Acting Classes: Halloween Show!

Members of the Fine Arts Department's Acting classes staged a Halloween Show this morning, in three short plays. Congratulations to all involved! 

Fall Band Concerts: November 1 and November 3

Please join the members of the DGN Bands on both Tuesday, November 1 and Thursday November 3, for the 2022 Fall Band Concerts. 

On November 1, the DGN Wind Ensemble and DGN Concert Band will be joined by the Jefferson Junior High School Band, and the Westview Hills Middle School Band.

On November 3, the DGN Symphonic Band, DGN Jazz Ensemble and DGN Jazz Lab Band will perform.

Both concerts begin at 7 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium of North High School. The concerts are free to attend, and doors open for general seating at 6:30 PM.

The Fall Band Concerts will be live-streamed on the DGN Fine Arts Department YouTube Channel, and may be accessed directly using the links below.

Fall Band Concert 1 (Concert Band/Wind Ensemble/Jefferson/Westview Hills)

Tuesday, November 1, 7:00 PM CST

https://youtu.be/B22naOgwuao

Fall Band Concert 2 (Symphonic Band/Jazz Lab/Jazz Ensemble)

Thursday, November 3, 7:00 PM CST

https://youtu.be/uihGIg6qTl8

Tour Choir Prepares for London International Choral Festival

The DGN Fine Arts Department welcomed Berlin based Conductor and London International Choral Festival Choirmaster James Henshaw to campus today to work with students in the DGN Tour Choir. Members of the choir are preparing for their performances in London, England on December 29, 2022 and January 2, 2023. 

Sounds of the Stadium 2022

The Trojan Marching Band brought the 2022 regular-season to a spectacular sonic and visual close on Friday night at the annual 'Sounds of the Stadium' concert. Congratulations to the members of the band, and especially the Seniors in the Class of 2023 who performed in their final 'Sounds of the Stadium' performance with the Trojan Marching Band. Bravo to all!

The livestream video is archived HERE.

Music Unites Us: District 99 & 58 Orchestras

Congratulations to the members of the District 99 Symphonic Orchestra, District 99 Concert Orchestra, the Herrick Middle School Orchestra and the O'Neil Middle School Orchestra for an outstanding Fall Orchestra Concert: Music Unites Us. Bravi tutti!  

Special thanks to dancers Norah Rajesh and Prakruti Torlikonda for sharing their artistry with the audience.

Did you miss the concert? Have out-of-town family that couldn't make it? We have you covered. Tune in to the re-broadcast on our DGN Fine Arts YouTube Channel, HERE. A digital concert program may be found HERE. 

"Sounds of the Stadium" Concert - Friday, October 21 - 7 PM

Join us Friday, October 21, at 7:00 PM in the Purple Gym of North High School for the 2022 Sounds of the Stadium Concert featuring student performers from the DGN Trojan Marching Band. Come hear all the music, and relive the pageantry of the 2022 season, while looking ahead to the DGN football team's upcoming playoff run!

The 2022 Sounds of the Stadium Concert will be live-streamed on the DGN Fine Arts Department YouTube Channel. 

D99 Fall Orchestra Concert - Wednesday, October 19 - 7 PM

Join us Wednesday, October 19, at 7:00 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium of North High School for the Fall District 99 Orchestra Concert featuring student musicians from the District 99 and District 58 orchestras. You will not want to miss this concert, titled "Music Unites Us."

The 2022 D99 Fall Orchestra Concert will be live-streamed on the DGN Fine Arts Department YouTube Channel.

Trojan Marching Band and Athenas: Final Regular Season Performance

Congratulations to the members of the 2022-23 Trojan Marching Band and DGN Varsity Athenas for wonderful performances Friday night during DGN's victory over Oak Park and River Forest High School. With the victory by the Trojan Varsity Football Team, DGN improved to 6-2 on the season.

The members of the Trojan Marching Band navigated challenging weather elements and came through with - unquestionably - their strongest and most emotionally impactful performance of the 2022 season. The band's performance was a powerful display of hard work, determination and uncompromising musicianship! 

Special appreciation is extended to the members of the Class of 2023, for their service to our organization and community. Friday night marked the final regular-season home performance for 34 members of the Trojan Marching Band and 9 members of the Athenas. These students have given thousands of hours of service to North High School over the past four years, and we are pleased to recognize them for their dedication. All together, the class of 2023 represents a combined 168 years of commitment to North High School! 

DGN Musicians Earn 2022 All-District Honors

Congratulations to the student musicians from Downers Grove North High School who earned placement, by competitive audition, into the 2022 Illinois Music Education Association All-District Band, Choir, Orchestra, Jazz Band and Jazz Choir. Participating musicians submitted audition videos to the ILMEA, and all videos were adjudicated by a panel of professional musicians. The top placing scores were selected for participation in the District Music Festivals, which will be held in November.

“Selection to the ILMEA All-District ensembles is a distinct and significant honor for a high school musician,” said Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chairperson. “Our faculty is excited for these students who will represent our school as the most outstanding musicians in the region.”

The music faculty, private teachers, and sender school music teachers associated with North High School are proud to congratulate the following students who have earned ILMEA All-District Honors:

SENIOR CHORUS

Analiese Bello (12) –  Alto II

Leah Costello (12) – Alto I

Owen Curran (12) –  Tenor II

Cecilia DeArcangelis (12) –  Soprano II

Fiona Doyle (11) – Soprano I

Abby France (12) – Alto I

Katy Heverin (12) –  Soprano I

Jonathan Isoniemi (12) – Bass I

Kristen Kras (12) – Soprano I

Sarah Lampsa (11) – Alto II

Sydney Miller (11) –  Alto I

Finn Ormond (11) – Bass I

Amanda Quealy (12) – Soprano II

Ryan Sanhamel (12) – Bass II

Matthew Sirota (11) – Tenor II

Elizabeth Troelstrup (11) – Soprano II

SENIOR ORCHESTRA STRINGS

Stephen Cecil (12) – Viola

Joshua Ho (12) – Violin

Robert Huth (12) – Cello

Joseph Leckie (11) – Cello

Gina Liu (11) – Piano

Caleb McCloud (10) – Violin

Nicole Moravec (12) – Violin 

Holden Peckenpaugh (11) – Double Bass

SENIOR BAND & ORCHESTRA WINDS & PERCUSSION

Bryan Attika (12) –  Trombone (Band)

Cameron Hejny (12) – Clarinet (Band)

Tabitha Irvin (12) – Bass Clarinet (Orchestra)

Charlie Janka (10) – Oboe (Orchestra)

Hannah Janka (12) – Horn (Band)

Ethan Martin (11) – Tuba (Orchestra)

Aarush Palli (11) – Piccolo (Orchestra)

Julia Toth (12) – Horn (Orchestra)

Allison Waden (12) –  Oboe (Orchestra)

Ethan Weingust (11) – Bassoon (Band)

SENIOR INSTRUMENTAL JAZZ 

John Fioti (11) – Bass Trombone (Jazz Band I)

Fernando Garduno-Cadena (11) – Trumpet (Jazz Band II)

Jessica Gruszka (12) – Trumpet (Jazz Band III)

Ethan Weingust (11) – Bari Sax (Jazz Band II)

SENIOR VOCAL JAZZ

Leah Costello (12) – Soprano (Vocal Jazz Ensemble II)

DGN Choirs Impress in Fall Choir Concert 2022

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Choirs for an outstanding Fall Choir Concert. A Cappella Choir, All Access, Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Concert Singers, Freshman Choir, Treble Choir, and Treble Ensemble each contributed to the sonic success of this year's first choir concert. Bravi tutti!  

Did you miss the concert? Have out-of-town family that couldn't make it? We have you covered. Tune in to the re-broadcast on our DGN Fine Arts YouTube Channel, HERE.

Fannie May Candy Fundraiser! (Orders Due October 27)

The DGN Friends of Fine Arts are pleased to announce the 2022 Fannie May Fund-raiser, designed to generate funds to support our student musicians, thespians, and visual artists.
 
Our sale officially kicks off this week, and runs through Thursday, October 27th.  Candy will be available for drive-through pick up at DGN on Saturday, November 19th.   Additional details for pickup are coming soon.
 
The Fannie May 2022 Holiday Catalog can be viewed and orders may be placed online HERE.
 
Every order helps! Thank you for taking some time to review the details of this sale, and considering participation.

Questions regarding the sale may be directed to our Chairperson Ms. Kathy Nelson at tknel@att.net or at 630-269-9708.
 
Thank you for your continued support of Fine Arts at North High!

DGN Fall Choir Concert - Wednesday, October 12 - 7 PM

Join us Wednesday, October 12, at 7:00 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium for the Fall Choral Concert featuring all DGN Choirs. This promises to be a wonderful evening of music that you won't want to miss and an exciting start to the Fall concert season!

The 2022 Fall Choir Concert will be live-streamed on the DGN Fine Arts Department YouTube Channel.

DGN Fall Play: It Can't Happen Here (October 7 & 8)

The 2022 DGN Fall Play is Sinclair Lewis’s IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE, a dark cautionary tale about the fragility of democracy. This play follows the ascent of Buzz Windrip, a nationalistic demagogue who rallies the people into revolution - and eventually the downfall of the country. Witnessing this destruction is newspaper editor Doremus Jessup, a man deeply passionate about keeping the peace and opposing this fascist takeover. Written in 1936, this nearly 100 year old work seems almost stranger than fiction at points. This play examines what brings a citizenry to the point of sacrificing its own freedom and how a courageous few can prevail to overcome the fall.

There are two chances to catch this chilling political satire - Friday, October 7th at 7 PM, and Saturday, October 8th at 5 PM. Tickets are $10 for adults at the door and free with a student ID for students.

Click HERE to reserve your tickets! 

The show runs approximately 100 minutes with no intermission. The show contains haze, strobe lights, gunshots, and loud noises.

Please join us for IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE!

DGN Musicians Shine During Old Oaken Bucket Win!

Congratulations to the members of the 2022-23 Trojan Marching Band, members of the DGN Choir and DGN Varsity Athenas for wonderful performances Friday night during DGN's victory over Hinsdale Central High School. With the victory by the Trojan Varsity Football Team, DGN re-captured the "Old Oaken Bucket" for the first time since 2006.

The rivalry competition for "the Bucket" began in 1935. In the first sixteen years of its existence, Downers Grove controlled the series, winning ten of the sixteen games and tying two. Then in 1951, the Red Devils controlled the Bucket for twenty consecutive years (1951 to 1970). 

Special appreciation is extended to the members of the Herrick Middle School Band and Choir, Jefferson Junior High School Band and Choir, and Westview Hills Middle School Band, for joining our DGN musicians on field for Pre Game and Halftime performances!

Appreciation is extended to the volunteers who provided the Marching Band with water during the game, sold merchandise at the DGN-FOFA table, and photographed the band's performances.

CLICK HERE for a gallery of additional photos from September 30, 2022.