Celebrate the Class of 2011 at the Graduation Concert!

Students and faculty are busily preparing this week for the annual 'Graduation Concert', which will be held on Thursday, May 19, at 7:00 pm in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium.

Senior soloists Brandon Broholm (tuba) and Kirsten Keller (flute) will be featured, along with dozens of members of the Class of 2011.  Don't miss this terrific musical treat!

Bietigheim-Bissingen Jugendblasorchester Concert

The musical and cultural exchange that exists between D99 and the BB Germany Music School is now more than a quarter century old. The foundations of this exchange are music, culture and relationships. To celebrate every aspect of this exchange, a concert was held last night in the North High School Johnson Auditorium, featuring the Bietigheim-Bissingen/Germany Music School ensemble JugenBlasOrchester. The North High Wind Ensemble and South High Wind Ensemble also performed on this celebratory event.

The concert opened with a fabulous pre-concert theatre organ recital and got better as the evening progressed. The North and South High Wind Ensembles performed challenging repertoire with poise and precision. The BB Germany Music School JBO then performed a diverse and challenging program, culminating with multiple standing ovations and encore selections. Congratulations to the student musicians from both continents for expanding their boundaries through the sharing of music, of culture, and of relationships.

Prior to the culminating piece of the concert, the faculty and chaperones from the BB Germany Music School and D99 exchanged gifts. This tradition is part of the fabric of nearly every exchange relationship that exists both in the USA and abroad, and we are proud to continue in this habit. Because the exchange is now more than 25 years old, relationships are continuing through generations.

Reimund Schiffer, director of the BB Music School Germany, extended an invitation to the D99 Honors Band to visit Germany in June of 2012, which Brayer Teague on behalf of the students and staff heartily accepted.

Exchange with Wayszata High School

North High welcomed the Wayszata High School Wind Ensemble (Plymouth, MN - suburb of Minneapolis) to campus today for an 'Exchange Concert' with the DGN Wind Ensemble.  Under the baton of conductor & teacher Dr. Donal Krubsack, the students from Wayszata performed beautifully.  The band's balance, blend, and intonation - not to mention their technical facility - were inspiring.  The members of the DGN Wind Ensemble also performed with excellence as Mr. Miller led the group in a performance of Richard Salva's 'Baicatu.'

Our thanks goes out to the WHS Wind Ensemble for stopping at DGN on their way home from their Chicago tour.

Sun-Times Feature on Band's Tour

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/3022976-418/band-london-parade-downers-north.html

Preparation for DGN London Tour Featured in DG Reporter

Click on the link below for a redirect to the story ...

http://tinyurl.com/2a22smh

DGN Band Invitational

Congratulations to the members of the Herrick Middle School Band (Jon Ball, director), as well as the students of the DGN Jazz Ensemble and DGN Wind Ensemble for terrific performances this evening. Each group played with wonderful musicianship and expression. Kudos to all!

Alumnus Kristin King Appointed to US Air Force Band Position

Congratulations to former 'Trojan Marching Band' Drum Major, and DGN Alumnus Kristin King (Class of '02), who this week was appointed by competitive audition to the clarinet section of the prestigious United States Air Force Band of Washington D.C.  Kristin flew to Washington D.C. early in the week to compete against hundreds of professional clarinetists for the coveted position.


The United States Air Force Band is the Air Force's premier musical organization. It has endeared itself to millions of listeners for more than 60 years through its exhilarating music, engaging concerts and masterful recordings. Since its formation in 1941, The United States Air Force Band has brought superb music and exciting entertainment to music lovers around the globe, earning its reputation as "America's International Musical Ambassadors."


Kristin is a graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (2006), as well as the Northwestern University School of Music (2008).

Text Message Alerts for Band Announced

DGN Band students (and parents) who carry a mobile phone and utilize text messaging services are encouraged to read the following post on our DGN Band's Blog, and to sign up for Band Text Message Alerts.

http://dgnbands.blogspot.com/2010/08/dgn-bands-text-alert-system-sign-up.html

Standard text messaging rates for the end-user will apply, but you do not need to sign up for any additional subscription service or account.

The Marching Band staff will begin piloting the use of Text Message Alerts this fall for announcements about the Trojan Marching Band.

Leadership Training Workshop

Led by Fine Arts teacher Bill Miller, 30 North High Band students are on campus this week exploring strategies for effective leadership.  Today's activities have included 'live blogging' by students as they set goals for the upcoming season and an activity where - working in small teams - students linked their views of leadership to "Heroes" from society and produced multi-media presentations to share with their peers.

"It's wonderful to be back on campus and working with these talented student leaders," said Bill Miller.  Drum major Elizabeth Meier (senior) added, "I'm very excited to gain new perspectives about student leadership. This should be a great week, and an amazing marching band season."

Tuning Up for a World Premiere

The members of the Wind Ensemble worked with composer Don Owens after school today in preparation for tomorrow night's 'Graduation Concert.'  The Wind Ensemble will present the World Premiere performance of Triple Set (2010), a 22 minute, three-movement work that features three solo percussion 'sets' - and harp - along with the full forces of the contemporary wind band.

"Working with a composer is alway exciting, but having the chance to premiere an original composition that was written especially for this group of students is a wonderful opportunity for the members of the Wind Ensemble," said Fine Arts Department Chairperson Brayer Teague.

Featured soloists in the triple-concerto include Michelle Hsu (sophomore), Emma Sassano (senior) and Isaac Stevenson (junior).  The solo harp part will be performed by Hannah Young (sophomore).  Each of these four students have been working directly with the composer for over six months in preparation for the premiere.

"I've shown the musical score to colleagues all over the world, and the reaction is similar each time someone looks at the music.  They say, 'I can't believe a high school ensemble can play it," mused composer Don Owens as he addressed the musicians on stage during the final dress rehearsal.  "You have my deepest admiration and respect for all the time and energy you have put into realizing this music."

The Graduation Concert will be held on Thursday, May 20, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium of North High.

Graduation Concert this Thursday!

The end of the school year is so very close. The Prom is in your rear-view mirror, and the band can be heard rehearsing 'Pomp and Circumstance' down the hallway. Soon the Class of 2010 will march through Commencement in their flowing purple and white gowns. But BEFORE we get ahead of ourselves, let's not forget the annual DGN "Graduation Concert," featuring the members of the A Cappella Choir and the Wind Ensemble!

The Graduation Concert will be held this Thursday, May 20, at 7 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium. Come hear the amazing sounds of the A Cappella Choir and the Wind Ensemble as we honor the Class of 2010. The program will feature several special musical highlights, including senior soloist Joe Garcia, the World Premiere of a special composition written especially for the North High Bands and guest-conducted by composer Don Owens, and an exciting performance of the powerful "Sinfonia Voci" which was composed to honor the students and faculty of Plainfield High School following the tornado that leveled that school twenty years ago this spring.

You won't want to miss this opportunity to 'send off' the Class of 2010! See you Thursday night at the Graduation Concert!

May Band Concert a Sonic Success!

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Symphonic Band Percussion Ensemble, and members of the Chamber Winds for an outstanding concert this evening!

Spring Band Concert - March 18

Congratulations to the members of the Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble for their wonderful performance at the March 18th Spring Band Concert.  All three groups achieved sonic success while performing a program of challenging literature.

Special kudos are extended to Caroline Hlohowskyj (trumpet) and Emma Sassano (marimba) for their solo performances, and to Mr. Bob Graham of our Social Studies Department for narrating "Liberty for All."

DGN Bands to be highlighted on WGN Radio

As a part of WGN-Radio's "Hometown Voices Tour," six members of the DGN Band will be featured on Friday morning, March 12.  WGN morning host Greg Jarrett, and the Morning Show team, will be broadcasting live from Ballydoyle's in downtown Downers Grove from 5 a.m. - 9 a.m.

WGN-Radio contacted the DGN Bands to participate in part because of the band's recent invitation to march in the 2011 London New Year's Day Parade.

While the timing of the show is subject to change, the band is currently slated to be featured between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m.

WGN Radio may be found at 720 AM on your radio.  You may listen to "live streaming" through the station's website:

http://www.wgnradio.com/about/listen/

17 Soloists Honored by Judges at 2010 Purdue Jazz Festival

Members of the Downers Grove North High School Jazz Bands took their show on the road this past weekend, participating in the 20th Annual Purdue University Jazz Festival. The Purdue festival, which draws outstanding high school jazz programs from Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, began on Friday, January 22 with a concert featuring the Dave Holland Quintet and continued all day Saturday, January 23 with hundreds of student musicians performing for panels of internationally recognized jazz musicians.

The DGN Jazz Ensemble performed in the Loeb Playhouse and earned a Division I rating.  Six students garnering Outstanding Soloist awards.  Congratulations to Caroline Hlohowskyj (trumpet/flugel horn),  Zach Schneeweis (trombone), Bryn Sitkiewicz (trombone), Nolan Schillerstrom (guitar), Michael Walser (alto sax), and Josh Williams (tenor sax).

The DGN Jazz Lab Band performed in the North Ballroom and earned a Division II rating.  Congratulations to Jim Blair (tenor sax), John Janke (guitar), Michael Garritano (trumpet), Sam O'Neil (trumpet), and James Tandaric (bass) for earning Outstanding Soloist awards from the adjudiators.

The DGN Jazz Combo performed in the Faculty Lounge, earning a Division II rating.  All six members of the combo were recognized by the judging panel as outstanding musicians and soloists.  Congratulations to Joseph DePeder (tenor sax), Michael Walser (alto sax), Bryn Sitkiewicz (trombone), Nicholas Goergen (drums), Rudy Rendeck (bass) and Nolan Schillerstrom (guitar).

"Our students enjoy the opportunity to attend this great Jazz Festival each year because we have the chance to hear so many wonderful jazz ensembles and soloists.  Having 17 students recognized with Outstanding Soloist awards is a credit to the hard work and dedication of our North High students. " said department chairperson and director Brayer Teague.

Come and hear the award winning DGN and DGS jazz groups on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 7:00 PM in the DGS auditorium as they share the stage with the renowned NIU Jazz Ensemble with guest artist John Fedchock. Tickets are available at the door.

Pep Band begins a new decade

Nearly 100 band members volunteered for the Pep Band's first
performance of the decade.

Fall Band Concert (Nov. 19)

Congratulations to the members of the Jazz Lab Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Symphonic Band on a great concert this evening!

Fall Band Concert (Nov. 17)

Congratulations to the members of the Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Ensemble for their terrific performances on this evening's Fall Band Concert!

Homecoming Week Celebrations Continue

Members of the Trojan Band perform in the Main St. Lobby on Thursday morning for Homecoming.

Band Leaders Gear Up

Members of the DGN Marching Band's Student Leadership Team are meeting this week for three intensive days of training. On Monday students participated in both teams training and high-ropes course training at Lincoln-Marsh in Wheaton, IL.