D99 Strings at Butler University String Festival

In the wee hours of Thursday morning (5:10 AM to be precise,) our District 99 Symphonic Orchestra strings traveled to Butler University in Indianapolis for the Butler University String Festival. This regional event featured orchestras from Crown Point HS, Pike HS and Portage HS.

Our student musicians performed in the morning and were then given an hour long clinic with a guest conductor designed to help them improve their performance. This was followed by sectional and master class time with the Butler University faculty.

The evening concert featured each high school group playing one selection, with the Butler University Strings performing after the high school group. The culminating sonic experience was three pieces with the combined forces of all 5 string orchestras.

Great job Symphonic Orchestra strings - we're proud of you! Special thanks to Ms. Mullen and Mrs. Branch for their combined efforts to make this trip and festival possible for our student musicians.

Dazzling Displays Delight DGS Daily

In addition to the permanent collecti0n of visual art work that hangs in offices and conference rooms around DGS, our visual art team does an amazing job of updating 10 different display cases around our building. This constant renewal process showcases student work in an amazing manner, and, does wonders to improve the look and feel of our campus. During events like Parent/Teacher conferences, this does nothing but make all of us look good!!!!

More Dazzling Displays

More Dazzling Displays

WOW - Way to go Marching Mustangs!!!!

The 2008 Downers Grove South HS Marching Mustangs recently traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota to compete in the fourth annual Youth In Music Championships.

Four years ago the Youth In Music Championships were just a dream and an idea. In those years the YIM Championships have grown from 9 to 20 bands and 1,400 to 6,000 in attendance. The YIM Championships have quickly become one of the premier marching band events in the Midwest.

The competitive results for the Marching Mustangs were impressive. A preliminary score of 81.4 gave the Marching Mustangs First Place in Class AA. This qualified the Marching Mustangs to return and perform in the finals competition in the evening.

In the evening finals, our Marching Mustangs scored 83.1, earning them 6th place overall. Additionally, the Drum Majors from DGS were selected as the 1rst place team of Drum Majors from the 20 groups that completed in preliminaries and finals.

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of these student musicians” said Fine Arts Department Chairperson Glenn Williams. “Making finals and improving their score from prelims to finals is an impressive accomplishment.”

For more information about DGS Fine Arts or about the Marching Mustangs, contact Fine Arts Department Chairperson Glenn Williams at 630.795.8681,

Much More Marching Spartans

More Marching Spartans

Kudos to the Marching Spartans

Special thanks to Mr. Tom Tedeschi and the Marching Spartans from Lakeview Junior High School for providing a spirited pre-game this evening. The sounds began simultaneously with the deluge. The students remained in superior spirits and provided wonderful team support!

DGS 2008 IMEA District Musicians

Join me in congratulating our 2008 IMEA District Musicians from DGS. They will represent us with pride when we host our District Festival on November 22, 2008. (Not Pictured: Michael Rau, violin; Elliot Bild, trumpet; Tim Neumann, trombone.)

Outstanding Overtones

In it's second year of existence, the extra-curricular male ensemble Overtones opening the concert this evening. Conducted by Mr. Kowallis, these boys devote time and energy outside of the school day to pursue excellence in performance through a male vocal ensemble. Listeners still in the hallway were having trouble believing this was a high school ensemble, the level of performance was so stellar. Well done Overtones - thanks for your musical contributions to the DGS choral community

Fabulous Freshmen Girls

Kudos to the Freshmen Girls Choir, who performed this challening music extremely well this evening. The arrangement of the Bach demonstrated mature musical phrasing; The opening French Folk song was nothing short of delightful. Culminating in costume with Dancing Queen once again demonstrated a wide range of music performed exceedingly well. Nice job ladies!!

2008 Concert Choir

Concert Choir sounded fabulous this evening! From the opening joyful strains of Yo Vivo Cantando to the gentle nuancing phrasing of Cloths of Heaven, the maturity and potential of this ensemble was readily apparent this evening. Great range of repertoire, great execution!

Tantalizing Treble Ensemble

Treble Ensemble looked stunning as the entered the stage this evening. This ensemble performed challenging repertoire in an extremely musical manner. Morning Moon and Grandma's Alleluia were both executed with passionate phrasing and a high attention to musical detail.

Impressive Chamber Singers

The Chamber Singers were most impressive this evening. The opening Incidental Suite by Henry Purcell was performed with musical maturity (great job on the soprano solo.) Contrasted with the second piece, a jazzy rendition of Time After Time, the true musical potential of this group shined forward in how well they performed such diverse repertoire this evening.

2008 Treble Choir

The depth of our DGS choral program is readily apparent in the sounds that come from the 2008 Treble Choir. The depth and breadth of the repertoire was impressive. The musical sophistication with which this ensemble sang tonight was impressive. The closing number, O Aula Nobilis, featured trumpets and timpani.

Love Psalm - 2008 Madrigals

The 2008 Madrigals performed Darmon Meader's Love Psalm, a piece composed for the 2008 IMEA All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble. The tight harmonies were beautifully executed. The piece suite the ensemble in a wonderful manner.

A Cappella Rocks!!

A Cappella choir, conducted by Mrs. Belt-Roselieb and Mrs. Coster, performed exquisitely this evening. The choral sound was stunning; the balance was remarkable. Two of the selections, At The Earth's Imagined Corners and Ye Shall Have A Song are both required All-State pieces by the IMEA.

Gratias Senor Hernandez

The choir concert tonight was remarkable for many reasons, however, we need to linger and extend a special "gratias" to Mr. Hernandez for accompaning each ensemble with such musical grace and elegance. Thanks Mr. H!!!!!!!

Freshmen Boys 2008

A strength of the DGS choirs has always been a strong contingent of male singers. This years' Freshmen Boys Chorus is proving to be no exception to that rule. A few of the 2008-2009 Freshmen Boys pose for a photograph before the performance this evening.

Culminating Combined Choral Numbers

For many audience participants, a favorite part of DGS Choral Concerts are the combined numbers which close the concerts. In addition to the Alma Mater, this evening student musicians will be performing America, The Beautiful. Based on the sonic information gathered from the rehearsal that is happening right now, the concert this evening will end in a remarkably wonderful sonic manner.