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.

Artistic Success - Scholastic Art Awards

Student artists from Downers Grove North High School received regional visual art recognition through The 2010 Scholastic Art Awards.  In all, North High visual artists garnered 74 awards in the juried exhibition.

Now in its 87^th year, the Scholastic Art Awards is a national competition devoted to recognizing outstanding art and writing created by middle school and high school students.

The competition begins with regional adjudications across the country. Our 2009 regional show, sponsored by District 99, received 1251 entries from 18 local high schools, as well as entries from 2 middle schools competing in a separate age category.

The competition begins with regional adjudications across the country. Our 2010 regional show, sponsored by District 99, received 1449 individual entries from 20 local high schools, as well as two middle schools competing in a separate age category.

15 independent judges, consisting of local art educators and art professionals, assigned three levels of recognition to students: Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention Awards.

A showing of over 500 award winning works will be on display at Downers Grove North High School. The Opening Reception will be held Sunday, February 7^th from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. in the Main Street and Auditorium Lobbies. The show will be on display through February 12^th. At the close of the show, all individual Gold Key and Gold Key Portfolio winners will have their work forwarded to New York City for the national adjudication, in which thousands of works from across the United States will be vying for a select number of awards.

Downers Grove North High School was honored with another outstanding performance at this year’s regional show.

• 36 Honorable Mention commendations.
• 20 Silver Key honors
• 14 individual Gold Key awards
• 4 Portfolio Gold Key awards

The following North High students received awards:

Art Portfolio Category

Sabreena Damra          GOLD

Nicole Irwin                GOLD

Padraic O’Connor       GOLD

Ceramics Category

Kristiana Bonomo       GOLD

Rob Lott                     GOLD

Ansley McLeod          GOLD

Crystal Yi                    GOLD

Alexander Wirtas        SILVER

Stephen Banda            SILVER

Gina Gammonley        SILVER

William Hennessy       SILVER

Maureen Eckdahl        SILVER

Jewel Davis                 HM

Emily Dylla                 HM

Andrew Kelliher         HM

Nicole Papp                 HM

Eric Smith                   HM

Rachel Swirsky           HM

Digital Art Category

Padraic O’Connor       GOLD; SILVER (2); HM

Sabreena Damra          HM

Drawing Category

Bernadette Calvino     GOLD (2)

Dan Meinhart              GOLD; HM

Samantha Fry              SILVER

Mahrya Jefferson        SILVER

Hannah Ottley                        SILVER

Elizabeth Havenga      HM (2)

David Martini            HM

Rachel Swirsky           HM

Design Category

Ellen McCammon       GOLD

Nicole Irwin                SILVER

Kevin Pechnick           SILVER

Jordan Craft                HM

Emily Dang                 HM

Colleen Ryan              HM

Jewelry Category

Nicole Irwin                GOLD (2); SILVER

Emily Duka                 HM

Marie Homolkova       HM

Kristina Via-Reque     HM

Mixed Media Category

Jackie Maish                SILVER

Sheila Sczepanik         SILVER

Nicole Irwin                HM

Christina Verdone       HM

Painting Category

Bernadette Calvino     GOLD;  HM

Photography Category

Katie Earl                    GOLD; SILVER; HM (6)

Heather McNeil          GOLD

Elizabeth Raines         SILVER (4); HM (3)

Sabreena Damra          HM

Michelle Twist            HM

Photo Portfolio Category

Katie Earl                    GOLD

Sculpture Category

Matthew Braun           HM

Erin Dees                    HM

Alzbeta Homolkova    HM

17 Soloists Honored by Judges at 2010 Purdue Jazz Festival

Members of the Downers Grove North High School Jazz Bands took their show on the road this past weekend, participating in the 20th Annual Purdue University Jazz Festival. The Purdue festival, which draws outstanding high school jazz programs from Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, began on Friday, January 22 with a concert featuring the Dave Holland Quintet and continued all day Saturday, January 23 with hundreds of student musicians performing for panels of internationally recognized jazz musicians.

The DGN Jazz Ensemble performed in the Loeb Playhouse and earned a Division I rating.  Six students garnering Outstanding Soloist awards.  Congratulations to Caroline Hlohowskyj (trumpet/flugel horn),  Zach Schneeweis (trombone), Bryn Sitkiewicz (trombone), Nolan Schillerstrom (guitar), Michael Walser (alto sax), and Josh Williams (tenor sax).

The DGN Jazz Lab Band performed in the North Ballroom and earned a Division II rating.  Congratulations to Jim Blair (tenor sax), John Janke (guitar), Michael Garritano (trumpet), Sam O'Neil (trumpet), and James Tandaric (bass) for earning Outstanding Soloist awards from the adjudiators.

The DGN Jazz Combo performed in the Faculty Lounge, earning a Division II rating.  All six members of the combo were recognized by the judging panel as outstanding musicians and soloists.  Congratulations to Joseph DePeder (tenor sax), Michael Walser (alto sax), Bryn Sitkiewicz (trombone), Nicholas Goergen (drums), Rudy Rendeck (bass) and Nolan Schillerstrom (guitar).

"Our students enjoy the opportunity to attend this great Jazz Festival each year because we have the chance to hear so many wonderful jazz ensembles and soloists.  Having 17 students recognized with Outstanding Soloist awards is a credit to the hard work and dedication of our North High students. " said department chairperson and director Brayer Teague.

Come and hear the award winning DGN and DGS jazz groups on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 7:00 PM in the DGS auditorium as they share the stage with the renowned NIU Jazz Ensemble with guest artist John Fedchock. Tickets are available at the door.

Virtuoso Julian Bliss Visits DGN

World renown clarinet virtuoso, twenty-year old Julian Bliss (www.julianbliss.com) appeared this afternoon at DGN for a Master-Class sponsored by BandSource.  North High instrumentalists, along with many other students from around the Chicago area, turned out to hear Mr. Bliss play his new line of clarinets and hear him speak about his experiences with major orchestras all over the world.

All-State Musicians Set Sights on Peoria

North High School 'All-State Musicians' are heading to Peoria, IL to participate in the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Music Festival this week. Congratulations, and good luck!

All-State Band

Nick Goergen – Jazz Drums (Senior)

Marie Kirkegaard – Clarinet (Junior)

Jennifer Poad – Bass Clarinet (Senior)

Emma Sassano – Orchestral Percussion (Senior)

Isaac Stevenson – Orchestral Percussion (Junior)

Mike Walser – Alto Saxophone (Senior)

All-State Choir

Tom Cannan – Tenor (Senior)

Catie Krygeris – Alto (Senior)

Collin Ludlow – Bass (Junior)

Josh Smith – Tenor (Junior)

Caroline Sterr – Soprano (Junior)

All-State Orchestra

Colette Mondragon – Viola (Senior)

Rudy Rendek – Violin (Senior)

All-State Music Composition

Patrick Long – Commercial/Popular – 1^st Place & Keyboard Solo – 3^rd Place (Senior)

DGN Middle School Choral Festival

Over 230 high school and middle school students gathered together on Thursday afternoon for the 3rd Annual DGN Choral Festival. The 7 pm concert featured performances by choirs from Jefferson Junior High, Westview Hills Middle School, Herrick Middle School and North High School Ensembles.

Pep Band begins a new decade

Nearly 100 band members volunteered for the Pep Band's first
performance of the decade.

Jazz Cafe 2010 "Come Fly With Me"

Images of Jazz Cafe 2010

Santa Wants A Tuba For Christmas (Video)

Holiday Wishes from DGN Fine Arts Faculty

Chamber Choir @ Hillcrest Elementary

Members of the North High Chamber Choir performed today at Hillcrest
Elementary School.

Images from the 2009 Holiday Mosaic Art Show

Congratulations to the Visual Art students who were honored and recognized this evening at the 2009 Holiday Mosaic Art Show Reception. The stunning artwork produced by DGN students will be on display in the Main St. Lobby through the end of this week.

Images from the 2009 Holiday Mosaic Concert

 Congratulations to all of the student musicians who performed in the 2009 Holiday Mosaic Concert!

DGN Alumnus Garners First Grammy Nomination

DGN Alumnus, and member of the DGN Choirs, Matthew West, received a GRAMMY nomination for "Best Gospel Song" of 2009.


“This is the icing on the cake to what has been an incredible year thanks to the song ‘The Motions.’ It’s been overwhelming how people have responded to the song and its message, and I am grateful for having been able to connect with listeners on that level. This is my first GRAMMY nomination, and for an artist/songwriter, there is no greater recognition,” said West.


Click here for the full story.


Congratulations Matthew!

Caroling, Caroling ...

The DGN Select Vocal Ensembles are out and about in the community this weekend, caroling for a variety of organizations and audiences.  This morning the Concert Singers brought holiday cheer to dozens of children and their parents at the Good Samaritan Hospital "Breakfast With Santa."

Mosaic Concert Preparations

Preparations are in full-gear for the 2009 Mosaic Concert, which will be held on Tuesday, December 8th.  This annual celebration of the holiday season will be offered twice: first at 5:30 PM, and finally at 8:00 PM.  The concert (and visual art show) are free events and open to the general public.  There are unconfirmed reports there will be a guest-appearance by a rather jolly man dressed in red.  You won't want to miss it!

Developing a Commission

Composer Don Owens was back on campus yesterday, working with three percussion soloists who will be featured in May of 2010 on a work commissioned by North High School.  The world-premiere of Triple Set for Wind Ensemble and Percussion Soloists is slated for May 20th at the annual 'Graduation Concert.'

Fourteen DGN Musicians Tapped for All-State Honors

Fourteen student musicians from Downers Grove North High School were selected by competitive audition to the 2009-2010 Illinois Music Educator’s Association All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra, Jazz Band and Secondary General Music Composition Contest. Performance auditions were held last October at Hinsdale Central High School; musical compositions were evaluated by professional musicians and composers from across the Midwest.

“We are really thrilled for these students and their families,” said Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chair at North High.  “Many people helped these students achieve this success, beginning with their very first elementary school music teachers and extending to their private-lessons teachers today.  North High is very proud to have these incredible musicians representing District 99 at the All-State level.”

In total, 28 student musicians from District 99 were selected for this prestigious performance honor.

The All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Band will convene for a series of rehearsals in Peoria, IL, January 27-30, 2010.  Their concerts will be held at the Peoria Civic Center on the evening of January 29, and the afternoon of January 30, 2010.

All-State Band

Nick Goergen – Jazz Drums (Senior)

Marie Kirkegaard – Clarinet (Junior)

Jennifer Poad – Bass Clarinet (Senior)

Emma Sassano – Orchestral Percussion (Senior)

Isaac Stevenson – Orchestral Percussion (Junior)

Mike Walser – Alto Saxophone (Senior)

All-State Choir

Tom Cannan – Tenor (Senior)

Catie Krygeris – Alto (Senior)

Collin Ludlow – Bass (Junior)

Josh Smith – Tenor (Junior)

Caroline Sterr – Soprano (Junior)

All-State Orchestra

Colette Mondragon – Viola (Senior)

Rudy Rendek – Violin (Senior)

All-State Music Composition

Patrick Long – Commercial/Popular – 1^st Place & Keyboard Solo – 3^rd Place (Senior)