BBC Web Link for DGN Band in London Parade

For those looking to tune-in this morning to watch the 25th Anniversary London New Years Day Parade, we would encourage you to try the link below:

BBC web link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/london/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_9306000/9306090.stm

Wind Ensemble students work with Daniel Farris of Northwestern University

In preparation for the Wind Ensemble's performance at Cadogan Hall in London, England, DGN welcomed Daniel Farris (Northwestern University Bienen School of Music) as a guest clinician. Professor Farris worked with students on three of the four compositions that will be performed in London on December 29th.

Mr. Teague sends "Cheers" from London

Hello to the members of the DGN Bands and Athenas from Merry Ol' England!

I am in London this week, having been invited by the London Parade Festival event organizers to attend a series of planning and logistics meetings relative to our upcoming performance at the end of the year.  The trip has been exceptionally well organized thus far, and I find myself even more excited about our invitation to perform than I had been previously.  (Is that possible?!)

This morning I had a chance to experience the luxury motor-coach tour that each participant will enjoy in December.  Following that tour the parade organizers then had each of the band directors walk the entire 2.2 mile parade route so we could see exactly what to expect.  

As you might guess, the route is spectacular, and will take us through he heart of London, ending at Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament.  Quite a bit of time was spent explaining the TV-zone to us, and going over very detailed instructions about how the band will be featured in this area.  Unlike any other parade I have been a part of in the past, there will be a specific 60-second period of time in which the band will actually turn to perform for the grandstands, and do a bit of drill while playing.  We will have to work on this very specifically next fall as we prepare for the tour.

Here is a picture of the area where the television performance will be broadcast to millions of people, all over the world.  Picture three massive grand-stands for seating in front of the buildings, and television cameras all over!

The remainder of my meetings this week will include opportunities to set our tour literature for the Wind Ensemble's performance in a New Year's Gala Concert, visit the concert hall where we will perform, visit with the hotel manager about the specific logistics of our band's accommodations (I'm staying in the hotel we will be in ... and you are going to LOVE it), and finalize all of the details of our itinerary (such as sight-seeing tours).

Here is a picture of the lobby of our hotel, The Cumberland.  It is very modern, with a lot of interesting art.  Much of the visual art (sculptural, video, etc.) is accentuated by translucent floor tiles that change color throughout the day.  Click the hyper-link above to see more about the hotel.

I will sign off this post by adding that our walk along the parade route today was - by coincidence - in the middle of England's World Cup match this afternoon.  Many schools let out early and many businesses in London closed so that people could watch the game.  Many flags flying for England today, including on the back of the taxi cabs.

As I was walking the parade route with the event organizers, and taking notes about the angles and width of various turns, a simultaneous loud roar erupted from many pubs as England scored and went ahead 1-0.  We had just walked through Piccadilly Circus (think London's version of Times Square), and the large video monitors were reporting that the USA had yet to score in their match.  This was important because England's chances of advancing into the final 16 were significantly improved today if USA played to a draw, or lost.  I returned to the hotel and walked into the lobby (where many had gathered to watch the match) just as the England game was ending.  Joyful cheering in the lobby was suddenly dulled when it was announced that the USA had just scored a goal in their match against Algeria (in the 91st minute) and had gone on to win ... thereby leaping over England in the standings.  I smiled, and quietly walked away from the crowd to the elevator.  

I look forward to seeing many of you next week at the D99 Marching Band rehearsal for the July 4th parade.  It's getting really hot in this phone booth ...

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/

London 2011 Tour Orientation Meeting / Tour Blog Launched

A new London 2011 Tour Blog has been launched to provide DGN Band students (current and future) with pertinent information relative to the 2010-2011 performance invitation. Click on the logo above (or here) to be redirected.

Parents/guardians of students who anticipate being enrolled in the DGN Band during the 2010-2011 academic year will be receiving - by email - an invitation to attend a Tour Orientation meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 (7 PM), in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium. Details will be distributed electronically to families by October 1.

London Calling

Continuing coverage of the band's invitation to perform in the London New Years Day Parade (2011):

• Downers Grove Chronical (Blog)
• Reporter Progress Newspaper
  

London Invitation Covered by ABC-7 News

Click on the image above to be redirected to the ABC-7 story and video from tonight's newscast.

DGN Band Invited to London - 2011

Click on any thumbnail for a larger image.

Dear North High Band Families:

We are extremely pleased to share with you some very exciting information. Today our school, and our band program specifically, was honored with an invitation to perform in the 2011 London New Year’s Day Parade.















The highly prestigious traditional turn of year celebration in the UK capital is established as the biggest event of its kind anywhere in the World. More than 10,000 performers from all corners of the globe entertain a street audience of around 500,000 – and a global TV audience of tens of millions. Patrons of the event include the Lord Mayor of Westminster, the Archbishop of Canterbury and senior representatives of the American community in London.

Lord Roger Bramble – the Deputy Lieutenant of London – Her Majesty The Queen’s Representative – traveled to North High School today to meet with members of the band and to extend the invitation to participate in the 25th Anniversary London New Year’s Day Parade on January 1, 2011. Accompanying Lord Bramble to North High this afternoon were Mr. Robert and Ms. Geraldine Bone, Directors of the London Parade.

This prestigious invitation, offered to a small handful of college and high school bands in the United States each year, honors the hard work, dedication and musicianship of our students. This includes our seniors, who – while contributing to the selection through their musical gifts – will not be enrolled at North High at the time when the band will make the trip. It also recognizes the tremendous support our school enjoys from parents and guardians. To each, we send our congratulations and gratitude.

All students enrolled in a curricular band course for the 2010-2011 school year will be eligible to participate in this tour. More information will be forthcoming in the next month about tour details, eligibility requirements, and opportunities for students to fund-raise in anticipation of the tour. As you can imagine, a “once in a lifetime” tour of this magnitude will only be successful if we work together to maximize resources and make every effort to support students who wish to participate and give them the tools they need to raise the funds associated with participation. In the meantime, we encourage students to begin saving now. We will also be sharing this information with current 8th grade band students who will be at North High next year so that they might also begin a process of fundraising.

We encourage families to begin learning about the London New Years Day Parade. Please visit:

www.londonparade.co.uk

Congratulations!

Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chairperson
William Miller, Music Teacher and Director – Trojan Marching Band