Congratulations to DGS Jazz Ensemble students for their awesome performance at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago! Special recognition to drummer Gavin Schnall and saxophonist Lucas Ciocan for performing in the Jazz Institute of Chicago Jam Session before the show.
On Saturday March 25th, 60 student musicians from the Downers Grove South High School Bands are headed to Disney!! For four days, students will be right there in beautiful (and warm) Orlando, Florida performing and taking in over 100 years of Disney history and lore. This incredible experience will create memories that our students will hold onto for a lifetime.
The trip starts with two days at Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure. They spend time touring the park and taking in all of the sights and sounds. This leg of the trip concludes with a performance for the Universal Studios Parade. Next, they’ll take a ferry to the Magic Kingdom and enjoy the Disney Enchantment along with countless Disney rides and attractions. On day 4, they’ll be ending the tour with a professional instrumental studio soundtrack session at Disney Studios!
“I am most looking forward to random memories made when waiting in lines with students and walking around the Disney Park. I’m even more excited to watch the kids’ reactions to the experience - especially for those that have never been to the park,” said music teacher, Robbi Hicks. When asked about the biggest challenges and successes leading up to the trip, music teacher Aaron Kennedy said, “it was the kids who had never marched before. Getting all of them performance-ready for Disney in just four rehearsals was a fun and rewarding challenge.”
On behalf of the DGS Community, we are all very proud of the work that has been done by our students, faculty, and parents to make this trip a reality. We look forward to hearing the stories and priceless memories that this trip will create. Congratulations to all of those involved and best wishes for a safe and fantastic trip!
Come on out and show your support for Friends of Fine Arts!!!
You can participate ALL DAY at the Downers Grove Gia Mia location!
Please show this flyer created especially for Friends of Fine Arts: https://drive.google.com/file/
Use when you dine-in, carry out or pick up curbside and mention our special code FOFA16 when you check out!
There is No tastier way to offer your support!
Friends of Fine Arts will earn 20% of the net sales received from participating patrons all day on Thursday, March 16th. The proceeds raised help supplement scholarships and additional amazing educational opportunities for all of the fine arts students. Friends of Fine Arts aims to assist students accomplish their artistic goals in the visual and performing arts departments at Downers Grove South High School.
Alone we can do so little but together we can do so much!
Congratulations to our DGS Choirs Community for the outstanding performances on Friday March 11! During the afternoon, our choir students welcomed close to 700 elementary students from the Downers Grove Community and performed selections from 75+ years of Disney music! They followed up the performance by packing the Performing Arts Center for an evening treat for all ages. Audiences were wowed and kids of all ages sang and danced during the entire show!
Bravo to the DGS Choirs!
March 6, 2023 -- Downers Grove, Ill. -- The District 99 Board of Education has approved the hiring of Gina Wych to serve as the next fine arts department chair at North High School in Downers Grove, effective July 1. Wych will succeed Brayer Teague, who has served in the role since 1993 and is retiring at the end of this school year.
Wych currently serves as a music teacher at Minooka Community High School District 111, where she teaches four concert bands as well as the marching band and jazz band. She has worked at District 111 since 2008, and has guided the band to more than double in size during her tenure. Under her direction, the school’s wind ensemble was selected as the grand champion at the Midwest Music Festival in 2020. In addition to directing, Wych teaches a variety of general music classes, including guitar, music technology, piano, music production and dual-credit American music history.
“Gina has the perfect mix of experience, education and enthusiasm to become the next outstanding leader of our fine arts department,” said North High Principal Dr. Courtney DeMent. “We’re confident that she will continue to ensure a high level of excellence within our fine arts program.”
Wych holds both a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a master’s degree in teacher leadership from Concordia University Chicago. She was a student teacher at North High in the fall of 2007.
"I have enjoyed working directly with Gina on the Illinois Music Education Association Board of Directors, and have the utmost respect for her leadership and approach to education,” said Fine Arts Department Chair Brayer Teague. “I am thrilled that she will be joining the Fine Arts team at North High, and know she will be an incredible advocate for the important role the arts play in the fabric of our community."
Wych serves on the Illinois Music Education Association executive board as Junior/Senior General Music Division President, which allows her to support students and teachers throughout the state in engaging with, initiating and improving general music access and programming. Wych also coordinates the Illinois All State Music Composition Contest, a nationally admired program that aims to foster and recognize outstanding student music composition.
“My student teaching here 15 years ago was an experience that introduced me firsthand to the high quality, collaborative learning community that exists throughout the school and district,” said Wych. “District 99 is known for its commitment to the arts, and I look forward to amplifying that commitment in a way that truly serves DGN students, staff, and community.”
