DGN Spring Art Show Award Recipients

Congratulations to all of the DGN Visual Artists with work exhibited in the 2022 Spring Art Show! 

Special congratulations are extended to the following students who received awards:

Realistic (reference-based) Drawing and Painting

1st Place: Sarah Paul - Pitted Pressure

2nd Place: Rebecca Orjala - Self-Reflection

3rd Place: Claire Meyers - Death’s Incessant Chokehold

Still Life Drawing & Painting

1st Place: Lydia Metcalf - In the Workshop

2nd Place: Mikki McCann - Skulls of the Savanna

3rd Place: Lake Ragnini - Ghost Skull

Imaginative Drawing & Painting

1st Place: Ali Hackett - what are you looking at

2nd Place: Lake Ragnini - The Solar System

3rd Place: Gavin McCool - Angst in the New World

Black & White Photography

1st Place: Stena Powell - Oma’s Spoons

2nd Place: Benedikt Strempfer - Passage of Time

3rd Place: Natasha Fugate - Unfolded

Color Photography

1st Place: Ohana Jeron - Let Them In

2nd Place: Jack Oakes - The Staredown

3rd Place: Ethan Bell - I Inquire

Functional Ceramics

1st Place: Jay Williams - Say Their Names

2nd Place: Christina Godar - Life in Bloom

3rd Place: Sarah LaSota - Youth

Sculptural Ceramics

1st Place: Haley Phillips - Never Enough

2nd Place: Jay Williams - Medusa's Triumph

3rd Place: Gavin Murray - Jelly Fish Field

Jewelry and Metalwork

1st Place: Aiden Robinson - Makers Mark

2nd Place: Amelia Passero - The Slain Heart

3rd Place: Henry Gwozdz - Calorie Deficit

Digital Art

1st Place: Lake Ragnini - Uranus

2nd Place: Benedikt Strempfer - Construction

3rd Place: Jack Oakes - Eclectic Anatomy 2

DGN Spring Art Show Awards Reception - Wednesday Night

DGN Fine Arts presents the annual Spring Art Show, with Awards Reception on Wednesday, April 27, at 6:00 PM in the Main Street Lobby of North High School.

DGN's Graduation Concert - Thursday Night

DGN Fine Arts presents the annual Graduation Concert on Thursday, April 28, at 7:00 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium of North High School. This concert will feature the A Cappella Choir and Wind Ensemble, with senior concerto soloists Gwen Casten (cornet) and Francesca Korbitz (flute).

Out-of-town family and friends may view the concert live-streamed HERE, or by visiting: www.youtube.com/DGNFineArts. 

Composers Biedenbender and Samuel Clinic DGN Band

David Biedenbender (Composer and Professor of Composition at Michigan State University), was on campus Friday to work with members of the DGN Wind Ensemble as they prepare to play his composition Melodious Thunk on the April 28 "Graduation Concert." 

Earlier in the week, students worked via video-conference with composer David Samuel (Director of Bands, Foley High School - AL). The Wind Ensemble will perform Samuel's recent work Haven's Conviction on the April 28 program.

It was exciting and eye-opening to work directly with these award-winning composers and to gain their direct insight regarding interpretation of their music.

Congratulations DGN Choirs! Choral Showcase 2022

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Choirs for a wonderful performance at the 2022 DGN Choral Showcase: British Invasion and Beyond, held Thursday, April 21, 2022 in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium of North High. 

I'm Still Standing (DGN Choral Showcase 2022)

British Invasion! DGN Choral Showcase Thursday Night!

The DGN Choirs will present the annual Choral Showcase on Thursday, April 21, at 7:00 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium of North High School. 

Out-of-town family and friends may view the concert, live-streamed, on the DGN Fine Arts YouTube Channel, HERE, or by visiting: www.youtube.com/DGNFineArts

Congratulations Jazz & Percussion Musicians!

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Jazz Ensemble, DGN Jazz Lab Band, DGN Percussion Ensemble, Herrick Middle School Jazz Band, and Jefferson Junior High School Friends of Jazz for a wonderful performance at the recent Jazz and Percussion Concert, held Tuesday, April 12, 2022 in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium of North High. 

Jazz & Percussion Concert Tuesday Night!

The DGN Jazz Ensemble, DGN Jazz Lab Band, DGN Percussion Ensemble will present the annual "Jazz & Percussion Concert," on Tuesday, April 12, at 7:00 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium of North High School. Special guests will include the Herrick Middle School Jazz Band and the Jefferson Junior High School Friends of Jazz.

Out-of-town family and friends may view the concert, live-streamed, on the DGN Fine Arts YouTube Channel, HERE, or by visiting: www.youtube.com/DGNFineArts

Audition for Shrek! 2023 Illinois All-State Musical

Each year the Illinois High School Theatre Festival produces an "All State Musical." The January 2023 production will be Shrek (Music by Jeanine Tesori; Book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire).

Students from across the state of Illinois may audition for roles as actors, technicians, and pit orchestra musicians.

Several current and recent DGN Fine Arts students have won roles in the All State Musical, representing each of the available areas:

• Cabaret (2022): Vera Barlin, crew; Harley Blanchard, actor; Mandy McGinn, pit orchestra; Melissa Parkinson, pit orchestra
• Aida (2020): Renee Boone, actor; Travon Moore, actor; Matthew Spencer, crew
• Big Fish (2018): Ellie Banke, actor; Jack Cannan, crew
• Sweeney Todd (2017): Miles Teague, pit orchestra

If you are interested in learning more about the production please visit THIS LINK for additional details. HERE is the official Audition Packet. This year's Audition Workshop will be very conveniently located at Downers Grove South HS, on May 1.

There are many talented musicians, actors and technicians at DGN, and your Fine Arts faculty stands ready and willing to advise and coach any interested student through the audition/application process. Financial support is available, from DGN, for students who are ultimately selected to the cast/crew/orchestra. Let us know if you would like to pursue this opportunity!

Winter Guard Showcase Closes Historic Season!

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Winter Guard for a historic and successful 2022 campaign. The team was promoted to a higher division mid-season, and finished "Top 3" at every competition they entered this year, including the Circuit Championships. 

Thank you to the family and friends who came out to support the team on Wednesday night at the season finale, the Winter Guard Showcase. A special shout-out to the family members who joined-in the fun with a special re-creation of this year's show (view HERE)! 

Click HERE for access to a folder of additional images from the Winter Guard Showcase, compliments of photographer Ms. Jill Stocki. 

DGN Tri-M Chapter - 2022 Induction Ceremony

Congratulations to the members of North High's Tri-M National Music Honor Society as they were inducted this evening at a ceremony held in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium.

The Tri-M Honor Society is a program of the National Association for Music Education which focuses on creating future leaders in music education and music advocacy. There are 1,800 chapters across all 50 states, involving more than 75,000 students.

A special thank-you is extended to faculty sponsor Ms. Amanda Zall for her leadership in leading the Downers Grove North High School chapter of Tri-M.

Inductees & Continuing Members

Ajoni Anand 

Audrey Anderson

Angelina Antonio

Madeline Antonio

Stella Bank

Elizabeth Bauer 

Lizzy Beavers

Grace Brenner

Anika Canamedi

Gwen Casten

Stephen Cecil

Henry Conkright

Libby DeCero

Chloe Edmondson

John Fioti

Pallavi Fisher

Natalie Folkening

Claire Foster

Abby France

Juliana Gomien

Penny Ham

Cameron Hejny

Isaac Hsu

Tabitha Irvin

Hannah Janka

Daina Jaskulis 

Alex Krejca

Sarah Lampsa

Gina Liu

Kyra McComb

Sophie Michaels

Katherine Mielke

Amelia Molina

Nicole Moravec

Sydney Moss

Mara Neil

Phoenix Nystrom

Melissa Parkinson

Bansri Patel

Holden Peckenpaugh 

Angela Perez

Ashley Poquette

Addie Potter

Norah Rajesh

Heather Ramsey

Josh  Ronquillo

Audrey Slavkin

Griffin Sullivan

Jade Toledano

Summer Vavra

Ethan Weingust

Tim Wise

DGN Winter Guard Takes Bronze Medal at Circuit Championships!

Congratulations to the DGN Winter Guard on an incredibly successful, award-winning season!  The team brought their polished show to the Midwest Color Guard Circuit Championships, and with a score of 78.37 finished as 3rd place medalists at finals!  

The tremendous success of this season is certainly one for the books!  From their class promotion early in the season, to their "Top 3" finishes throughout, this was a season that left their coaches glowing with pride to the very end.  We are exceptionally proud of the Winter Guard and all they have accomplished this year.

An extra congratulations are in order for Akshi Mistry and Lake Ragnini who were awarded scholarships at this weekend's circuit championships!  Akshi Mistry was awarded with the Larry Bakko Memorial Scholarship, and Lake Ragnini was awarded the Dot Dahnke Scholarship.  

If you have yet to see the Winter Guard's show, you have one last chance!  Come check out the team's final performance of this season's show, "Can't Burst My Bubble" at the DGN Winter Guard Showcase this Wednesday, April 6th at 7:30pm in the Purple Gym.  Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend.  The showcase comes complete with a special performance by the team's parents/guardians and a chance at the end of the showcase to try your hand at spinning a flag, for those who are interested!