2014 South High School Fine Arts Award Recipients

Senior Caitlin Carr sings the National Anthem at the 2014 Awards Night.

2014 Outstanding Music Senior Andrew Molina and 2014 Outstanding Art Senior Jessica Stacko.

Seniors, donning their caps and gowns for the first time, take a stretch break during the 2014 Awards Night.

2014 Fine Arts Department Outstanding Seniors

Music – Andrew Molina
Art – Jessica Stacko

Goldie Zechel Senior Arts Scholarship 

Art – Marisa Tolomeo
Music – Caitlin Carr

National School Choral Award 

Mara Alvarez, Andrew Mahlan

Louis Armstrong Jazz Award 

 John Shimanek

John Philip Sousa Award 

Rachel Wydra

National School Orchestra Award

Andrew Molina

Downer Grove Music Club Summer Rising Stars Scholarships

Brett Cohen
Brooke Nuccio
Sam Tedeschi

Downers Grove Music Club College Awards

Andrew Molina
Rachel Wydra

Friends of Fine Arts (FOFA) Summer Study Grants

Rob Batten
Helena Beikercher
Meredith Ferguson
Emma Hansen
Brianna Imgruet
Juliette Moushon
Tiffany Nguyen
Allison Quinn
Jose Sanxhez
Claire Wagner
Hannah Wood

2014 Illinois 11th Congressional District Art Show Winners Announced

Delicate Things by Jessica Stacko

Lost by Maria Padilla

Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our congressional district.

The over-all winner of a district's competition is displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will also include artwork from other contest winners nation-wide.

The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition.

South High School Fine Arts Department is pleased to announce that the First and Second place award recipients from the 2014 11th Congressional District Art Show sponsored by Congressman Bill Foster.  Maria Padilla earned First place in the district for her Digital Photograph titled Lost.  Jessica Stacko earned Second place in the district for her Digital Photograph titled Delicate Things.

Maria's piece will be displayed in the US Capital for one year after the opening ceremony, for which Maria earned two round-trip airfare tickets to attend the opening ceremony.  Jessica's work will be hung in Congressman Foster's local office for one year.  South High School is extremely proud of these two student artists and their pursuit of excellence at a regional level.

2014 Choir Show - "The Magic of Motown"

The Choirs of South High School in Downers Grove are busy preparing to present the 2014 Choir Show, The Magic of Motown.  The show will be performed on  Thursday, May 8th and Friday, May 9th at 7:00 PM in the auditorium at South High School.  There are no tickets for this event and the public is cordially invited to attend.  Plan to arrive early as this will be a popular show and seating is General Admission.

Undeniably core, anything but Common........

The student artists and team of teachers at South High School just performed, for four remarkable shows, a recreation of The Pajama Game. In every aspect, the production was remarkable.  The visual aspects of the show were breathtaking. The technical aspects of the show were stirring. The musical aspects of the show were impressive.

When unified in presentation, the arts reflect the human condition in a singularly unique manner. The fusion of music, drama, dance and visual elements communicates aspects of being human that enable us to understand ourselves to a greater extent. That understanding, in turn, activates the potential for awareness of other human beings that creates a platform for more effective existence.

The arts are challenging to assess and evaluate quantitatively. In something as complex as a musical production, it is hard to develop data points that can be measured with numbers. The inherent value is found at the Core of our existence as a human being. This can’t be tested with computer key strokes. It is measured over time through the quality of existence encountered by each of us. Daunting as it is to measure, we all need to assert with vigilance, as No Child Left Behind mandates, that the arts are a Core subject.

The production of The Pajama Game enriched the patrons, the process enriched the cast, crew and pit. Congratulations. Thanks to each of you for the gift you just gave to our community.

Only three shows remaining!!!!!!!!!

Don't miss The Pajama Game!  Only three shows remaining:  05-02 and 05-03 at 7:00 PM, and 05-04 at 3:00 PM.  Tickets are going fast, but there will a small amount available at the Box Office for each remaining performance.

The Pajama Game 2014

Look at all of these bright shining faces!  You'll want to attend every performance of The Pajama Game. 

Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for students and seniors and are available at the Box Office outside of the auditorium.  The show times are as follows:

Thursday, May 1,2014    7:00 PM

Friday, May 2, 2014       7:00 PM

Saturday, May 3, 2014   7:00 PM

Sunday, May 4, 2014     3:00 PM

2014 College of DuPage Porfolio NIght Finalists

City of the Future

Dawson Busdeker

Wolf Typography

Ignas Butautas

Jaxie

Peter Dignan

A total of ten student artists from South High School in Downers Grove earned 11 spots as finalists in the 2014 College of DuPage Portfolio competition.  Portfolio Night is a community event and is open to high school and college students, family, and friends. In addition, community residents, the business community, and anyone with the desire to view great work and learn more about some of the hottest career opportunities is welcome to attend.  Portfolio Night at COD is Thursday, May 8th 6–9 pm in the Student Resource Center (SRC) 2000 at College of DuPage.  In the High School Competition, first place awards and prizes will be given in the following categories: Illustration and Graphic Design. Honorable mentions and prizes will also be awarded.

Student artists from DGS that are finalists include:

Karolina Ambrazaite
No Hard Feelings
Illustration

Ignas Butautas
Wolf Typography
Illustration

Dawson Busdeker
City of the Future
Illustration

Abby Dalton
When the Lights Fade Out all The Sinners Crawl
Illustration

Peter Dignan
Jaxie
Illustation

Kailey Holzman
Crisis
Illustration

Tiffany Nguyen
Media is your Mind and  Reach Out
Illustration

Crystal Panganiban
Small Business
Illustration

Jose Sanchez
Childhood Deficiencies
Illustration

Patricia Walker
The Wolf Who Wandered
Illustration

Pajama Game opens tonight!

On behalf of the students in the  cast, crew and orchestra for The Pajama Game, we cordially invite you to attend this stunning production.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for students and seniors and are available at the Box Office outside of the auditorium.  The show times are as follows:

Thursday, May 1,2014    7:00 PM

Friday, May 2, 2014       7:00 PM

Saturday, May 3, 2014   7:00 PM

Sunday, May 4, 2014     3:00 PM

This is a production you won't want to miss!   Thanks in advance for supporting the student artists at South High School by attending this production.