"How To Succeed ..." Production Week

Dozens of DGN students are busy putting the finishing touches on this year's School Musical - How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying - which opens Friday, March 13.

Downers Grove North Musicians Find Solo & Ensemble Success at State Contest!

Downers Grove North High School student musicians participated in the Illinois High School Association State Solo and Ensemble Contest on March 7, 2015.

59 students from Downers Grove North High School earned 72 Division I ratings of SUPERIOR.  A Division I score is categorized as “A Superior Performance – outstanding in nearly every detail.”  In addition, 20 students from Downers Grove North High School earned 21 Division II ratings 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.”

Seven North High student musicians received perfect scores at the State Contest.

Lauren Birkmeier, Daniel Brethauer, Jen Casey, Tim Edwards, Todd Griffin, Hannah Kutchek, and Kadance Taba earned perfect marks from the judges. 

Five North High events (encompassing seven musicians) received a “Best of Day Award” for garnering the highest achievement score in their event room.  Vocal soloist Keara Corbett, Clarinet soloist Kevin Atwater, Cello Soloist Tim Edwards, Euphonium soloist Jen Casey, and a String Quartet of Seth Collins, Bryan Monk, Matt Monk, and Abby Pfeiffer were all recognized by judges to be the most outstanding performers of the day in their performance venues. 

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

Kevin Atwater – Clarinet – BEST OF DAY

Belle Banke – Percussion Ensemble

Jack Barkei – String Ensemble (2)

Lauren Birkmeier – Euphonium – Perfect score

Alyse Bondarowicz – Flute (1) & Saxophone Ensemble (1)

Daniel Brethauer – Trombone – Perfect score

Allie Casey – Flute

Jen Casey – Euphonium – Perfect score / BEST OF DAY

Elise Cismesia – Female Voice

Seth Collins – String Ensemble – BEST OF DAY

Patrick Connery – Tuba Ensemble

Keara Corbett – Female Voice – BEST OF DAY

Ben Cortez – Trumpet

Evan Culligan – Alto Saxophone (1) & Saxophone Ensemble (1)

Maria D’Ambrose – Oboe

Katie Donnelly – Alto Saxophone

Tim Edwards – Cello – Perfect score / BEST OF DAY (1) & String Ensemble (1)

Alison Elgass – Bass Clarinet

Jamie Gamonez – Female Voice

Robert Gartlan – Male Voice

Ben Goedert – Male Voice

Kevin Griffin - Trombone 
Todd Griffin – Tuba – Perfect score (1) & Tuba Ensemble (1)

Emily Heppner – Violin

Elizabeth Heyler – Flute

Megan Hung – Clarinet

Tatiana Jordan – Violin (1) & String Ensemble (2)

Allison Kirkegaard – Female Voice (1) & Treble Ensemble (1)

Ryan Knezevich – Trombone

Eirene Kowal – Marimba

Cecilia Kowara – Female Voice

Hannah Kutchek – Flute – Perfect score

Jack Langan – Male Voice

Julija Lemenaite – Violin

Marissa Leo – Treble Ensemble

Monica Lim – String Ensemble (2)

Emily Little – Trombone

Kaylee McCarthy – Trombone

Matt McCoy – Saxophone Ensemble

Anthony McMahon – Saxophone Ensemble

Adam Mills – Trombone

Bryan Monk – Violin (1) & String Ensemble (1) – BEST OF DAY

Matt Monk – Cello (1) & String Ensemble (2) – BEST OF DAY

Liam Morgan – Cello

Lauren O’Neil – Violin

Nick Pantazopoulos – String Ensemble

Jeremy Pike – French Horn

Abby Pfeiffer – String Ensemble – BEST OF DAY

Kaleb Pfotenhauer – String Ensemble

Brendan Quealy – Male Voice

Nate Rapach – Trumpet

Caleb Schmurr – Trombone

Allie Sheetz – Flute

Amelia Smerz – Cello

Kadance Taba – Tuba (1) – Perfect score & Tuba Ensemble (1)

Jennifer Vetrone – Trumpet

Emily Wilson – Percussion Ensemble

Bre Yano – Flute

Fred Zimmerman – Male Voice

The following North High Music Events received a “Division II—Excellent” rating:

David Atwater - Horn Ensemble

Jack Barkei – Viola

Cassandra Broholm – Horn Ensemble

Arianna Calleja – Trumpet

Fiona Cismesia – Violin

Becky Donnelly – Flute

Georgia Gregory – Horn Ensemble

Gavin Harker – Trumpet

Beth Jensen – String Ensemble

Tatiana Jordan – Female Voice

Fiona Kelly – Violin

Gina Kowalewicz – Flute

Marissa Leo – Female Voice

Madi Lynch – Violin (1) & String Ensemble (1)

Elizabeth McNamara – Female Voice

Maggie Nevrly – Viola

Nick Pantazopoulos – Violin

Kaleb Pfotenhauer – Violin

Chandana Sooranahalli – String Ensemble

Samantha Young – Cello

2015 North High Vocal Festival Results

2015 North High Vocal Festival Results

Thank you and congratulations to all for an outstanding day of learning.  Each of our clinicians complimented your work, both in terms of preparation and artistic impact.  You have so much to be proud of!

 The following events were given Honorable Mention recognition by our clinicians:

Elena Cervantes

Keara Corbett

Farley/Fotos/Link Trio

Jaimie Gamonez

Megan Geraghty & Keara Corbett

Michael Hellman

Elizabeth Heyler

Isabelle LaBianco

Jack Langan

Lindsey LeBeda

Megan MacArtney

Brendan Quealy

Lucas Sheppard

Sharon Stagaman

Madi Wahlgren

Freddy Zimmerman

As you already know, the following events were selected to perform at Thursday afternoon’s runoff, an honors recital in its own right:

Tim Berberich

Elise Cismesia

Rachel Davis

Esther Farley

Kevin Flavin

Gamonez Quartet

Robbie Gartlan

Megan Geraghty

Abby Huskisson

Shannon Kennedy

Allison Kirkegaard

Cecilia Kowara

Alison LeBeda

Grace Reberg

Claire Schneider

Annie Vitti

Finally, the clinicians selected the following events to perform at the 2015 District 99 Vocal Honors Recital, to be held on Monday evening (March 23^rd) at 7:00 PM at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.  Congratulations to the following performers:

Elise Cismesia

Rachel Davis

Robbie Gartlan

Abby Huskisson

Cecilia Kowara

Alison LeBeda

Grace Reberg

Claire Schneider

Monday in Manhattan - DGN Band Tour Day 4 (Carnegie Hall)

Sometimes words are simply insufficient and inadequate.  Monday at Carnegie Hall was such a day. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday in Manhattan - DGN Band Tour Day 3

Day 3 of the DGN Band Tour began with a tour of Central Park, including the Strawberry Fields and the "Imagine" mosaic that is a tribute to the late John Lennon.  

Students continued their tour of Manhattan by coach bus with local guides, ending at the Circle Line pier.  From here students boarded a ship and headed down the Hudson River for spectacular views of the skyline and the Statue of Liberty.

Our afternoon was spent at the theatre, as students attended one of two musicals: Aladdin and Matilda.  

Evening included group photos in Times Square and a magnificent meal at the Marriott Marquee - Times Square.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday in Manhattan - DGN Band Tour Day 2

Day 2 of the DGN Band Tour began at the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum.  It was a powerful and poignant reminder of this national tragedy, yet presented in a beautiful and way that honors all who lost their life.

We transitioned to the Rockefeller Center area in the afternoon.  Students took tours of Radio City Music Hall and enjoyed views at the "Top of the Rock."  In between these tours students had time to explore the area in small groups, and many visited St. Patrick's Cathedral.  Some of our touring parents visited the M&M store and purchased #NYNouveau candy!

Dinner was a fabulous Italian affair at "Naples 45," followed by a breathtaking performance by the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center.