DGN Visual Artists Earn National Scholastic Art Awards

Mary Lerch - "Willow By The Pier"

Congratulations to DGN Visual Artists Mary Lerch and Eliot Michaels, who have been honored with National Medals by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, placing their artwork in the Top 1% of all adjudicated works nationally. 

Senior Mary Lerch earned a National Gold Medal for her piece "Willow By The Pier." Senior Eliot Michael's Art Portfolio received a National Silver Medal, with six pieces that were awarded Silver Medals with Distinction. 

"We are thrilled for Mary and Eliot, and this amazing national accomplishment," said DGN Fine Arts Department Chairperson Brayer Teague. "Their hard work and determination, coupled with the exceptional mentoring of their teachers, has propelled them to be recognized at this level. We could not be happier for them." 

Fine Arts faculty member Robyn Bican shared, "I have had Mary as a student for four years as both a Drawing and Jewelry and Metalwork student. She is committed to creating meaningful artwork as she takes her time to develop ideas, sketches and looks for feedback for improvement. I am delighted to watch her challenge herself in Metalwork. There takes a sense of patience to accomplish successful Jewelry pieces that have good structure, craftsmanship, and design innovation. Mary has done this with ease. I am very proud that in Mary's final year as my student, her hard work and dedication to Jewelry and Metalwork has earned her this great accomplishment."

Eliot Michael - "Cat Machine"

"I have worked with Eliot for several years," shared Fine Arts  faculty member Marty Voelker. "He has always been skilled in his craft and thoughtful in his concepts. This year, he took that to another level, taking all he had previously learned and applying it to a very personal voice and vision. The portfolio category is a very challenging context to demonstrate success, because it must be displayed across a series of six interconnected works. This takes a sustained commitment to excellence over a long period of time. The Silver Medal with Distinction is a high honor and places Eliot's portfolio in the top 50 in the nation."

Each year, the Alliance of Young Artists and Writers partners with more than 100 visual arts and literary arts organizations across the country to bring the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards to local communities. Teens in grades 7–12 (ages 13 and up) apply in 29 categories of art and writing. Starting in 1923, the competition has made an enduring impact on the art and education. In 2020-21, students submitted over 300,000 works of art and writing to the Scholastic Awards.

Submissions are juried by luminaries in the visual and literary arts, some of whom are past award recipients. Panelists look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

Students receiving Regional Gold Keys, Silver Keys, Honorable Mentions, or American Voices and Visions Nominations are celebrated within their communities through local exhibitions and ceremonies. Gold Key works are then judged nationally by an impressive panel of creative–industry experts to receive National Medals, including Gold Medals, Silver Medals, American Voices and Visions Medals, Gold Medal and Silver with Distinction Portfolio Medals, and Special Achievement Awards. 

DGN Bands - Solo Day 2021

DGN Band musicians participated on Saturday in a special "2021 Solo Day" event, designed to give students an opportunity to perform on campus for professional music adjudicators. We celebrate their efforts to improve their musicianship and advance their skills forward!

Carissa Blumka (flute) and Kyra McComb (percussion) both earned "High Score" in their respective performance rooms. Owen Nystrom (bassoon) and Aarush Palli (flute) each earned the Outstanding Musicianship Citation from the adjudicators. 

Congratulations to the following students who earned a Division I - Superior rating from the adjudicators. 

Alan Bellie, Clarinet

Carissa Blumka, Flute

Anika Canamedi, Oboe

Gwen Casten, Trumpet

Mikayla Cichy, Flute

Emily Ennis, Flute

John Fioti, Bass Trombone

Cameron Hejny, Clarinet

Zachery Heppner, Clarinet

Hannah Janka, Horn

Sadie Kearney, Flute

Anya Konieczka, Trumpet

Francesca Korbitz, Flute

Alex Krejca, Mallet Percussion

Blake Lietz, Bass Trombone

Lucas Marra, Horn

Kyra McComb, Snare Drum

Eric Morton, Trumpet

Raegan Novak, Flute

Owen Nystrom, Bassoon

Katelynn Ohk, Flute

Aarush Palli, Flute

Tressa Rapach, Trumpet

Andrew Swenson, Trumpet

Erin Tamasi, Flute

Alayla Tingzon, Flute

Julia Toth, Horn

Allison Waden, Oboe

Ethan Weingust, Bassoon

OMEGA feature - "Leaving a legacy: A reflection on Jennifer Mullen’s 14 years at DGN"

District 99 and DGN Orchestra Director, Ms. Jennifer Mullen, is featured in THIS LINKED ARTICLE, written by the OMEA In-Depth Editor, Emma Cho. [Originally published March 1, 2021.] Congratulations to Ms. Mullen on this deserved recognition, and thank you to Emma Cho for her informative and thoughtful article. 

District 99 Hosts the Chicago Region Scholastic Art Show Exhibition

Community High School District 99 annually serves as host of the Chicago Regional Scholastic Art Show. This year's exhibition is hosted online, due to COVID-19 mitigations.

Please visit the 2021 Scholastic Art Show Chicago Region Exhibition HERE, or at:

tinyurl.com/ScholasticArtShow

695 students, and109 educators at 46 schools participated in this year's competition. 1,739 entries were adjudicated across twelve media categories. 475 works were honored with awards.

Thank you to all District 99 Visual Art faculty who supported this year's Scholastic Arts Show as logistics coordinators, or as mentors to student participants. A special thanks is extended to Mr. Marty Voelker, who continues to serve the region as the manager and coordinator for the Chicagoland exhibition, and coordinated the collection of visual art for this year's virtual exhibition. 

 

Scholarship Alert (Seniors): Rotary Club of DG - Charles Dickerman Music Scholarship

The Rotary Club of Downers Grove is now accepting applications for their annual Charles Dickerman Music Scholarships. Each year the Rotary Club of Downers Grove presents $2,000 scholarship checks to deserving high school seniors who reside 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!

Download the 2021 Charles Dickerman Scholarship Application:

tinyurl.com/DGRotaryDickermanScholarship21

Applicants must have their forms emailed by Wednesday, March 31, 2021. If selected as a finalist, candidates will then submit a video audition by Friday, April 23, 2021, and must be available for a virtual interview on the evening of Tuesday, April 27, 2021. The scholarship winners will be announced in May.

 

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.

 These Charles Dickerman Music Scholarships are funded by proceeds from the annual Downers Grove Rotary GroveFest held each June in downtown Downers Grove.

 

Information:

Dave Humphreys

630-968-5526

musicscholarship@rotarygrovefest.com 

DGN Winter Guard Premieres "FREEDOM" - Friday @ 5 PM

The DGN Winter Guard has been working on something BIG, and we are excited to share it with you! This will be a guard video like you've never seen before, so mark your calendars for the premiere broadcast THIS FRIDAY at 5:00 PM. 

Bookmark THIS LINK and tune in to be one of the first to check out the DGN Winter Guard's production, "Freedom!"

http://tinyurl.com/DGNWinterGuardFREEDOM

National Black History Month Spotlight: Amy Sherald (1973 - )

February is Black History Month, and @DGNFineArts is pleased to spotlight the pioneering work of Black artists.

Amy Sherald (http://www.amysherald.com/) is an American painter based in Baltimore, Maryland. She is best known for her portrait paintings. Her choices of subjects look to enlarge the genre of American art historical realism by telling African-American stories within their own tradition.

She first came to prominence in 2016 when her painting, Miss Everything (Unsuppressed Deliverance), won the National Portrait Gallery's Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. The competition noted that "Sherald creates innovative, dynamic portraits that, through color and form, confront the psychological effects of stereotypical imagery on African-American subjects". She was the first woman to win the competition. Sherald's first solo exhibition, titled "the heart of the matter..." took place in fall 2019 at the Hauser & Wirth gallery in New York City.

The year after Sherald won the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, she was chosen by First Lady Michelle Obama to paint her official portrait. On February 12, 2018 the National Portrait Gallery unveiled the portrait, making Sherald the first African-American woman to paint an official First Lady portrait. The double portrait unveiling ceremony was attended by Barack and Michelle Obama. It was noted that Sherald and Kehinde Wiley, the painter of Barack Obama's portrait, were the first African-American artists to make official presidential portraits at the National Portrait Gallery, and also as artists who each early on prioritized African-American portraiture. Holland Cotter noted in a review that they both blend fact and fiction in their portraiture.

Sherald's portrait of Obama drew high numbers of visitors to the National Portrait Gallery.

National Black History Month Spotlight: Sidney Poitier (1927- )

February is Black History Month, and @DGNFineArts is pleased to spotlight the pioneering work of Black artists.

Sir Sidney Poitier, (1927 - ) is a Bahamian-American actor, film director, author, and diplomat. In 1964 Poitier became the first black actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field. The significance of these achievements was bolstered in 1967, when he starred in three successful films, all of which dealt with issues involving race and race relations: To Sir, with Love; In the Heat of the
Night; and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, making him the top box-office star of that year. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Poitier among the Greatest Male Stars of classic Hollywood cinema. Poitier was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1974. From 1997 to 2007, he served as the Bahamian Ambassador to Japan. On August 12, 2009, Poitier was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor, by President Barack Obama. In 2016, he was awarded the BAFTA Fellowship for outstanding lifetime achievement in film.

Arizona State University named its new film school after him. The Sidney Poitier New American Film School was unveiled at a virtual ceremony on Monday, January 22, 2021. The decision to name the school after Poitier, 93, is about much more than his achievements and legacy, but because he “embodies in his very person that which we strive to be — the matching of excellence and drive and passion with social purpose and social outcomes, all things that his career has really stood for,” said Michael M. Crow, president of the university.

National Black History Month Spotlight: William Grant Still (1895-1978)

February is Black History Month, and @DGNFineArts is pleased to spotlight the pioneering work of Black artists.

William Grant Still Jr. (May 11, 1895 – December 3, 1978) was an American composer of nearly 200 works, including five symphonies, four ballets, nine operas, over thirty choral works, plus art songs, chamber music and works for solo instruments.

Often referred to as the "Dean of Afro-American Composers", Still was the first American

composer to have an opera produced by the New York City Opera. Still is known primarily for his first symphony, Afro-American Symphony (1930), which was, until 1950, the most widely performed symphony composed by an American.

Born in Mississippi, he grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, attended Wilberforce University and Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and was a student of George Whitefield Chadwick and later Edgard Varèse.

Of note, Still was the first African American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, the first to have a symphony (his 1st Symphony) performed by a leading orchestra, the first to have an opera performed by a major opera company, and the first to have an opera performed on national television.

Due to his close association and collaboration with prominent African-American literary and cultural figures, Still is considered to be part of the Harlem Renaissance movement.

Visual Artist Featured in DGN Omega

Sophomore Visual Artist Maddy Dvorak was recently featured in DGN's OMEGA. The Arts and Entertainment feature, written by Editor Gretchen Lucina, may be enjoyed HERE. 

Congratulations to Maddy, Gretchen, and Fine Arts faculty member Ms. Robyn Bican. 

National Black History Month Spotlight: Kadir Nelson (1974 - )

February is Black History Month, and @DGNFineArts is pleased to spotlight the pioneering work of Black artists.

Kadir Nelson (kadirnelson.com/about) is an award-winning American author and artist based in Los Angeles, California. His paintings are in the permanent collections of several notable institutions including the United States House of Representatives, the Muskegon Museum of Art, The National Baseball Hall of Fame, United States Postal Museum, the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland, and most recently, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the World Trade Center, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Nelson received a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and upon graduating with highest honors, he was summoned by DreamWorks Pictures to create conceptual artwork for Steven Spielberg’s Oscar® nominated feature, “Amistad” and the animated feature, “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron”. He is the recipient of multiple awards from the Society of Illustrators in New York, including the prestigious Hamilton King Award as well the 2020 recipient of the Caldecott Medal and Coretta Scott King Award for illustration. He adds this to multiple Caldecott Honors, Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator Awards, New York Times Best Illustrated Book Awards, several NAACP Image Awards and an Olympic Art Bronze medal, among others. Mr. Nelson has also created artwork for a host of distinguished clients, including but not limited to National Geographic, HBO, Nike, Disney, Hennessy, and Sony Music, for whom he painted the cover artwork for Michael Jackson’s posthumously released album, “Michael,” which was listed in the Guinness Book of Records® for the largest poster in the world. Nelson’s artwork was also featured on the cover of recording artist Drake’s multi-platinum selling album, “Nothing Was the Same”; over a dozen commemorative US postage stamps honoring American legends, such as Major League All-Stars Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, NBA great Wilt Chamberlain, and most recently Motown’s Prince of Soul Marvin Gaye, which altogether have sold several million stamps.

Nelson’s masterful artwork also frequently graces the cover of The New Yorker magazine, paying tribute to historical and contemporary American figures in New York City and abroad, including the magazine’s dandy, Eustace Tilley. Additionally, Nelson has also authored and illustrated several award- winning New York Times Best Selling picture books including, “WE ARE THE SHIP: The Story of Negro League Baseball”, which was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, and “Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans”. Currently, he has over 30 children’s book titles in print with a global circulation in the millions, and in multiple languages. Nelson’s list of illustrated children’s books include titles by Debbie Allen, Will Smith, Spike and Tonya Lee, and Delores Jordan, mother of NBA great Michael Jordan.

Nelson’s primarily figurative paintings and sculptures focus on historical narratives and heroic subjects in American culture and are often informed by the Old Masters like Ingres, Michelangelo, Hopper, and Tanner. His sumptuous settings and characters, rich palette, and realistic, yet painterly technique speaks to both modern urban realism and masterly works of turn-of-the century American painters.

Scholarship Alert (Seniors): DGN-FOFA Senior Scholarships

What is the Senior Scholarship?

The Downers Grove North Friends of Fine Arts (FOFA) are pleased to announce our Senior Scholarship Award Program. FOFA will award scholarships to seniors who are planning to continue their education in the fall following their high school graduation and who plan to participate in some capacity in the fine arts. The FOFA Senior Scholarship Committee reviews the applications in a blind format.

Who may apply?

Current DGN seniors may apply for a scholarship if they are planning to be both involved in the fine arts and continue their education in the fall of 2021. To be eligible, the student must be enrolled in a Fine Arts course during their senior year and have completed 6 semesters of Fine Arts courses upon graduation from Downers Grove North High School.  

• At least one scholarship will be awarded to a senior attending a college in the fall where they will be pursuing a degree involving Fine Arts.

• At least one scholarship will be awarded to a senior who is pursuing an area of study outside of the Fine Arts but plans to continue a Fine Arts activity in college during their freshman year.

To what may the award be applied? 

Recipients will use this one-time award towards tuition at an accredited two or four-year institution of higher learning. The FOFA Senior Scholarship will be administered and awarded in compliance with the DGN Student/Parent Handbook and Code of Conduct Policy.

How do I apply?

Complete the application (fillable Google Form), which can be found HERE or at https://tinyurl.com/DGN-FOFA-SeniorScholarship2021.  The application requires a typed parent/guardian acknowledgment signature. Applications must be submitted electronically via the Google Form no later than 11:59 pm, Wednesday, March 24, 2021.  Mr. Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chairperson, will then accept all applications, remove the student’s name from the application, assign the application an ID number, and submit it to the Scholarship Review Committee for blind review.

What are the criteria for selecting winners?

The Scholarship Review Committee will review the applicant’s grades in the Fine Arts, school activities involving the Fine Arts, activities outside of school involving the Fine Arts, other extracurriculars at DGN, civic/community service, work experience, and essays about the applicant’s future plans and growth as an artist/musician/thespian.  All of these components will be judged blindly and relative to other applicants with similar future plans. Semi-finalists may be required to attend an interview with the Scholarship Review Committee in April. The recipients will be presented with the scholarship at the DGN Senior Awards Night (currently scheduled for Wednesday, May 5th, 2021), or by a phone call from the FOFA President.

Please note: If you are the recipient of a full Fine Arts or full academic grant/scholarship for college, we ask that you do not apply for the FOFA Scholarship as you will not be eligible.

Checklist for completion:

1. Complete the Google application form in its entirety, including student and parent electronic signature and date.   We suggest you use Google Docs or another tool to create your essay responses, then copy these to the form.  

2. Submit the completed application by 11:59 PM, Wednesday, March 24, 2021. You will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours that your submission has been received. If you do not receive an email, please re-submit. 

All-State Musician Tradition!

Each year, on the day that North High's All-State Musicians depart for their performances in Peoria, IL, the DGN Fine Arts Department honors these students with a display of cardboard cut-outs in the Main Street Lobby. COVID-19 has cancelled the in-person All-State concerts this year, but the pandemic has not thwarted our pride in these amazing musicians! 

Congratulations, again, to the 19 students who earned All-State Musician honors in 2020-21:

CHORUS

Bridget Callaghan (11) – Soprano II

Cole Cook (12) – Tenor II

Leah Costello (10) – Alto I

Jaclyn Duellman (12) – Alto I

Cora Lingenfelter (11) – Soprano II

Ian Stagaman (11) – Bass I 

FUTURE MUSIC EDUCATOR SEMINAR 

Carissa Blumka (12)

Raegan Novak (12) 

JAZZ

MacKenzie McGuire (12) – Vocal Jazz Soprano

ORCHESTRA STRINGS

Isaac Hsu (11) – Cello

Nicole Moravec (10) – Violin I

Noah Pardue (12) – Viola 

Melissa Parkinson (11) – Double Bass

Caitlyn Stocki (11) – Harp 

Jesse Wei (12) – Viola

WINDS and PERCUSSION

Cameron Hejny (10) – Clarinet (Band)

Francesca Korbitz (11) – Flute (Band)

Angelica Kowara (12) – Trombone (Band)

Katelynn Ohk (12) – Piccolo (Orchestra)

DGN Visual Artists Honored - 2021 Scholastic Art Awards

The Fine Arts Department at Downers Grove North High School is proud to announce the results of the judging from the 2021 Scholastic Art Awards held at Downers Grove North High School and hosted by the Community High School District 99 Fine Arts Departments.  695 student artists representing 109 arts educators submitted 1,739 works of art for adjudication. 475 total works were honored with recognitions. North High artists won 62 awards, including 17 Gold Key Awards, 18 Silver Key Awards, and 27 Honorable Mention Awards.

“We always look forward to hosting the Chicago-area regional exhibition at North High,” said Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chairman. “COVID-19 necessitates that we pivot to a virtual exhibition, but the honor for students to be recognized through the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is untarnished. The amazing display of student creativity will be a testament to the wonderful art teaching that is happening in District 99.”  According to Teague, the art teachers from both North and South High School play an important role in putting the exhibition together.  “Our District 99 art teachers are the engine behind this regional affiliate of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.  Their dedication and tireless commitment enables student artists from all over the suburban region to have their work evaluated by professional artists. The collection and adjudication of work, in the midst of a pandemic, was a Herculean task. I'm immeasurably proud of our District 99 faculty for their perseverance to organize the 2021 exhibition, assuring this important opportunity for students and art educators all over Chicago."  

GOLD KEY AWARDS (17)

CLICK HERE to view a portfolio of all DGN Gold Key Awards.

Elyse Adams (Jewelry) Queen's Colony

Charlie Belcastro (Jewelry) The Two Claws

Ethan Bell (Photography) Masks On

Adam Blair-Smith (Photography) Fatigue

Reed Brandt (Photography) Commute

Danylo Chepil (Photography) Rani in Downtown

Sarisa Chulanon (Photography) Deadly Alive

Patricia Kroczka (Photography) Bipolar Disorder

Mary Lerch (Jewelry) Willow by the Pier

Elisse Martin (Ceramics & Glass) Dream

Eliot Michaels (Drawing & Illustration) That's Okay

Eliot Michaels (Drawing & Illustration) Upstream

Eliot Michaels (Art Portfolio) A Release of Grief

Emily Nemeth (Jewelry) Day and Night

Olivia Shirk (Photography) BLM and CPD

Olivia Shirk (Photography) Embracing, At Last

Olivia Shirk (Photography) Blurred Out

SILVER KEY AWARDS (18)

Ethan Bell (Photography) Greedy Flame

Lillian Cawthorne (Painting) Alone

Sarisa Chulanon (Photography) half alive

Gavin Crowson (Photography) Fire & Ice

Natasha Fugate (Photography) Rose Colored Glasses

Gracie Gwozdz (Mixed Media) Are You Afraid?

Gracie Gwozdz (Ceramics & Glass) Red Drip

Ohana Jeron (Drawing & Illustration) Her Majesty

Eliot Michaels (Drawing & Illustration) Cat Machine

Eliot Michaels (Drawing & Illustration) Crow Trio

Madeline Pearson (Digital Art) Plague Doctor

Christina Powell (Photography) Modern Day Cain

Vidmantas Revuckas (Digital Art) TV Corruption

Olivia Shirk (Photography) Black Women in America

Olivia Shirk (Photography) Standing Up

Olivia Shirk (Photography) Rainbow Eyes

Benedikt Strempfer (Photography) Dramatic Lighting

Molly Tappmeyer (Photography) Charlie

HONORABLE MENTION (27)

Elyse Adams (Art Portfolio) Grandma's Box

Lillian Cawthorne (Painting) Mimi

Lillian Cawthorne (Drawing & Illustration) Comfort

Sarisa Chulanon (Photography) In The Alley

Natasha Fugate (Photography) Secrets of the Universe

Zack Gaytan (Jewelry) see through

Zack Gaytan (Art Portfolio) Freedom and New Beginnings

Ohana Jeron (Drawing & Illustration) Lady of the Hunt

Elina Lee (Photography) philocaly

Charlie Michaels (Sculpture) Endangered Beauty

Eliot Michaels (Digital Art) Lost Cat

Eliot Michaels (Art Portfolio) Bird Brain

Alexa Moy (Jewelry) Burst

Alexa Moy (Photography) Hawaiian Story

Gretchen Nelson (Photography) Masked

Avery Nowka (Ceramics & Glass) Mugs Of Emotions

Jack Oakes (Digital Art) The Merge

Jack Oakes (Digital Art) Running Out of Time

Madeline Pearson (Digital Art) Movie night

Haley Phillips (Jewelry) Holding My Own Hand

Aiden Robinson (Jewelry) Frozen Elegance

Olivia Shirk (Photography) I Like You

Olivia Shirk (Art Portfolio) Black Lives Matter Through a Lens

Benedikt Strempfer (Photography) boy and forest double exposure

Ashleigh Szydlowski (Photography) Masked Winter

Jacob Tyszkowski (Photography) Touch deprived

Lilly Vodak (Photography) Hidden Beauty

DGN Band Alumnus Kristin Bowers at Presidential Inaugural

Downers Grove North High School alumnus Kristin (King) Bowers, clarinetist with "The President's Own" United States Marine Band, will perform at the Presidential Inaugural ceremonies on Wednesday, January 20, 2021.

CLICK HERE to view a short message from Staff Sergeant Bowers, about the Inauguration performance.

The Marine Band is America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization. Founded in 1798, the band has performed for every U.S. president since John Adams. Known as “The President’s Own” since the days of Thomas Jefferson, the Marine Band’s mission is to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Staff Sergeant Kristin Bowers of Downers Grove, Ill., joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in May 2017.

Bowers began her musical training on clarinet at age 10. After graduating in 2002 from Downers Grove North High School, she attended Indiana University in Bloomington where she earned a bachelor’s degree in clarinet performance in 2006 and studied with Howard Klug. In 2008, she earned master’s degree in clarinet performance from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and studied with Steve Cohen of Northwestern and Lawrie Bloom of the Chicago Symphony.

Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” Staff Sgt. Bowers performed with the South Bend Symphony in Indiana and served as principal clarinet in the United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C., from 2011-17.

Staff Sgt. Bowers performs with the Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra at the White House, in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, and across the country during the band’s annual concert tour.

Recently, Staff Sgt. Bowers Bowers chatted with her high school band director, DGN Fine Arts Department Chairperson Brayer Teague, and answered questions about her work with "The President's Own."

Teague: You auditioned into "The President's Own" United States Marine Band in 2017, so this is your first Inauguration as a member of the band. Previously, you were the Principal Clarinetist with the Air Force Band of Washington, D.C. Have you ever participated in official Inaugural events as a musician with the Air Force?

Bowers: I first participated in inaugural events in 2013 as a member of The United States Air Force Band.  I was honored to march in the inaugural parade for the second inauguration of President Obama.  I also had the privilege of performing at an inaugural ball that night, and vividly remember being just feet away from Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys!  I did not participate in the 2017 Inauguration--I watched from home as I took care of my infant daughter!

Teague: The mission of "The President's Own" is to perform for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. I imagine that there is a great deal of professional pride that comes with each and every performance, but is the Inauguration a special or unique opportunity for the musicians of the United States Marine Band?

Bowers: There's nothing quite like performing for the Inauguration of a President.  I am so greatly honored to be one of the few who will witness this historical event in person.

Teague: The Inaugural Ceremony is likely the most public and most watched of the band's performances. What are some other important performances that are a part of the band's mission, but maybe less-seen by the general public? 

Bowers: Many of our most important performances happen inside the White House!  Members of The President's Own are present for almost every historic event that occurs at the White House.  Whether it is a State Dinner, bill signing, important speech or reception--the Marine Band is there!  The Marine Band also performs Full Honors Funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, honoring the deceased service men and women of the United States Marine Corps. The President's Own takes great pride in presenting free concerts to the public throughout the DC area and across the country.  Some of our most rewarding work is participating in educational outreach programs which provide us the opportunity to connect with music students of all ages. 

Teague: COVID-19 has significantly changed the traditional ways in which musicians are able to come together and rehearse. How has this impacted "The President's Own" protocols for rehearsing in preparation for the Inauguration this year?

Bowers: Honestly, it has been wonderful and somewhat surreal to be rehearsing as a large band for this event.  All members of the band were tested for COVID-19 before rehearsals began.  We have subsequently been tested twice for entrance into the Inauguration dress rehearsal and main event. Our chairs are placed in a socially distanced setup, and the most directional instruments have plexi glass between rows. We also rehearse for only 40 minutes before taking a break to allow aerosols to disperse.  

Scholarship Alert (Freshmen/Sophomores/Juniors): Summer Study Grant in the Fine Arts! (DGN FOFA)

If you are interested in continuing your Fine Arts studies this summer at a music, theatre, or visual art camp/workshop, and would benefit from financial assistance to attend, please consider applying for a scholarship from the DGN Friends of Fine Arts, which annually supports $8,000 - $10,000 in Summer Study Grants to student musicians, thespians and visual artists.

To be considered, your application must be submitted by Sunday, April 11, 2021. The Summer Study Grant application is on a Google form, completely paperless. You may complete the form here:

https://tinyurl.com/2021DGNSummerFineArtsGrant

Scholarship Awards will be announced in early May.  Questions about the application process? Please ask Mr. Teague, Downers Grove North Fine Arts Department Chairperson.

Scholarship Alert (Freshman/Sophomores/Juniors): Downers Grove Music Club Rising Stars Music Awards

$400 Awards for Freshman, Sophomores & Juniors in Music

The Downers Grove Music Club will present multiple $400 Rising Stars Music Awards.  Awards are given to students enrolled in the District 99 high schools in the areas of Band, Choir or Orchestra.  Award recipients are selected based on the merit of their musical accomplishments, as described on the application form and the quality of the musical performance provided on the recording portion of the application. The goal of these awards is to recognize and reward those students who have worked very hard in their musical pursuits and have achieved a high level of accomplishment as a musician.

Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors may apply for one of the multiple Rising Stars Awards ($400 each).  Additional information, on the Downers Grove Music Club website, may be found HERE.

Who Is Eligible?
Any  District 99 high school band, choir or orchestra student, currently in his/her junior year, pursuing a musical educational experience during the summer in which tuition is charged, is eligible to apply for a Rising Stars Award. Pianists may apply in the musical category with which they are affiliated.
 

Award recipients are required to perform the following year at the DGMC Rising Stars program, usually scheduled on a Tuesday evening in April.

How Can I Apply?
The application, and submission of performance video, must be completed online.

All entries must be DATE/TIME STAMPED by the deadline date of April 1, 2021 to be eligible for review.

Questions should be sent to:  musiced@downersgrovemusicclub.org.

Scholarship Alert (Seniors): DG Music Club College Music Award

The Downers Grove Music Club will present a $1,000 College Music Award to at least one student enrolled in Band, Choir or Orchestra in District 99. Award recipients will be selected based on the merit of their musical accomplishments, as described on the application form, and the quality of the musical performance provided on the video recording portion of the application.  The goal of these awards is to recognize and reward those students who have worked very hard in their musical pursuits and have achieved a high level of accomplishment as a musician.

Seniors may apply for one of the two possible College Music Awards ($1,000 each). Additional information, on the Downers Grove Music Club website, may be found HERE.

Who Is Eligible?
Any District 99 high school band, choir or orchestra senior, who will be graduating during the this academic year and who will be attending college in the fall of 2021, is eligible to apply.

How Can I Apply?
The application must be completed and submitted, along with a performance video recording, as directed on the submission website, by April 1, 2021.  Award recipients will be chosen only from among the applications received by the deadline date.

All entries must be DATE/TIME STAMPED by the deadline date of April 1, 2021 to be eligible for review.

Questions should be sent to:  musiced@downersgrovemusicclub.org.