Happy Homecoming - 80s Style!

Homecoming Variety Show Salutes the 80s

North's Music Men Also Share a History

Mr. Miller and Dr. Piekarz - and their unlikely journey together - were recently featured in a Downers Grove Patch article:

http://downersgrove.patch.com/articles/norths-music-men-also-share-a-history

2010 Cross Town Classic

The 2010 Cross Town Classic coalesced with collaboration. The Marching Mustangs and Trojan Marching Band combined on several numbers; the DGS and DGN Choirs along with activity groups from both campuses combined to lead the crowd in the singing of our National Anthem; the Athenas and Fillies combined on an exciting half-time dance tune. Although the evening revolved around a football contest, the collaboration between and among the arts between DGN and DGS was abundantly evident on this glorious fall evening.

National Arts In Education Week - Trivia Contest

A recent graduate of the University of Illinois, actor John Michael Hill received his first Tony Award nomination this year for Best Supporting Actor on Broadway.  The play is set in a decrepit pastry shop in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago.  Can you name the title of the play?  If you know, please submit your answer to Mrs. DePeder in the Fine Arts Office today, September 14, 2010.  You may also email your response to Mrs. DePeder: pdepeder@csd99.org.  Correct responses will be eligible for our Grand Prize drawing at the end of the week.

Happy "National Arts In Education Week!"

NU Band Day 2010

Congratulations to the DGN Trojan Marching Band for a spirited and musical performance at Northwestern University today. Over 1,600 musicians performed three patriotic selections for "Heros Day" - an annual event at Northwestern designed to honor the brave men and women who serve our country, as well as the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Andrew Boysen visits D99

North High School welcomed Dr. Andrew Boysen, acclaimed composer and Director of Bands at The University of New Hampshire, as he worked with the members of the Wind Ensemble this afternoon. Dr. Boysen continued his day at South High School where he worked this evening with members of the Marching Mustangs. The DGS Marching Band is performing his music this year.

Alumnus Kristin King Appointed to US Air Force Band Position

Congratulations to former 'Trojan Marching Band' Drum Major, and DGN Alumnus Kristin King (Class of '02), who this week was appointed by competitive audition to the clarinet section of the prestigious United States Air Force Band of Washington D.C.  Kristin flew to Washington D.C. early in the week to compete against hundreds of professional clarinetists for the coveted position.


The United States Air Force Band is the Air Force's premier musical organization. It has endeared itself to millions of listeners for more than 60 years through its exhilarating music, engaging concerts and masterful recordings. Since its formation in 1941, The United States Air Force Band has brought superb music and exciting entertainment to music lovers around the globe, earning its reputation as "America's International Musical Ambassadors."


Kristin is a graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (2006), as well as the Northwestern University School of Music (2008).

Exchange Concert Video

25th Anniversary of Musikschule Exchange

Congratulations to the musicians of the Bietigheim-Bissingen Musikschule for their wonderful concert today in Downers Grove! Nearly 500 persons attended the afternoon concert of music at the historic Tivoli Theatre.

After the concert host families and guests from Germany enjoyed a terrific meal with one another and continued the tradition of a Futbol (Soccer) friendly match. As we have come to expect, the German students prevailed in the match. But the American students (assisted by Mr. Miller's coaching strategy to periodically sneak additional players onto the pitch until the official noticed there were 15 players on the field) put up a valiant effort. Still, even with the advantage of numbers, the Americans could not find the net and fell to Germany 0 - 2.

German Orchestra, Recorders & Guitars - Free Concert Sunday

Downers Grove and District 99 welcome student musicians from Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany for their concert this Sunday, August 29th, at 1:30 PM. The concert is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

Walls of Sound

Congratulations to the Trojan Marching Band for an impressive opening performance on Friday night. The musicianship, energy and spirit of the membership was evident throughout the evening.

(Photography by Colleen Hoppestad.)

Season Opener Friday Night!

The 2010 Trojan Marching Band spent Thursday night preparing for the season opener. North opens it's football season Friday night as the Trojans take on the Porters of Lockport High School.
The Trojan Marching Band will enter the stadium Friday night at approximately 7:10 pm., parade the track, and perform a Pre-Game show at 7:25 p.m. The half-time performance will begin at approximately 8:15 p.m.
(Photography by Colleen Hoppestad.)

Preview Show Tonight!

The Trojan Marching Band has been hard at work this week preparing for tonight's "Preview Show!" The band will perform in the stands of the football scrimmage tonight from approximately 5:15 - 5:45 pm. Following the stands performance, students will assemble on the practice field where parents, family and friends are invited to watch marching demonstrations and a preview of our "Pre Game Show" at 6:00 pm.

Coach Wander Welcomes the Marching Band

Coach John Wander addressed the 2010 Trojan Marching Band at last night's practice, stating "The relationship between our band and our team is special. You just don't find it anywhere else. They should do a 60-minutes special about it, because it's an incredible thing."

Text Message Alerts for Band Announced

DGN Band students (and parents) who carry a mobile phone and utilize text messaging services are encouraged to read the following post on our DGN Band's Blog, and to sign up for Band Text Message Alerts.

http://dgnbands.blogspot.com/2010/08/dgn-bands-text-alert-system-sign-up.html

Standard text messaging rates for the end-user will apply, but you do not need to sign up for any additional subscription service or account.

The Marching Band staff will begin piloting the use of Text Message Alerts this fall for announcements about the Trojan Marching Band.

Band Camp 2010

Band Camp 2010 opened today as DGN greeted over 50 new members of the "Trojan" Marching Band!

Percussion & Guard Mini-Camps

Members of the Percussion and Color Guard sections kicked-off Band Camp 2010 this weekend with mini-camps. Led by instructors Mark Botti (percussion) and Emily Rivera (Color Guard) students are on campus preparing for the upcoming marching band season.

Leadership Training Workshop

Led by Fine Arts teacher Bill Miller, 30 North High Band students are on campus this week exploring strategies for effective leadership.  Today's activities have included 'live blogging' by students as they set goals for the upcoming season and an activity where - working in small teams - students linked their views of leadership to "Heroes" from society and produced multi-media presentations to share with their peers.

"It's wonderful to be back on campus and working with these talented student leaders," said Bill Miller.  Drum major Elizabeth Meier (senior) added, "I'm very excited to gain new perspectives about student leadership. This should be a great week, and an amazing marching band season."

D99 Marching Band Wins CJ Shoemaker Award

On Tuesday, August 3, 2010 Bill Miller (DGN) and Glenn Williams (DGS) attended the Downers Grove City Council meeting to accept a special award on behalf of the students and staff members from both campuses.

Members of the District 99 Marching Band earned the CJ Shoemaker Award from Downers Grove Major Ron Sandack for their performance in the 2010 Downers Grove Independence Day Parade on July 4, 2010. Students from North and South combine annually for this community performance.


Congratulations to the student musicians from both campuses on this recognition for an outstanding performance!

Free German Music Concert - August 29th - Tivoli

Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 1:30 pm, District 99 Fine Arts Departments of North and South High Schools will host students from the music school in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany in a concert at the Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove. Among the three groups performing will be a Guitar Ensemble, a String Orchestra, and a Recorder Ensemble. Directed by Antje Krüger Spindler, the String Orchestra will perform the music of J.S. Bach, Carl Stamitz and Irving Berlin. The Recorder Ensemble is directed by Annette Bachmann and will perform several renaissance selections including music by Henry Purcell. The Guitar Ensemble is directed by Bernd Gehlen and will perform both classical and contemporary works including Mozart and several popular German composers.

These visiting German students, ages 13-20 are part of a community music school that has been participating in music and cultural exchanges with the music students of Downers Grove North and South High Schools since 1985. Students from District 99 have traveled to Germany on six separate occasions and have also visited Austria, Spain, France, Italy, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. The community of Bietigheim-Bissingen is located in the district of Ludwigsburg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, about 20 miles from Stuttgart. The concert which begins at 1:30 pm is free to the public thanks to the support of Classic Cinemas. The Tivoli Theatre is located at 5021 Highland Avenue in Downers Grove, IL 60515.