Follow the D99 Orchestra on Tour!

The D99 Orchestra's 2014 European Tour has officially begun, and we invite you to follow the orchestra as they perform in Croatia, Austria, and Germany.  Student and staff bloggers will be reporting and sharing pictures along the way.

Tour Blog:

http://d99orchestratour2014.blogspot.com/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/D99Orchestra

or @D99Orchestra

And they're off!

The District 99 Orchestra departed this morning for their two-week European Tour!  

Thank you to Ms. Jennifer Mullen for her efforts to coordinate this chapter of our ongoing International Exchange with the city of Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany.  

64 students/staff, and 1 lost library book from the Ludwigsburg Library, are now en route to O'Hare for departure!

 

 

 

 

 

 

D99 Orchestra Prepares for European Tour

Members of the District 99 European Tour Orchestra are in a week of intensive rehearsals preparing for their departure next week.  

 

 

D99 Musicians in the CYSO

Five District 99 Fine Arts students (including two recent graduates) were featured this evening in an exceptional concert at Millennium Park in Chicago.  Ben Casey, Tim Edwards, Andrew Molina, Liam Morgan, and Amelia Smerz are all members of the prestigious Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, and performed tonight with Blue Man Group in a concert that featured works for the orchestra's upcoming tour to China.

Congratulations to these dedicated student musicians as they share their talents with one of the nation's premiere youth orchestras.

DGN Fine Arts Congratulates the Class of 2014!

The DGN Fine Arts Department extends a heartfelt congratulations and bids a fond farewell to the North High School Class of 2014.  Specifically, we acknowledge the artists in sight and in sound who set high standards throughout their academic journey and leave behind a legacy of high achievement and artistic excellence.  We wish you each great success in your future endeavors, and encourage you to return to your Alma Mater and visit frequently!  

If you are unable to celebrate locally with the graduating class, you may view the ceremony on the High School Cube by clicking the link below:

North High School Commencement 2014

Chamber Choir Farewell Conceet

This evening's Chamber Choir Farewell Concert was a wonderful celebration and affirmation of tremendous musical accomplishment. Congratulations to the Chamber Choir, as well as Dr. Piekarz, for a memorable retrospective of literature featured throughout dozens of performances this year.

All Access Lunch Concert

Congratulations to the students of the DGN All Access Choir for a fantastic lunchtime performance today!  All five songs were sung with passion and heart.  Everyone in attendance loved the music, as evidenced by the standing ovation!  

Well done All Access.  Bravo!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations D99 Orchestra!

Congratulations to the members of the District 99 Concert Orchestra, the District 99 Symphonic Orchestra, and the Cello Ensemble, for a wonderful performance this evening.  The 2014 Spring Orchestra Concert included a wide variety of challenging orchestral literature, performed at an incredibly high level of musical sophistication.  

Special congratulations are extended to Senior Soloists Sarah Williams (viola) and Katie Portman (violin).  And a special 'thank you' is shared with the woodwind, brass, and percussion students from the DGN Bands for their work on this program.  

Well done District 99 orchestra students!

District 99 Spring Orchestra Concert Tonight!

The Fine Arts Department is pleased to invite you to attend the District 99 Orchestra Concert this evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium.  This free concert will feature the Concert Orchestra and Symphonic Orchestra.  Also featured will be two senior soloists -- Sarah Williams on viola, and Katie Portman on violin.  We hope you will join us for a wonderful evening of music, and support our North High musicians.

This evening's concert will be streamed on a High School Cube webcast, here:

http://tinyurl.com/D99SpringOrchConcert2014

"Early Bird" Celebration Breakfast

DGN Jazz Ensemble @ "Jazz In The Park 2014"

20 "Jazz Seniors" in the Class of 2014

The Class of 2014 will long be remembered as a very dedicated and influential class in the DGN Jazz program.  Seniors, thank you for your commitment to the art of jazz, for challenging yourselves musically at every turn, and for the artistic legacy you will leave behind at North High. You will be missed!

Seniors, click on the thumbnail image for a larger/high resolution keep-sake.  

 

 

Such Sweet Thunder

The 2014 "Jazz in the Park" had to be moved indoors because of inclement weather, but the rain could not dampen the spirits of DGN and DGS jazz musicians as they presented a fabulous evening of music for the community.  

Congratulations to members of the DGS Jazz Workshop, DGS Jazz Lab Band, DGN Jazz Lab Band, DGS Jazz Ensemble, DGN Jazz Ensemble, and the D99 Senior All Star Big Band for impressive musical performances!

A special thanks to the Downers Grove Park District for their invitation to our schools to open the 2014 Summer Concert Series.  

Miss the concert, want to see it again, or want to share it with friends?  Video replay of the webcast may be found at:

http://tinyurl.com/D99JazzInThePark2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz In The Park Webcast on High School Cube

This evening's "Jazz In The Park" concert (moved indoors to DGN), will now be broadcast live on High School Cube.  Please feel free to invite out of town family and friends to join the concert via the webcast.

Concert starts at 6:10 PM.

http://tinyurl.com/D99JazzInThePark2014

Jazz In The Park - Moved to DGN Tonight

Due to the potential for thunderstorms during the course of the evening, 2014 Jazz in the Park has been relocated to the Clarence Johnson Auditorium at Downers Grove North High School  (4436 North Main Street/Downers Grove, IL  60515.)  

The evening begins at 6:10 PM with the DGS Jazz Workshop, followed by every D99 jazz ensemble. Thanks in advance for your understanding, and, for coming out to support every ensemble tonight with your attendance.

Graduation Concert 2014

Congratulations to the students of the A Cappella Choir and Wind Ensemble for a stunning musical performance this evening.  

A special "shout out" to the Class of 2014.  Your musicianship, and leadership, made a lasting and positive impact on our school.  You will certainly be missed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graduation Concert Tonight!

The Fine Arts Department is pleased to invite you to attend the 2014 Graduation Concert tonight at 7 p.m. in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium.  This free concert will feature the A Cappella Choir and Wind Ensemble.  Also featured will be two senior soloists – Ben Casey on tuba, and Spencer Schillerstrom on tenor saxophone.  We hope you will join us for a wonderful evening of music, and support our North High musicians.  

Family and friends who are out-of-town this evening are invited to join us via our scheduled online webcast.  

http://tinyurl.com/DGNGraduationConcert2014

 

 

 

 

Awards Night 2014

OUTSTANDING SENIOR IN VISUAL ART

Emma Brzezinski

OUTSTANDING SENIOR IN MUSIC

Katherine Portman

DISTINGUISHED ARTIST - CERAMICS

Brianna Freitag

DISTINGUISHED ARTIST – COMPUTER ART

Nathan Eisenhut

DISTINGUISHED ARTIST – DRAWING & PAINTING

Rose O’Kelly

DISTINGUISHED ARTIST – JEWELRY & METALWORK

Lilli Mayoral

DISTINGUISHED ARTIST - PHOTOGRAPHY

Michaela Nicholson

JOHN PHILLIP SOUSA BAND AWARD

Thomas Donnelly

LOUIS ARMSTRONG JAZZ AWARD

Spencer Schillerstrom

PATRICK S. GILMORE BAND AWARD

Evangeline Tuohy

SEMPER FIDELIS BAND AWARD

Benjamin Casey

Sarah Steffen

WOODY HERMAN JAZZ AWARD

Robert Kulik

National School Choral Award

Anna Burton

Leo Fotos

National School ORCHESTRA Award

Katherine Portman

DIRECTORS AWARD FOR ORCHESTRA

Sarah Williams

Raku Day 2014

Led by DGN visual art teacher Amy Bernard, DGN student ceramicists participated in a Raku/Primitive Firing event at North High School in Downers Grove.  Raku pottery is created with a specific ceramic firing process that uses extreme temperatures, fire and smoke to create unique patterns and designs. Western-style raku usually involves removing pottery from the kiln while at bright red heat and placing it into containers with combustible materials. Once the materials ignite, the containers are closed. This produces an intense reduction atmosphere which effects the colors in glazes and clay bodies. The drastic thermal shock also produces cracking (known as crackling since it is deliberate).The student work that emerges from the smoke and fire of the day is visually stunning.