Until we meet again ... auf Wiedersehen!

Today, we said good-bye to our friends from Beitigheim-Bissingen, Germany.  Listening to conversations and observing the departure process, we overheard many comments that summed up this experience elegantly, among them:

• "They came as exchange students, they leave as family members."
• "This is always the saddest and happiest day of the exchange.  I'm sad people are leaving, but I'm happy that this exchange provides these opportunities."
• "I couldn't believe the tears given the short duration of the stay."
• "You are so lucky you get to see these people again.  We may never see our student again."
• "I watched my two German students during the concert more than I did my own children."
• "I didn't know that a single week could change my life in this way."

The essence of this ongoing musical and cultural exchange is the deep and personal transformation that occurs for each student from the inside to the outside.  When a community opens hearts and homes to a group of students, lives are changed.  When we realize that people from the other side of the globe are more similar to us than they are different from us, the world becomes a smaller place.  When you add to this exchange the notion that it is based on music, the depth of the experience for all participants is enhanced even more.



The District 99 Music Faculty sends our most sincere thanks to all of our Host Families for opening your homes, and your hearts.  You were all incredibly gracious, and you each made a strong impact and positive imprint on the lives of the students and staff that visited from Germany.

We are all sad that our new friends have departed, but, our lives are enriched by knowing them personally and through the sharing of music together.

Until we meet again ... auf Wiedersehen!

Transforming hearts and minds through shared musical experiences

Congratulations to the student musicians from the Downers Grove South High School Wind Ensemble, the Downers Grove North High School Wind Ensemble, and to our special guests in the Jugendblasorchester from the Musikschule of Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany for a fabulous concert last evening.  The bond formed through sharing musical experiences together is strong, and the students from each ensemble experienced the depth of this bond by sharing a a concert with each other.  The auditorium was packed, and the patrons clamored for an encore from the JBO at the end of the performance.  The evening concluded with over 200 student musicians performing a collaborative Stars and Stripes Forever! Bravo to each performer for their contributions to the success of this ongoing cultural and musical exchange.  

Expanding Classroom Boundaries

Classroom boundaries are expanded  by leaving the room to go into the world, or, by bringing parts of the world into the classroom.  Today in District 99, the boundaries of the classroom were expanded by bringing parts of the world into our district.

We are proud to welcome our guests from Beitigheim-Bissingen, Germany into our homes and our community.  Dr. Erica Niedlinger, DePaul University, worked with the band students from Germany this morning to sharpen their individual and collective ensemble skills.  Concurrently, the international sensation cello band Break of Reality presented master classes and rehearsed with students in the District 99 orchestra.  Then, in the evening, the renowned cello band performed for a nearly capacity crowd at the Clarence Johnson Auditorium, combining on two selections with our own District 99 orchestra.

Today students from Germany came to our classroom and community.  Today, a regional university professor shared musical experiences with an international ensemble.  Today, an internationally acclaimed ensemble performed and rehearsed with our student musicians.  Today, the boundaries of the classroom were significantly expanded for our student musicians in District 99.

"Break of Reality" Masterclass

"Break of Reality" is on campus today presenting workshops to District 99 string orchestra students in preparation for tonight's concert.

Limited general-admission tickets still remain and will be available tonight at the door for purchase. You won't want to miss this amazing musical ensemble!

Erica Neidlinger - German Band @germanmusicx

Dr. Erica Neidlinger of the DePaul University School of Music was on campus today to work with our guests from Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany.

Don't miss the German Band in concert this Thursday, 7 PM, at North High in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium.

Welcome to Downers Grove! @germanmusicx

Our guests from Beitigheim-Bissingen have arrived safely after a bus trip from Kansas City.  We are excited to welcome them into our homes and share our community with them.  Thanks to all of the host families for their hospitality.  We anticipate a fabulous week of musical and cultural exchange!

Two DGN Band Alumni To Perform National Anthem at Tonight's NCAA March Madness Final

Two DGN Band Alumni - Tommy Donnelly (Class of 2014) and Brett Latman (Class of 2013) will be a part of a large Trumpet Choir that will perform the National Anthem at tonight's NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship game.

Donnelly, a Mechanical Engineering major at Purdue University, and Latman, a Music Education major at Indiana University, are both involved in their respective college marching bands.  They will join trumpet players from several Indiana schools - as well as the United States Army Herald Trumpet Ensemble - to perform the Star Spangled Banner.

The performance of the National Anthem will be heard by approximately 70,000 spectators at Lucas Oil Stadium, and millions more world wide during the television broadcast.

Tune in to CBS-TV tonight to hear the National Anthem.  Tip-off is 8:18 CST.  The Anthem will be performed shortly before.

Congratulations Tommy and Brett!

2015-16 DGN Color Guard Clinic & Auditions Announced!

Please click here for detailed information about the 2015-16 DGN Color Guard Auditions.

We are holding an informational meeting and clinic help-session on Saturday, April 25, 2015.  Auditions will take place on Thursday, May 14, 2015.

The DGN Color Guard is an award-winning section of the Downers Grove North High School Trojan Marching Band. While many of our Color Guard students are enrolled concurrently in the band program, membership in the DGN Bands is not a prerequisite for membership in the Color Guard.

2015 District 99 Vocal Honors Recital

Congratulations to the student musicians from the North High and South High Choral programs for their wonderful performances in this evening's District 99 Vocal Honors Recital.

Initiated over 20 years ago, the District 99 Honors Vocal Recital showcases the finest vocal musicians in District 99 in an annual collaborative performance. This event symbolizes what is best in District 99 - it is collaborative, it is predicated on excellence, and it is all about students.

Leading up to this recital, both South and North High Schools hold independent vocal festivals. These festivals, held during the school day, are adjudicated by professional musicians and teachers from outside of District 99. The expert panel of adjudicators provide each student performing event with immediate formative feedback, and, with a score based on the quality of their performance. Each school then holds a run-off competition, where the best events are selected by the panel of adjudicators to perform on the District 99 Honors Vocal Recital. In total, more than 100 chamber music events are adjudicated during the Vocal Festivals at North and South High Schools.

In addition to the District 99 team of teachers working with the student musicians, a superior staff of private voice teachers coach and accompany the student singers through the performance preparation process at both South and North High Schools. These teachers are integral to the student success manifested during this recital.

Special thanks to District 99 music faculty and staff - Pattie Barnes, Joy Belt-Roselieb, Laura Coster, Gina Meehan, Beth O'Riordan, Ricardo Pedroza and Frank Piekarz for their work in coordinating this evenings recital.  In addition, we extend our appreciation to Private Voice Instructors who have served as mentors to our students: Kathrin Danzmayr, Todd Diehl, Colleen Lingenfelter, Ann McMann, Holley McKee, Gretel Mink Hansen, Jann Mochelle, Ingrid Mueller, Angela Presutti-Korbitz, and Stephanie Singer.  

Winter Guard @ Carl Sandburg

Congratulations to the DGN Winter Guard for another outstanding performance at the Carl Sandburg High School Winter Guard Festival.  The Winter Guard continues to impress judges, taking 5^th place and improved their routine score by 4 points as they head towards the end of their season.   Great work, ladies, and best of luck in the upcoming Championships!

11th Annual Children's Outreach Concert

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Bands who performed this afternoon in the 11th Annual Children's Outreach Concert.  Over 1,000 Elementary school students were in attendance!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March Band Concert - Musical Homecoming

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Bands for their performance this evening in the March Band Concert.  Following their successful New York Tour, the members of the  Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble each played with strong musicianship and artistry.  

A special thanks is extended to Evan Culligan & Hannah Thompson (narrators) as well as guest conductor and soloist Dr. Thomas Bough from Northern Illinois University.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight's Band Concert to feature Dr. Thomas Bough

Dr. Thomas Bough, Professor of Music from Northern Illinois University, will be featured as tuba soloist and guest conductor at this evening's March Band Concert.  Professor Bough has been on campus today working with Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble in preparation for tonight's concert.

Out of town family and friends, who would like to attend the concert virtually, the concert will be webcast here on High School Cube.