Winter Guard - State Compeition

Congratulations to the members of North High's Winter Guard on their outstanding performances at the State Contest this weekend.  The team placed 6th in the State in the Lyrical Flag category and 5th in the Tall Flag category.  The team also earned 92 points (out of a possible 100) for each routine which was a team best for the season.  Congratulations to all of the team members on a terrific season!

DGN Hosts State Solo & Ensemble Contest

Congratulations and thank you to all of the DGN student musicians,
parents and volunteers who made the 2010 IHSA State Solo & Ensemble
Contest a big success!

Choirs Perform in "Spring Festival Concert"

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Choirs on a very musical
performance tonight!

Two D99 Musicians Finalists for CYSO Compeitition

Two District 99 musicians (Michael Rau - DGS; Isaac Stevenson - DGN) have earned the distinction of being named finalists for the prestigious Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition.  Michael and Isaac are two of only seven finalists selected to advance from the heavily competitive preliminary auditions.

The finals are open to the public and will be held this Wednesday, March 3, in Curtiss Hall (10th floor) of the Fine Arts Building in downtown Chicago.

6:30pm - Doors open
6:45-9:00pm - Competition
9:15pm - Awards

All are welcome to attend and hear these talented young musicians perform in the final round of competition!

• Isaac Stevenson, Schwanter - Percussion Concerto
• Michaela Wellems, Vieuxtemps - Violin Concerto No.4 in D Minor, op.31
• Ben Manis, Dvorak - Cello Concerto in B Minor, op.104
• Christine Murphy, Lieberman - Concerto for Flute
• Stephanie Block, Stamitz - Concerto for Viola
• Michael Rau, Tchaikovsky - Violin Concerto in D major, op.35
• Ryan Zerna, Nielsen - Flute Concerto

Participants will compete for a chance to perform with CYSO's Symphony Orchestra at Orchestra Hall on Sunday, November 21, 2010.

DGN Choirs in MN

Congratulations to the DGN Choirs on a wonderful tour!

Working with Dr. Tim Peter at Luther College:

Working with Dr. Eugene Rogers at Macalester College:

Winter Guard @ Athena Spectacular

Congratulations to the DGN Winter Guard on their terrific performances
today at the Athena Spectacular.

Choir Tour Begins!

We wish safe travels and beautiful music to the DGN Choirs as they
depart on their 2010 Tour.

Scholastic Gold

Congratulations to the North High visual art students who earned Scholastic Art Award Gold!


Kristiana Bonomo, Bernadette Calvino, Sabreena Damra, Katie Earl, Nicole Irwin, Rob Lott, Ellen McCammon, Ansley McLeod, Heather McNeil, Dan Meinhart, Padraic O'Connor, and Crystal Yi.

DGN Vocal Festival

Congratulations to all of the DGN student musicians who participated in 87 different adjudicated vocal events today during the 2010 Vocal Festival.  A panel of four professional vocal educators heard over 100 students, provided written feedback and worked with students in educational clinics.

The DGN Fine Arts Department offers a special note of thanks to our Applied Vocal Faculty for their dedication and assistance in preparing the students for today's festival.

Triple Set - Rehearsal with Composer Don Owens

Composer and Northwestern University Professor Emeritus Don Owens
worked with the DGN Wind Ensemble this evening from 6 - 8 PM in a
special rehearsal designed to introduce his new composition "Triple
Set." The Wind Ensemble will perform the world-premier of this new
major work on May 20, 2010.

Scholastic Art Awards Opening Reception

Images from the 2010 Scholastic Art Awards Opening Reception

Scholastic Art Show Opens Sunday!

District 99 is pleased to host the 2010 Scholastic Art Show for the Chicago West-Suburban Region.  Hundreds of award-winning artists will be featured in an expansive exhibition that opens this Sunday, February 7th.  A 1:00 - 4:00 PM Opening Reception will be held this Sunday in conjunction with the exhibit's opening at Downers Grove North High School, 4436 Main St.

NIU Jazz Concert

A fabulous day of jazz immersion concluded with the NIU Jazz Ensemble, led by Ron Carter, and featuring guest soloist John Fedchock. Mr. Fedchock's fluency is matched only by his artistry. It was an amazing evenving indeed.

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Jazz Lab Band and DGN Jazz Ensemble - as well as our cross-town colleagues - for terrific performances to open the concert!

NIU Jazz Clinics

Professor Ron Carter of Northern Illinois University worked with students from Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Ensemble today during a field trip to Downers Grove South.  Professor Carter's incomperable teaching style continues to inspire our jazz musicians at DGN.

DGMC partners with District 99 Fine Arts

The Downers Grove Music Club, in partnership with the District 99 Fine Arts Department, provided a music-education enrichment opportunity this morning for DGN student musicians.  Ms. Marilyn Wilgocki, Director of Vocal Music and Handbell Choir at the Presbyterian Church of Western Springs, and the President of the Downers Grove Music Club, led a 60-min. 'before school' Master Class on conducting techniques.

District 99 is appreciative of the DGMC's outreach efforts, and their dedication to music education in our community.

DGN Jazz to perform at DGS with NIU Jazz Ensemble

The internationally acclaimed Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble will be in Downers Grove this Thursday, February 4, for a 7 PM concert at the Downers Grove South High School Auditorium.  High School Jazz Bands from both DGN and DGS will open the show, followed by the NIU band and guest trombone soloist John Fedchock.  Tickets may be purchased at the door.

Winter Guard off to a great start!

The Winter Guard has already competed at three Team Dance Illinois regional Flag competitions this year.  The team competes in both the Varsity Tall Flag and Varsity Lyrical Flag categories.  This year the Tall Flag routine is set to music from Cirque du Soleil's Kooza and the Lyrical Flag routine is set to "Requiem for a Tower" from Lord of the Rings.

The team has earned the following awards at the three competitions they've gone to so far:

Schaumburg H.S. Competition: Lyrical Flag - 1st Place; Tall Flag - 4th Place.  The team also earned the Artistic Excellence award for the top Artistic score of the day and a qualification to the State Competition in the Lyrical Flag category.

Plainfield East H.S. Competition: Lyrical Flag - 3rd Place; Tall Flag - 3rd Place

Palatine H.S. Competition: Lyrical Flag: 5th Place; Tall Flag - 2nd Place.  The team also earned a State Qualification in the Tall Flag category.

In the coming weeks the team will be competing at the Athena Spectacular at North H.S. as well as the TDI State Competition held in Peoria on March 7th.

IMEA All-State Concerts

Congratulations to all of the DGN student musicians who performed in
the 2010 IMEA All-State music concerts on Saturday! Bravo!

All State Jazz

Congratulations to senior Nick Goergen on a terrific performance at the 2010 Illinois All-State Music Conference.  Nick was selected as the drummer for the All-State Honors Jazz Ensemble.

Artistic Success - Scholastic Art Awards

Student artists from Downers Grove North High School received regional visual art recognition through The 2010 Scholastic Art Awards.  In all, North High visual artists garnered 74 awards in the juried exhibition.

Now in its 87^th year, the Scholastic Art Awards is a national competition devoted to recognizing outstanding art and writing created by middle school and high school students.

The competition begins with regional adjudications across the country. Our 2009 regional show, sponsored by District 99, received 1251 entries from 18 local high schools, as well as entries from 2 middle schools competing in a separate age category.

The competition begins with regional adjudications across the country. Our 2010 regional show, sponsored by District 99, received 1449 individual entries from 20 local high schools, as well as two middle schools competing in a separate age category.

15 independent judges, consisting of local art educators and art professionals, assigned three levels of recognition to students: Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention Awards.

A showing of over 500 award winning works will be on display at Downers Grove North High School. The Opening Reception will be held Sunday, February 7^th from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. in the Main Street and Auditorium Lobbies. The show will be on display through February 12^th. At the close of the show, all individual Gold Key and Gold Key Portfolio winners will have their work forwarded to New York City for the national adjudication, in which thousands of works from across the United States will be vying for a select number of awards.

Downers Grove North High School was honored with another outstanding performance at this year’s regional show.

• 36 Honorable Mention commendations.
• 20 Silver Key honors
• 14 individual Gold Key awards
• 4 Portfolio Gold Key awards

The following North High students received awards:

Art Portfolio Category

Sabreena Damra          GOLD

Nicole Irwin                GOLD

Padraic O’Connor       GOLD

Ceramics Category

Kristiana Bonomo       GOLD

Rob Lott                     GOLD

Ansley McLeod          GOLD

Crystal Yi                    GOLD

Alexander Wirtas        SILVER

Stephen Banda            SILVER

Gina Gammonley        SILVER

William Hennessy       SILVER

Maureen Eckdahl        SILVER

Jewel Davis                 HM

Emily Dylla                 HM

Andrew Kelliher         HM

Nicole Papp                 HM

Eric Smith                   HM

Rachel Swirsky           HM

Digital Art Category

Padraic O’Connor       GOLD; SILVER (2); HM

Sabreena Damra          HM

Drawing Category

Bernadette Calvino     GOLD (2)

Dan Meinhart              GOLD; HM

Samantha Fry              SILVER

Mahrya Jefferson        SILVER

Hannah Ottley                        SILVER

Elizabeth Havenga      HM (2)

David Martini            HM

Rachel Swirsky           HM

Design Category

Ellen McCammon       GOLD

Nicole Irwin                SILVER

Kevin Pechnick           SILVER

Jordan Craft                HM

Emily Dang                 HM

Colleen Ryan              HM

Jewelry Category

Nicole Irwin                GOLD (2); SILVER

Emily Duka                 HM

Marie Homolkova       HM

Kristina Via-Reque     HM

Mixed Media Category

Jackie Maish                SILVER

Sheila Sczepanik         SILVER

Nicole Irwin                HM

Christina Verdone       HM

Painting Category

Bernadette Calvino     GOLD;  HM

Photography Category

Katie Earl                    GOLD; SILVER; HM (6)

Heather McNeil          GOLD

Elizabeth Raines         SILVER (4); HM (3)

Sabreena Damra          HM

Michelle Twist            HM

Photo Portfolio Category

Katie Earl                    GOLD

Sculpture Category

Matthew Braun           HM

Erin Dees                    HM

Alzbeta Homolkova    HM

17 Soloists Honored by Judges at 2010 Purdue Jazz Festival

Members of the Downers Grove North High School Jazz Bands took their show on the road this past weekend, participating in the 20th Annual Purdue University Jazz Festival. The Purdue festival, which draws outstanding high school jazz programs from Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, began on Friday, January 22 with a concert featuring the Dave Holland Quintet and continued all day Saturday, January 23 with hundreds of student musicians performing for panels of internationally recognized jazz musicians.

The DGN Jazz Ensemble performed in the Loeb Playhouse and earned a Division I rating.  Six students garnering Outstanding Soloist awards.  Congratulations to Caroline Hlohowskyj (trumpet/flugel horn),  Zach Schneeweis (trombone), Bryn Sitkiewicz (trombone), Nolan Schillerstrom (guitar), Michael Walser (alto sax), and Josh Williams (tenor sax).

The DGN Jazz Lab Band performed in the North Ballroom and earned a Division II rating.  Congratulations to Jim Blair (tenor sax), John Janke (guitar), Michael Garritano (trumpet), Sam O'Neil (trumpet), and James Tandaric (bass) for earning Outstanding Soloist awards from the adjudiators.

The DGN Jazz Combo performed in the Faculty Lounge, earning a Division II rating.  All six members of the combo were recognized by the judging panel as outstanding musicians and soloists.  Congratulations to Joseph DePeder (tenor sax), Michael Walser (alto sax), Bryn Sitkiewicz (trombone), Nicholas Goergen (drums), Rudy Rendeck (bass) and Nolan Schillerstrom (guitar).

"Our students enjoy the opportunity to attend this great Jazz Festival each year because we have the chance to hear so many wonderful jazz ensembles and soloists.  Having 17 students recognized with Outstanding Soloist awards is a credit to the hard work and dedication of our North High students. " said department chairperson and director Brayer Teague.

Come and hear the award winning DGN and DGS jazz groups on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 7:00 PM in the DGS auditorium as they share the stage with the renowned NIU Jazz Ensemble with guest artist John Fedchock. Tickets are available at the door.

Virtuoso Julian Bliss Visits DGN

World renown clarinet virtuoso, twenty-year old Julian Bliss (www.julianbliss.com) appeared this afternoon at DGN for a Master-Class sponsored by BandSource.  North High instrumentalists, along with many other students from around the Chicago area, turned out to hear Mr. Bliss play his new line of clarinets and hear him speak about his experiences with major orchestras all over the world.

All-State Musicians Set Sights on Peoria

North High School 'All-State Musicians' are heading to Peoria, IL to participate in the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Music Festival this week. Congratulations, and good luck!

All-State Band

Nick Goergen – Jazz Drums (Senior)

Marie Kirkegaard – Clarinet (Junior)

Jennifer Poad – Bass Clarinet (Senior)

Emma Sassano – Orchestral Percussion (Senior)

Isaac Stevenson – Orchestral Percussion (Junior)

Mike Walser – Alto Saxophone (Senior)

All-State Choir

Tom Cannan – Tenor (Senior)

Catie Krygeris – Alto (Senior)

Collin Ludlow – Bass (Junior)

Josh Smith – Tenor (Junior)

Caroline Sterr – Soprano (Junior)

All-State Orchestra

Colette Mondragon – Viola (Senior)

Rudy Rendek – Violin (Senior)

All-State Music Composition

Patrick Long – Commercial/Popular – 1^st Place & Keyboard Solo – 3^rd Place (Senior)

DGN Middle School Choral Festival

Over 230 high school and middle school students gathered together on Thursday afternoon for the 3rd Annual DGN Choral Festival. The 7 pm concert featured performances by choirs from Jefferson Junior High, Westview Hills Middle School, Herrick Middle School and North High School Ensembles.

Pep Band begins a new decade

Nearly 100 band members volunteered for the Pep Band's first
performance of the decade.

Jazz Cafe 2010 "Come Fly With Me"

Images of Jazz Cafe 2010