information about upcoming field trips, shows, and ways to get involved both on stage or backstage.

Theatre is for everyone - even if you don't want to be in the spotlight, there are so many opportunities for students on the various crews. From construction to costuming, from lighting to sound, theatre has a place for everyone.

Please let us know if you're planning to attend - we'd love to have you - RSVP HERE!

London Tour Social Media Launch

Participating London Tour student musicians, and their family members, are encouraged to connect with newly launched Social Media channels. Please follow one, or more, to keep up-to-date with tour announcements!

Instagram - @dgnlondon2023

Facebook - @dgnlondon2023

Twitter - @dgnlondon2023

Former DGN Drum Majors Conducting DCI World Class Ensembles

Former DGN Trojan Marching Band Drum Majors Carissa Blumka (Class of 2021) and Aidan Purcell (Class of 2019) are traveling the country this summer as conductors of two World Class drum and bugle corps, associated with Drum Corps International. 

Blumka (Colts), and Purcell (Blue Stars), are both serving as field conductors for their respective corps. Both ensembles, a part of the marching arts umbrella organization Drum Corps International, are participating in DCI's 50th Anniversary Tour, and will conclude their competitive summer season at the Drum Corps International World Championships in Indianapolis, IN, August 8-13. 

Congratulations to both Carissa and Aidan on their appointment to each of these World Class drum and bugle corps!

Aidan Purcell (Class of 2019)

Carissa Blumka (Class of 2021)

DGN Band Alumnus Kristin Bowers, Wheaton Municipal Band Soloist - July 9

Unites States Marine Staff Sgt. Kristin Bowers joins the Wheaton Municipal Band as the featured soloist on Saturday, July 9 in Edman Chapel at Wheaton College. 

The Wheaton Municipal Band welcomes back Bowers, where she served as principal clarinetist with the band for several years. She graduated from Downers Grove North High School in 2002 and studied at Indiana University and Northwestern University. She currently is a member of "The President's Own" Marine Band in Washington, D.C. The "President's Own" Band features the very best musicians and performs all over the world. At the July 9 concert, Bowers will perform "Concert Fantasy on Motifs of Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto" by Luigi Bassi.

For additional concert details, click HERE to read an article in the July 7th Daily Herald, or go to wheatonmunicipalband.org.

Downers Grove Independence Day Parade 2022

Thank you, and congratulations, to the members of the DGN Trojan Marching Band, and DGS Marching Mustangs, for their collaborative performance in today's Downers Grove Independence Day Parade.

Our District 99 community extends condolences and wishes of healing to the District 113 community, members of the Highland Park High School Marching Band, the city of Highland Park, and all families impacted by senseless gun violence.