Adam Larson Residency

Downers Grove North Fine Arts is pleased to welcome New York saxophonist, and Illinois native, Adam Larson.  Mr. Larson spent the day presenting to five different music classes and conducting guest-artist clinics with the DGN Jazz Lab Band & Jazz Ensemble.  

Don't miss hearing Adam Larson live, at the "Sharing Is Caring" Jazz and Percussion Concert, Tuesday evening at 7 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium!

Out of town family and friends may view the live stream of the the concert here: http://thecube.com/e/635380

Congratulations Winter Guard! @dgncolorguard #WeAreDGN #99Learns

Congratulations to the DGN Winter Guard for their outstanding performance on Saturday, April 2, at the 2016 Mid West Color Guard Circuit Championships held in LaPort, IN. The team's final performance of the season bested their previous high-score by 3 points, and earned the guard a 7th place finish in their division: Scholastic Regional A.

We are extremely proud of the work and dedication of these thirteen talented students, and their Coach, Ms. Zaragoza.  #WeAreDGN

@dgncolorguard Heading to #Championships in LaPort, IN

The @dgncolorguard is off this morning to Championships in LaPort, IN. Congratulations to the extremely dedicated students and staff of the Winter Guard, and safe travels to #championships!

Looking for a way to get involved in the DGN Marching Band? How 'bout @dgncolorguard ?

The DGN Color Guard is pleased to announce Audition Clinics for the 2016-17 season.

Click HERE for all the printed details!

AP Studio Art Critique Day #WeAreDGN #99Learns

DGN Visual Art students, enrolled in AP Studio Art, gathered today for a collaborative peer critique as they prepare to submit their AP Art Portfolios to the College Board.

DGN Visual Artists Win 4 National Scholastic Awards #WeAreDGN #99Learns

"Am I Pretty?" - Aubrey Saha, artist.  National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Gold Medal Winner

"Cinched" - Jessica Novotny, artist.  National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Silver Medal Winner

"Bubbles" - Olivia Wojciak, artist.  National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Silver Medal Winner

"Sapphire Treatment" - Angela Wong, artist.  National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Silver Medal Winner

North High School in Downers Grove is pleased to announce that after competitive adjudication for National Scholastic Awards, four DGN Visual Artists have been recognized with national awards.

• Jessica Novotny (Silver Medal) - photography category  “Cinched”   Teacher: Megan Kelly
• Aubrey Saha (Gold Medal) - drawing and illustration category  “Am I Pretty?”   Teacher: Marty Voelker
• Olivia Wojciak (Silver Medal) - ceramics and glass category  “Bubbles”   Teacher: Leslie Miller
• Angela Wong (Silver Medal) - ceramics and glass category  “Sapphire Treatment”   Teacher: Megan Kelly

Since 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Writing Awards are the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious award and recognition program for creative teens. This year the Scholastic Awards received 320,000 submissions for the 2016 program year. Receiving a National Medal from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards places these student artists within the top 1% of all submissions from a national pool of art work.

Student work will be in exhibition at Carnegie Hall in New York, New York starting with an gala opening in June of 2016.

Fine Arts Department Chairperson Brayer Teague shared, "We are extremely proud of Jessica, Aubrey, Olivia and Angela. This national recognition is a significant affirmation of their dedication to the arts, and their creative talents."

2016 District 99 Honors Vocal Recital #WeAreDGN #99Learns

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, Beth O'Riordan, Ricardo Pedroza and Frank Piekarz for their work in coordinating this evenings recital.

2016 National Scholastic Art Winners from Suburban Chicago Region

Congratulations to all of the visual artists from the Suburban Chicago Region that were recognized with Gold and Silver National Awards!

 

12th Annual Community Outreach Children's Concert #WeAreDGN #99Learns

Irish Spirit Pervades St. Patrick's Day Band Concert #WeAreDGN #99Learns

Congratulations to the musicians of the DGN Bands on a fabulous St. Patrick's Day Concert! 

Special thanks is extended to the musicians of the Ryan School of Irish Traditional Music for their performances this evening.  

Get In The Spirit of St. Patrick's Day with @dgnbands! Tonight. 7 PM

Tonight's DGN Band Concert will feature great performances by the Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble.  Joining each ensemble will be guest artists / Irish musicians Clodagh Ryan and Sean Ryan.  Additionally, two Senior Concertos (Alyse Bondarowicz &Todd Griffin) will be a part of this exciting concert.

Do you have family and friends out-of-town tonight who would like to catch our Irish celebration virtually?  The live-stream of the concert may be accessed from the link below.  The concert will then be accessible from the same link, beginning March 18, for 30 days.

http://thecube.com/event/2015-16-dgn-march-band-concert-627836

Come out tonight, and be transported to Ireland!  7:00 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day! #WeAreDGN #99Learns

District 99 Orchestra Concert #WeAreDGN #99Learns

Congratulations to the District 99 Concert Orchestra and Symphonic Orchestra for presenting a fabulous concert Tuesday evening.  Special kudos to senior soloist Haley Beube for her tremendous performance of the first movement of Vivaldi's Concerto No. 2 in g minor (Summer.)  Both orchestras performed a wide range of repertoire, including a stunning full orchestra finale of the Scherzo from Symphony No. 7 by Anton Bruckner.

If you were unable to join us this evening in the auditorium, please experience the rebroadcast on the High School Cube by CLICKING HERE. 

Welcome Clodagh & Sean Ryan - Guest Artists #WeAreDGN #99Learns

The DGN Fine Arts Department welcomed Irish musicians Clodagh & Sean Ryan to campus today in preparation for this Thursday's St. Patrick's Day Band Concert. The duo will be featured as soloists with each of the three DGN concert bands, and perform on a variety of authentic Irish wind and string instruments. 

CLODAGH RYAN

Clodagh Ryan grew up in County Derry, Ireland, where at age 6 she began playing Irish traditional music with her three brothers and three sisters. Since then she has won multiple All-Ireland awards on fiddle, concertina and piano. As a result, she was chosen to participate in concert tours of Great Britain, North America and Australia to showcase and promote Irish music. She has also toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States as a member of the traditional Irish band Providence.

 

SEAN RYAN

Born and raised in Chicago, Sean Ryan began playing tin whistle and flute at the age of 6, progressing to the uilleann pipes at age 15. Having studied under Dublin piper Mick O'Brien for several years, Sean also credits Chicago piping legend Joe Shannon (1920–2004) as a major influence on his playing. Sean has won multiple All-Ireland awards on all three instruments, and has performed on Broadway with the Trinity Irish Dance Company, and as a soloist at Chicago's Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center.

 

While maintaining successful careers in medicine and finance, Clodagh and Sean are committed to teaching Irish music to children, fostering a new generation of musicians and furthering the tradition that has been so rewarding to them.