DGN Musicians Find Solo & Ensemble Success! #WeAreDGN #99Learns

Downers Grove North High School student musicians participated in the Illinois High School Association State Solo and Ensemble Contest on March 5, 2016.

85 students from Downers Grove North High School performed Solos and Ensembles that earned a Division I rating of SUPERIOR.  A Division I score is categorized as “A Superior Performance – outstanding in nearly every detail.”  In addition, 30 students from Downers Grove North High School performed Solos and Ensembles that garnered a Division II rating of OUTSTANDING.  A Division II score is categorized as “An excellent performance – only minor defects.”

“Preparing for a Solo and Ensemble contest is a great opportunity for our students to express their individualism as soloists and to develop team-work skills with small ensembles,” said Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chair at North High.  “We’re very proud of all our students who entered the state contest this year.  They did a terrific job representing North High with their musicianship.”

Seven North High student musicians received perfect scores at the State Contest.

Alyse Bondarowicz, Jennifer Casey, Tim Edwards, and Eirene Kowal earned perfect marks from the judges for their solo work.  The DGN String Ensemble comprised of Lucie Boyd, Amelia Korbitz, Katie Lyda and Shea Tillotson also received a perfect score.    

Three North High events received a “Best of Day Award” for garnering the highest achievement score in their event room.  Euphonium soloist Jennifer Casey, Vocal soloist Elise Cismesia, and Cello soloist Tim Edwards were each recognized by judges to be the most outstanding performers of the day in their performance venues. 

The following North High Music Events received a “Division I—Superior” rating:

Aleena Albert – French Horn

David Atwater – French Horn

Tim Berberich – Male Voice

Shelby Berghorst – Viola

Lauren Birkmeier – Euphonium

Emily Blanchard – Flute

Alyse Bondarowicz – Flute – Perfect Score

Lucie Boyd – Viola

Daniel Brethauer – Trombone

Allison Burke – Alto Saxophone

Jennifer Casey – Euphonium – Perfect Score & Best of Day Award

Elise Cismesia – Female Voice – Best of Day Award

Keara Corbett – Female Voice

Benjamin Cortez – Trumpet

Maria D’Ambrose – Oboe

Becky Donnelly – Flute

Katie Donnelly – Alto Saxophone

Patrick Doyle – Trumpet

Tim Edwards – Cello – Perfect Score & Best of Day Award

Will Fulton – Viola

Jamie Gamonez – Female Voice

Jamie Gamonez – Flute

Robert Gartlan – Male Voice

Mariah Godar – Trumpet

Benjamin Goedert – Male Voice

Kevin Griffin – Trombone

Todd Griffin – Tuba

Gavin Harker – Trumpet

Ben Heppner – Xylophone

Megan Hung – Clarinet

Brian Hsu – Trumpet

Ryan Knezevich – Trombone

Amelia Korbitz – Violin

Eirene Kowal – Timpani – Perfect Score

Hannah Kutchek – Flute

Jack Langan – Male Voice

Katie Lyda – Violin

Margaret Lyons – Flute

Chloe Mason – Oboe

Parker McGuire – Violin

Maggie Miller – Violin

Bryan Monk – Violin

Matt Monk – Cello

Liam Morgan – Cello

Liam Ninneman – Cello
Lauren O'Neil - Violin 

Jessica Oliveros – Female Voice

Brian Perillo – Euphonium

Kaleb Pfotenhauer – Violin

Jeremy Pike – French Horn

Brendan Quealy – Male Voice

Nate Rapach – Trumpet

Caleb Schmurr – Trombone

Will Stefanisin – French Horn

Kadence Taba – Tuba

Bre Yano – Flute

Fred Zimmerman – Male Voice

David Atater, Arianna Calleja, Nate Rapach, Caleb Schmurr, Kadence Taba – Brass Quintet

Jack Barkei, Bryan Monk, Kaleb Pfotenhauer & Chris Wilford – String Ensemble

Alyse Bondarowicz, Maria D’Ambrose, Megan Hung, Jeremy Pike & Ashley Pirl – Woodwind Quintet

Lucie Boyd, Amelia Korbitz, Katie Lyda & Shea Tillotson – String Ensemble – Perfect Score

Kevin Chow, Joe Delorto, Fiona Kelly & Kaleb Pfotenhauer – String Ensemble

Seth Collins, Bryan Monk, Matt Monk & Abby Pfeiffer – String Ensemble

Kevin Griffin & Todd Griffin – Mixed Brass Ensemble  

The following North High Music Events received a “Division II—Excellent” rating:

Kayla Asonye – Clarinet

Erin Callaghan – Female Voice

Fiona Cismesia – Violin

Luc Collo – Alto Saxophone

Phoebe Covey – Trumpet

Tatiana Jordan – Violin

Fiona Kelly – Violin

Gina Kowalewicz – Flute

Madison Lynch – Violin

Kaylee McCarthy – Trombone

Elizabeth McNamara – Female Voice

Olivia Morrow – Timpani

Andi Ohk – Flute

Abby Pfeiffer – Viola

Claire Tarvin – Tuba

Alex Teng – Violin

Riley Wagner – Female Voice

Brooke Walsh – Female Voice

Aleena Albert & Maggie Miller – String Ensemble

Fiona Cismesia, Xanthe Huspen, Tatiana Jordan & Maggie Nevrly – String Ensemble

Patrick Connery & Todd Griffin – Tuba Ensemble

Will Fulton, Parker McGuire, Max Ourada & Joe Salerno – String Ensemble

Vocal Festival #WeAreDGN #99Learns

Approximately 60 singers from the DGN Choral Program performed throughout the day at our annual Vocal Festival. Many thanks to our exceptional clinicians: Ms. Mona Roy (Dundee Middle School), Ms. Tina Shoemaker (Lincoln Way North High School) and Dr. Eric Esparza (DePaul University). It was truly a wonderful day of music-making!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carnegie Hall - 1 Year Anniversary #WeAreDGN #99Learns

It was exactly one year ago today that the DGN & DGS Bands played Carnegie Hall; an experience for hundreds of District 99 musicians that will be remembered for generations.

Congrats Winter Guard #WeAreDGN

Congratulations to our DGN Winter Guard on their outstanding performance today at Downers Grove South Show!

Rotary Music Scholarship applications now being accepted! #99Learns

The Rotary Club of Downers Grove is now accepting applications for their annual Charles Dickerman Music Scholarship. 

Each year the Rotary Club of Downers Grove presents a $2,000 scholarship check to a deserving high school senior who resides in Downers Grove or the District 99 attendance area. Charles Dickerman was a founding member of the Rotary Club of Downers Grove.  He was a nuclear physicist at Argonne National Laboratory who had undergraduate degrees in both physics and music. Charles stayed involved in music throughout his life and was an avid bagpiper.

A scholarship application can be downloaded at www.dgrotary.com.

Applicants must have their forms postmarked by March 30, 2016. If selected as a finalist, candidates must be available for an interview and audition in the evening of April 19, 2016.

The qualifications to apply for this scholarship are:

·       Be a graduating senior attending a public, private, parochial or home school, and reside in Downers Grove or the High School District 99 attendance area. 

·       Plan to pursue a post-secondary education program.

·       Have participated in high school curricular music activities and/or extracurricular music activities. 

·       Composers and/or arrangers qualify for this scholarship. 

·       Pursuit of an undergraduate music major or minor is not required.

·       Financial need is not a criterion for selection.

Congrats @dgnchoirs #Sprinter #WeAreDGN #99Learns

Congratulations to the members of the @dgnchoirs for a wonderful performance at tonight's "Sprinter" Concert!

"Sprinter" Choir Concert Tonight at DGN! @dgnchoirs #WeAreDGN #99Learns

A Winter concert, with eyes toward Spring?  We call it the "Sprinter" Concert! Don't miss tonight's DGN Choir concert in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium of North High School. Doors open at 6:30 PM, and the concert begins at 7:00 PM.

Baring any unforeseen technical difficulties, the concert will be live-streamed for family and friends who are out of town and would like to enjoy the performance. The broadcast will be archived for a period of 30 days at the same link.



High School Cube broadcast link:  http://thecube.com/e/617060

Scholarship Alert for Seniors! DG Music Club College Music Award #99Learns

This is to announce the availability of the Downers Grove Music Club (DGMC) College Music award.  The application is available via the website for the DGMC, http://downersgrovemusicclub.org.  The College Music Award information and application is available in the Educational Opportunities section of the website or it can be accessed directly at this link:  http://downersgrovemusicclub.org/scholarships_college.html.  Email inquiries may be made to the following address:  musiced@downersgrovemusicclub.org. 

Please make this monetary award opportunity available to all Seniors enrolled in music during this academic year, at both North and South.  Up to Two awards will be given and each recipient will receive $1,000.  As outlined in the actual application, the requirements of the application are as follows:

• Purpose:  to recognize up to TWO District 99 High School Music students for excelling at a high level of achievement;
• Eligibility:  high school Seniors enrolled and graduating during this academic year, who are actively involved in music in District 99 and who will be attending college in the fall, are eligible to apply.  These students need NOT be pursuing a music degree program at their chosen college;
• How to Apply:  complete the written application, along with a required recording;
• Selection Criteria:  the merit of the applicant’s musical accomplishments and the quality of the applicant’s musical performance.
• Award Notification:  the announcement of the College Music Award recipients will be made at the spring awards ceremonies at both Downers Grove North and South.

The application must be submitted either via hardcopy, postmarked no later than April 1, 2015.  Or it must be submitted electronically with a date and time stamp of no later than 11:59 pm April 1, 2015. 

• mailing address:  Downers Grove Music Club, Attn: DGMC College Music Awards, P.O. Box 551, Downers Grove, IL  60515

• email address:  musiced@downersgrovemusicclub.org

Scholarship Alert for Juniors! DG Music Club Rising Stars Program

Downers Grove Music Club Rising Stars Music Awards

This is to announce the availability of the Downers Grove Music Club Rising Stars Music Awards.  The application is available via the website for the DG Music Club.  The website address is http://downersgrovemusicclub.org/.  The Music Award information and application is available in the Educational Opportunities section of the website or it can be accessed directly at this link:  http://downersgrovemusicclub.org/scholarships.html 

Email inquiries may be made to the following address:  musiced@downersgrovemusicclub.org. 


Please make this monetary award opportunity available to all Juniors enrolled in music at both South and North.  Six awards will be given and each recipient will receive $400 toward furthering their musical education through continued study during the summer.  As outlined in the actual application, the requirements of the application are as follows:

• Purpose:  to recognize SIX District 99 High School Music students for excelling at a high level of achievement;
• Eligibility:  current high school Juniors who are actively pursuing music are eligible to apply;
• Requirement:  the award recipients are required to perform the following year at the Downers Grove Music Club’s Rising Stars program scheduled annually in April;
• How to Apply:  complete the written application, along with a required recording;
• Selection Criteria:  the merit of the applicant’s musical accomplishments and the quality of the applicant’s musical performance.
• Award Notification:  the announcement of the Rising Stars Music Award recipients will be made at the spring awards ceremonies at both Downers Grove North and South.

The application must be submitted either via hardcopy, postmarked no later than April 1, 2016.  Or it must be submitted electronically with a date and time stamp of no later than 11:59 pm April 1, 2016.  

• mailing address:  Downers Grove Music Club, Attn: Rising Stars Music Awards, P.O. Box 551, Downers Grove, IL  60515
• email address:  musiced@downersgrovemusicclub.org

Last year we tested the response to allowing applicants to submit an optional audio/video recording of a musical performance.  Given the overwhelming positive response (the vast majority of the applicants submitted recordings), we have made this a required component of the application.  

Last year's winners are performing on Tuesday, April 5th at 7:30 pm.  The location is Four Corners Community Church, 8251 Lemont Road in Darien.  Faculty, friends and family are welcome to attend this exciting event.

Thanks Tour Organizers! #WeAreDGN #99Learns

Immediately preceding the @dgnchoirs and @D99Orchestra departure for Orlando International Airport, students presented Tour Organizers and Chaperones with several very kind gifts of appreciation.

Thanks to our thoughtful students for your gifts and very kind words.

Disney Performing Arts Clinics / EPCOT

Members of the DGN Choir and District 99 Orchestra participated in a wonderful series of educational clinics today. Congrats to all for great music making!

A short video clip of the D99 Orchestra may be found on the @dgnfinearts Twitter page:

twitter.com/DGNFineArts

Universal Studios for @dgnchoirs & @D99Orchestra

Congrats @dgnchoirs #WeAreDGN #99Learns

We are very proud of the @dgnchoirs touring ensemble for a spectacular performance today at Disney World! Superior musicianship on display for all!!

Congrats @D99Orchestra! #WeAreDGN #DGSPride #99Learns @DGSFineArts

A stunning musical performance in perfect weather conditions. We are very proud of the District 99 Orchestra for their performance this afternoon at Walt Disney World!

Tour Performance Broadcasts #WeAreDGN #99Learns

The DGN Fine Arts Department plans to broadcast Friday performances of the DGN Choir and D99 Orchestra using Periscope. The links to view the live streams will be found on the @dgnfinearts Twitter page.

2:45 EST / 1:45 CST - D99 Orchestra
5:15 EST / 4:15 CST - DGN Choir

To access the performance broadcasts go to ...

twitter.com/dgnfinearts

... or "follow" @dgnfinearts on Twitter.

Each broadcast will be viewable for 24 hours.

Tour Landing #DGMusicTour2016 #WeAreDGN

The DGN Choir & D99 Orchestra have landed safely in Orlando!