Congratulations and Thank You Maggie Rossini!

The DGN Fine Arts Department extends thanks and congratulations to Mrs. Maggie Rossini who retires today after 28 years of service to District 99.

Mrs. Rossini, you will be missed beyond measure!

A New Year - A New Identity: Welcome from DGN Fine Arts!

First Day of School!

It's the "first day of school" and the faculty and staff of the DGN Fine Arts Department is excited to begin working with the students of North High today.

Parents/Guardians, please do not hesitate to contact our office if there is anything we can do to support your child's artistic journey with us this year.

We encourage you to connect with our Department and interact with our student art and music via the multiple online portals that we maintain. We endeavor to use Social Media, and the Web in general, as a 21st Century space for exhibiting the artistic successes of our musicians and visual artists.  We hope you will connect with these resources often, and celebrate the arts with us!

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/dgnfinearts

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/northfinearts

Instagram:  https://instagram.com/dgnfinearts/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DGNFineArts

Blog:  http://northfinearts.blogspot.com/

Updated Visual Identity

2015-16 brings a new visual identity for the Fine Arts at DGN that represents unified music and visual art disciplines at North High School, as well as our DGN Fine Arts Boosters parents' organization. Our new mark (see above) builds upon the District 99 crest, a symbol common to both Downers Grove high schools, forming a field of solid DGN Purple and expressing community values. Within the field, a single point of light represents the intuitive spark of an idea, generating the desire to create.  The idea may manifest into many artistic directions and travel as far as passion will drive it. Vectors emanate from the point, evoking a spotlight on students' accomplishments. They extend beyond the confines of the field to suggest a lifelong journey in the arts.

On behalf of the entire Fine Arts team at DGN, as well as the Fine Arts Boosters Board of Directors, I would like to sincerely thank Mr. Patrick Palmer (Partner, Strategy & Analytics Lead), and Mr. Scott Theisen (Creative Director), of VSA PARTNERS, INC (Chicago) for their many contributions to the development and roll-out of our new visual identity. Both men are North High parents, and wonderful volunteers for our organization.  We are indebted to them for their creativity and volunteer spirit.

Welcome to the 2015-16 academic year at Downers Grove North High School!

Brayer Teague

Fine Arts Department Chairperson

Band Camp Showcase & Ice Cream Social

Congratulations to the members of the 2015 Trojan Marching Band on their outstanding performance at tonight's Band Camp Showcase!

Marching Band Preview Show Tonight!

Band Camp 2015 is in the books, and all that's left this week is our 2015 Band Camp Showcase performance.  Come on out and join us tonight on the West Practice Field. Show starts at 5:30 PM. Bring a lawn chair and get ready to enjoy the sound and pageantry of the 2015 Trojan Marching Band.  We'd love to have you with us!

(Student call time = 5 PM for warm-ups in the Band Room.)

Spirit Nights @ Band Camp

From Superheroes & Villains ... to That 70s Show ... DGN Marching Band members know how to fill evening camp rehearsals with tremendous spirit!

Back on Campus and Ready to Rock!

The Trojan Marching Band is off and running at Band Camp 2015. 

Congratulations to our "Newcomers" and our "Formers" for a great first day!

Percussion and Color Guard Mini Camps Underway!

Members of the Trojan Marching Band Percussion and Color Guard sections are on campus today, Wednesday, and Thursday participating in mini camp rehearsals. All tolled, these dedicated students will rehearse a full 24 hours in advance of Band Camp 2015. Thank you to each of the students in these sections - as well as their Student Leaders - for their dedication to excellence!

Leading the Way #99Learns

The 2015 DGN Band Student Leadership Team spent the day honing their communication and leadership skills at the Lincoln Marsh Nature Preserve Ropes Course and on campus. Thanks to these dedicated students for their energy and dedication to excellence!

2015 Marching Band Photo Set for September 11

Trojan Marching Band members are asked to "save the date" for this year's group photograph.

Friday, September 11

1:45 - 2:30 PM

Field House

* This is an "early dismissal" day. Students will be dismissed from school at 1:30 PM. Band members will then change for the photograph, and stage in the Field House.

Ordering information will be provided to students and parents later this month.

Congrats Kendall Gretsch! #99Learns

Congratulations to DGN Band Alumnus Kendall Gretsch on her ESPY Nomination. We are very proud of you Kendall!

Read more about the story:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-dgr-espy-female-athlete-disability-tl-0709-20150714-story.html

Happy Independence Day! #99Learns @Dist_99

Congratulations and thank you to the members of the Trojan Marching Band and Marching Mustangs who once again combined forces to form the District 99 Marching Band for this year's 4th of July Parade in Downers Grove. The band entertained a large crowd for the length of the parade with high energy music, marching and guard work. Another huge thank you to the booster parents at both North and South who supported the band with water, uniform distribution, and equipment moving. We hope all our District 99 music families enjoy the Independence Day holiday and the rest of their summer vacations!

DGN Alumnus Kristin Bowers - NYC Macy's Fireworks Soundtrack

DGN Band Alumnus and Unites States Air Force Band Principal Clarinetist, Kristin Bowers, performs tonight in New York City as the USAFB will provide the soundtrack for the largest fireworks display in our nation. 

This 6 minute video is an inspiring look behind the scenes to see how the music - and the pyrotechnics - are a collaborative and creative venture as this production is planned to celebrate our nation's Independence Day. 

Enjoy viewing, and Happy Fourth of July! 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/USAFBand/videos/10152926953596121/

YouTube:

http://youtu.be/B8mvdTJKcZM

Be Inspired: World Class Music Ensembles in D99 Sunday! #99Learns @DGNBands @DGSBands

Two of the world's most famous and prestigious music ensembles, The Cavalier's Drum and Bugle Corps, and The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, will be in residence on the North and South campuses of District 99 this Sunday, June 21.  Both ensembles will be in town preparing for the "Cavalcade of Brass" drum and bugle corps show to be held at Benedictine University in Lisle, IL this coming Sunday night.  Tickets for the show may be purchased here.

The Cadets will be rehearsing on the Sough High campus Sunday late morning, and afternoon.  The Cavaliers will be rehearsing on the North High campus during this same time period.  Precise rehearsal schedules have not yet been announced, but drum and bugle corps typically focus on small group practice in the mornings (drum line, brass line, color guard), and then combine for full ensemble work in the afternoon following a lunch break.

The rehearsals of both corps are open to students from our District 99 band programs, as well as community members at large, to observe.  There is a lot to learn from watching these precision music ensembles focus on collective group goals in their quest for artistic excellence.  We strongly encourage all D99 music lovers to make time on Sunday to visit both campuses and be inspired through observation and listening.

DGN Marching Band Preps for Independence Day Parade #99Learns

Members of the DGN Marching Band were hard at work Wednesday evening preparing for the Downes Grove Independence Day Parade.

DGN Band Members: July 4th Parade Practice Wednesday Night!

This Wednesday night (June 17) is the first of only two practices to get ready for the Downers Grove Fourth of July Parade.  DGN Band members will work together from 6:30 - 8:30 PM.  Please meet in the band room by 6:25 PM, ready for instructions.

Students may enter the band room through Main Street, or through the back door in the south-east corner of the football stadium (door 22).

Please make sure you wear closed-toe tennis/gym shoes (no sandals or flip flops!).  A water bottle is recommended.

If you have not yet printed out your music for the parade, you have two choices:  1) ask for a copy at Wednesday night's practice, or 2) print one out yourself to look over this week before coming!

Sheet music, and a practice audio file may be found here:

http://tinyurl.com/D99MarchingBandJuly4

A flyer with all the performance details, may be found by clicking here, or viewing the embedded document below ...

Band Leaders Prep for 2015-16 #99Learns

Summer Vacation? Nah. Not quite yet. We're already getting ready for 2015-16!

Thanks are extended to our Band Student Leadership Team, as well as Dr. Thomas Bough of Northern Illinois University, for a great workshop today!

@DGNFineArts @D99Orchestra Musicians Rocking Out with Ben Folds! #99Learns

Great videos surfacing on YouTube of our three outstanding @DGNFineArts @D99Orchestra cellists (from L-R) Tim Edwards, Amelia Smerz and Liam Morgan rocking out with Ben Folds at the Chicago Theatre!

@D99Orchestra @DGNFineArts musicians perform with Ben Folds @ChicagoTheatre with @ChiYSO #99Learns

Congratulations to DGN students Tim Edwards, Liam Morgan, and Amelia Smerz, who performed on Saturday night - as a part of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra - in a marquee concert at the Chicago Theatre with legendary music artist Ben Folds.  Amelia, Liam, and Tim - each accomplished cellists and classically trained musicians - made up nearly 40% of the cello section for this program.  

Kudos to our @D99Orchestra and @DGNFineArts students for their incredible professionalism and artistry!