Thank you Music Boosters!

Each year at IMEA, the DGN Music Boosters sponsors a dinner for our All-State musicians as a way to say "thanks and congratulations" for a job well done. On behalf of all the DGN students and staff that attended IMEA, we extend gratitude to our Music Boosters for this experience. It is a blessing indeed to be able to sit back, enjoy a meal, and celebrate the great work of these student musicians.

IMEA All-State - Day 3

D99 continued to play a signficant role at the state level at the recently concluded IMEA State Music Convention. Highlights from Saturday alone included Meredith Richard's (DGS) first place vocal solo being performed during the Composition Awards Ceremony; Brayer Teague (DGN) leading the Composition Contest to a marvelous conclusion, moderating the final event with Mario Pelusi from Illinois Wesylan University; Callie Sorce (DGS) participating in the Future Music Educators' Seminar; Hannah Young (DGN) performing the harp solo in the All-State Honors Band and being featured on the huge video screen; Dr. Piekarz (DGN) performing with a group of male teachers singing to accompany the All-State Choir; 29 student musicians from DGS and DGN performing in the All-State and All-State Honors ensembles to conclude the 3-day convention. We are proud of the success of our students at the state level, and, proud of the volunteer efforts of our staff to perpetuate musical excellence not only in District 99, but also at the state level. 

Images from the All-State Concerts

IMEA All-State - Day 2

This morning started with an inspirational performance by the Madrigal Singers, led by Laura Coster and accompanied by Belford Hernandez. All-State student musicians Suzanne Segredo (DGS)oboe, and Hannah Young (DGN) harp, accompanied the performance. An immediate and authentic standing ovation from the attendees desmonstrated the depth of the appreciation of the excellence of the student musicians.

Bill Miller (DGN) and Chris Miller, provided an informative and insightful clinic about sound reinforcement solutions for an elementary school music program. The clinic session was extremely well attended, and provided participants with relevant solutions to improve the sound systems and reinforcement in their school music programs.

The evening concluded with the IMEA All-State Jazz Concert at 8 PM, with DGS student musician Mike Ruth playing lead alto in the All-State Jazz Band. The director of the band, Jim Culbertson, was Mike Ruth's mom's high school band director at Decatur-McArthur High School.

Once again, great work today by D99 students and staff perpetuating excellent music education at the state level in Illinois.

All-Staters Are Peoria Bound This Week!

Congratulations and best wishes to our DGN All-State Musicians as they prepare to travel to Peoria, IL this week for the IMEA All-State Conference.

ALL-STATE BAND

Brandon Broholm – Tuba (Senior)

Marie Kirkegaard – Clarinet (Senior)

Jonathan Sheetz – Bass Clarinet (Junior)

Isaac Stevenson – Orchestral Percussion (Senior)

Kirsten Keller – Orchestral Flute (Senior)

Stephen Shatzer – Orchestral Bassoon (Junior)

ALL-STATE CHOIR

Abby Gardner - Alto (Senior)

Kaitlin Jeffries - Alto (Senior)

Josh Smith - Tenor (Senior)

All-State Orchestra

Marisa Bellie – Double Bass (Senior)

Lauren Kovanko – Viola (Junior)

Meghan Lyda – Cello (Junior)

Alana Osterling – Cello (Sophomore)

Hannah Young – Band Harp (Junior)

Thirty-one District 99 Musicians Achieve 2010 "All-State" Recognition

Fourteen student musicians from Downers Grove North High School were selected by competitive audition to the 2010-2011 Illinois Music Educator’s Association All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra, Jazz Band and Secondary General Music Composition Contest. Performance auditions were held last October at Hinsdale Central High School; musical compositions were evaluated by professional musicians and composers from across the Midwest.

“We are really 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 equally pleased for our friends at South High who also had a tremendous number of students selected for All-State this year.”

In total, thirty-one student musicians from District 99 were selected for this prestigious performance honor.

The All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Band will convene for a series of rehearsals in Peoria, IL, January 26-29, 2011.  Their concerts will be held at the Peoria Civic Center on the evening of January 28, and the afternoon of January 29, 2011.

All-State Band

Brandon Broholm – Tuba (Senior)

Marie Kirkegaard – Clarinet (Senior)

Jonathan Sheetz – Bass Clarinet (Junior)

Isaac Stevenson – Orchestral Percussion (Senior)

Kirsten Keller – Orchestral Flute (Senior)

Stephen Shatzer – Orchestral Bassoon (Junior)

All-State Choir

Abby Gardner – Alto (Senior)

Kaitlin Jeffries – Alto (Senior)

Josh Smith – Tenor (Senior)

All-State Orchestra

Marisa Bellie – Double Bass (Senior)

Lauren Kovanko – Viola (Junior)

Meghan Lyda – Cello (Junior)

Alana Osterling – Cello (Sophomore)

Hannah Young – Band Harp (Junior)

All-State Musicians Set Sights on Peoria

North High School 'All-State Musicians' are heading to Peoria, IL to participate in the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Music Festival this week. Congratulations, and good luck!

All-State Band

Nick Goergen – Jazz Drums (Senior)

Marie Kirkegaard – Clarinet (Junior)

Jennifer Poad – Bass Clarinet (Senior)

Emma Sassano – Orchestral Percussion (Senior)

Isaac Stevenson – Orchestral Percussion (Junior)

Mike Walser – Alto Saxophone (Senior)

All-State Choir

Tom Cannan – Tenor (Senior)

Catie Krygeris – Alto (Senior)

Collin Ludlow – Bass (Junior)

Josh Smith – Tenor (Junior)

Caroline Sterr – Soprano (Junior)

All-State Orchestra

Colette Mondragon – Viola (Senior)

Rudy Rendek – Violin (Senior)

All-State Music Composition

Patrick Long – Commercial/Popular – 1^st Place & Keyboard Solo – 3^rd Place (Senior)

Fourteen DGN Musicians Tapped for All-State Honors

Fourteen student musicians from Downers Grove North High School were selected by competitive audition to the 2009-2010 Illinois Music Educator’s Association All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra, Jazz Band and Secondary General Music Composition Contest. Performance auditions were held last October at Hinsdale Central High School; musical compositions were evaluated by professional musicians and composers from across the Midwest.

“We are really 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.”

In total, 28 student musicians from District 99 were selected for this prestigious performance honor.

The All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Band will convene for a series of rehearsals in Peoria, IL, January 27-30, 2010.  Their concerts will be held at the Peoria Civic Center on the evening of January 29, and the afternoon of January 30, 2010.

All-State Band

Nick Goergen – Jazz Drums (Senior)

Marie Kirkegaard – Clarinet (Junior)

Jennifer Poad – Bass Clarinet (Senior)

Emma Sassano – Orchestral Percussion (Senior)

Isaac Stevenson – Orchestral Percussion (Junior)

Mike Walser – Alto Saxophone (Senior)

All-State Choir

Tom Cannan – Tenor (Senior)

Catie Krygeris – Alto (Senior)

Collin Ludlow – Bass (Junior)

Josh Smith – Tenor (Junior)

Caroline Sterr – Soprano (Junior)

All-State Orchestra

Colette Mondragon – Viola (Senior)

Rudy Rendek – Violin (Senior)

All-State Music Composition

Patrick Long – Commercial/Popular – 1^st Place & Keyboard Solo – 3^rd Place (Senior)