DGS 2009 All-State Musicians

Special kudos and congratulations to the DGS 2009 All-State Musicians. See you all in Peoria!!!!

2008 Holiday Concert Rehearsal

The DGS Combined Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony, Combined Choirs, and District 99 Orchestra all rehearsed today for the December 12, 2008 Holiday Concert. The performance professionalism in each ensemble is currently at extremely high levels. Repertoire ranges from Corelli to Rutter, from Handel to Frescobaldi, from Mahr to Hazo. The range of music and high level of craftsmanship will ensure that audience goers tomorrow evening will be completely pleased.

Concert begins at 7:00 PM in the Main Gymnasium. Admission is free. See you all then!!!1

2009 All-State Musicians Announced

Eleven student musicians from Downers Grove South High School were selected, by competitive audition, to participate in the 2009 Illinois Music Educator’s Association All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra, Jazz Band. The extremely competitive performance auditions were held in October at Carl Sandburg High School.

“This is a tremendous honor for these students,” said Glenn Williams, Fine Arts Department Chairperson at South High. “All-State selection represents the pinnacle of musical achievement for a high school student musician. We are very proud of our students, and look forward to hearing their performances in January.”

In total, twenty-six student musicians were selected for All-State from Community High School District 99.

The All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Band will convene for a series of rehearsals in Peoria, IL, on January 28-31, 200. Their concerts will be held at the Peoria Civic Center on the evening of January 31, 2009.

All-State Band
Emily Gai – Senior - Clarinet

All-State Choir
Benita Thorat – Junior - Soprano II
Jeff Novak – Junior - Tenor I
Tom Reusz – Junior - Bass II

All-State Orchestra
Rahul Kamath – Senior – Viola
Emily Levine – Junior – Viola
Nikki Mihelich – Sophmore - Cello
Kari Prada – Senior – Viola
Michael Rau – Junior - Violin

All-State Jazz Band
Matt Kowalski – Junior - Trombone

All-State Composition
Cory Parkison - 2007 graduate - 2nd Place, Vocal Solo Category
Cory Parkinson - 2007 graduate - 3rd place, Vocal Ensemble Category

2008 DGS Empty Bowls Project

Student ceramists at Downers Grove South High School are working to provide clean and purifiend water for underresourced people around the world.

EMPTY BOWLS PROJECT 2008 was introduced to the DGS art community by staff members Molly O'Brien-Prusa and Kathy Myles. Between 25-30 student ceramic pieces will be up for SILENT AUCTION during the 2008 Winter Art Show. Funds from the bidding will be donated to POTTERS FOR PEACE, http://www.pottersforpeace.org/ , an organization dedicated to teaching cultures how to make a low cost, ceramic water filtration system.

10 pieces will be auctioned from 6-6:45 PM on Thursday, December 11, 2008 during the opening of the Winter Art Show. The initial winners of the 10 pieces will be announced during the Holiday Concert which begins at 7 PM in the Main Gymnasium. The rest of the pieces will remain for public bidding during the Winter Art Show through Monday, December 14, 2008.

As an additional source of dedicated funds, Ms. O'Brien-Prusa has created an enclosed ceramic pot. Money can be donated into this piece during the run of the entire art show. At the conclusion of the Winter Art show, student artists will "smash" the pot and dedicate the funds inside the piece to POTTERS FOR PEACE.

"We are thrilled for our student artists and staff to have such an other-centered approach towards humanity." said Fine Arts Department Chair Glenn Williams. "By donating to POTTERS FOR PEACE, we are teaching cultures how to make their own water purification systems, we are giving them the gift of clean water for their entire lives."

For more information about the 2008 Empty Bowls project, contact Fine Arts Department Chairperson Glenn Williams at gwilliams@csd99.org.

Santa Parade 2008

Our Marching Mustangs participated in the 2008 Downers Grove Santa Parade on Sunday, November 30, 2008 at 1:00 PM. Although the weather outside was truly frightfuly, the student musicians marched and performed with an extremely high level of professionalism. Thanks to theses students, parent volunteers and families for their musical contribution to the community of Downers Grove!