Spring Band Concert - March 18

Congratulations to the members of the Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble for their wonderful performance at the March 18th Spring Band Concert.  All three groups achieved sonic success while performing a program of challenging literature.

Special kudos are extended to Caroline Hlohowskyj (trumpet) and Emma Sassano (marimba) for their solo performances, and to Mr. Bob Graham of our Social Studies Department for narrating "Liberty for All."

Orchestra Concert

This past week the District 99 Orchestra performed a terrific concert featuring several student soloists and Dvorak's New World Symphony.  Kudos to Ms. Mullen and all of the orchestra students from North and South on a performance that everyone can be very proud of. 

A video clip of the Dvorak may be viewed here:

DGS Fine Arts Blog

Jaws Pool Party

Members of the DGN Band, Choir and Orchestra gathered on Saturday evening for the Music Team's semi-annual "Jaws Night Pool Party."  If you've never done it before, watching the movie Jaws - while floating in a dimly lit pool - adds a new dimension to the experience!

The Fine Arts Department thanks the Athletic Department, and specifically Ms. Busse, for the use of the pool and their support in arranging the event.  A special thanks is also extended to the CMG staff for their extra weekend help.

Congrats to Andrew Zahn - DGN Pi Day Record

Congrats to band member Andrew Zahn on shattering his own school "Pi Day" record (1,123 digits), and reciting 2,010 digits from memory!

Friday, in band class, the members of Wind Ensemble chanted ...

"3 - point - 1 - 4 - 1 - 5 - 9 ... Andrew Zahn is Ultra Fine!"

DGN Bands to be highlighted on WGN Radio

As a part of WGN-Radio's "Hometown Voices Tour," six members of the DGN Band will be featured on Friday morning, March 12.  WGN morning host Greg Jarrett, and the Morning Show team, will be broadcasting live from Ballydoyle's in downtown Downers Grove from 5 a.m. - 9 a.m.

WGN-Radio contacted the DGN Bands to participate in part because of the band's recent invitation to march in the 2011 London New Year's Day Parade.

While the timing of the show is subject to change, the band is currently slated to be featured between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m.

WGN Radio may be found at 720 AM on your radio.  You may listen to "live streaming" through the station's website:

http://www.wgnradio.com/about/listen/

Downers Grove North Musicians Find Solo Success!

Downers Grove North High School student musicians participated in the Illinois High School Association State Solo and Ensemble Contest on March 6, 2010.

Forty-two events from Downers Grove North High School received a Division I rating of SUPERIOR.  A Division I score is categorized as “A Superior Performance – outstanding in nearly every detail.”  In addition, forty-eight events from Downers Grove North High School received 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.”

One North High event received a “Best of Day” Award.  Clarinet soloist Marie Kirkegaard was recognized by judges to be the most outstanding performer of the day in her performance venue. 

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

Solos

• Samantha Barry - Female Voice
• Cameron Box - Violin
• Shauna Bracken -  Trumpet
• Brandon Broholm -  Tuba
• Erick Burkiewicz - Multiple Percussion
• Tristan Burnham - Violin
• Devin Collett - Female Voice
• Carrah Demos - Female Voice
• Lauren DePaz - Violin
• Erin Elgass -  E-Flat Alto Sax.
• Joe Garcia - Euphonium
• Eileen Grogan - Female Voice
• Kevin Gupana -  Oboe
• Caroline Hlohowskyj – Trumpet
• Michelle Hsu - Marimba
• Kaitlin Jeffries - Female Voice
• Alison Johnson - Female Voice
• Julie Katrenak -  French Horn
• Kirsten Keller - Flute
• Marie Kirkegaard - B-Flat Clarinet
• Jaclyn Kothanek - Female Voice
• Katie Krainc - Violin
• Catie Krygeris - Female Voice
• Jenny Luby - Female Voice
• Meghan Lyda - Cello
• Jon Parthun - Marimba
• Madeline Poortinga - Violin
• Arturo Rey - Male Voice
• Kirsten Rush - Female Voice
• Emma Sassano - Marimba
• Josh Smith - Male Voice
• Julia Stasevicius - Female Voice
• Caroline Sterr - Female Voice
• Isaac Stevenson - Multiple Percussion
• James Tandaric - Violin
• Emily Temple-Wood – Marimba
• Mike Walser -  E-Flat Alto Sax.
• Hannah Young – Harp

Ensembles

• Saxophone Ensemble: Joe DePeder, Mike Walser, Josh Williams, Andrew Zahn
• Mixed Brass Ensemble: Brandon Broholm, Caroline Hlohowskyj, Perry Martin, Peter Ralph, Bryn Sitkiewicz
• String Ensemble: Lauren Kovanko, Katie Krainc, Madeline Poortinga, Erin Portman
• Treble Ensemble: Devin Collett, Kirsten Rush

District 99 Vocal Honors Recital

Congratulations to all of the vocalists from DGN and DGS who performed beautifully on this evening's District 99 Vocal Honors Recital.

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.