Monday, April 26, 2010

DGS Wind Ensemble wins Class 6A @ ISU Concert Band Festival


On Friday, April 23rd and Saturday, April 24, 2010, 28 high school bands from Illinois competed at the Illinois State University Concert Band Festival. A panel of three expert collegiate adjudicators listened to each ensemble and provided formative feedback, and, a score. Finally, the ensembles were ranked by school classification and put in an overall performance ranking.
Special congratulations goes to the 61 members of the DGS Wind Ensemble for earning 1st place in Class 6A and 5th place overall out of the 28 performing bands. This fine ensemble earned the 1rst and 2nd highest scores from two of the three judges during the course of the day.
"We've known all year long this is a very special performing ensemble." said Fine Arts Department Chairman Glenn Williams. "These scores and rankings confirm what we've known sonically all year long - that this ensemble ranks among the finest performing bands in the state of Illinois."

The band will travel to the University of Illinois on May 8, 2010 to compete again at the Superstate Championship. If you have any questions about DGS Fine Arts or DGS Bands, contact Glenn Williams, Fine Arts Department Chairman at gwilliams@csd99.org.


Friday, April 23, 2010

10th Annual Raku Firing

Led by teacher Kathy Myles, DGS student Ceramicists today embarked on the 10th annual Raku/Primitive Firing field trip. Raku pottery is created with a specific ceramic firing process that uses both fire and smoke to create unique patterns and designs. The student work that emerges from the smoke and fire of the day is visually stunning. Way to go, DGS student ceramicists!!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

DGS Spring Jazz Concert Concert





Congratuations to the 70 student musicians in the Jazz Workshop, Jazz Lab Band, and Jazz Ensemble who presented the 2010 Spring Jazz Concert. Special "shout out" also to Vince Walsh-Rock and the members of the Freshmen Girls Select Ensemble for performing "At Last" and "Get me to the Church on Time" with the Lab Band. Fine Arts Honors Program participants Lauren Wood, Matt Kowalski and Elliot Bild also performed feature pieces to fulfill their Honors Program recital requirement. Great night of jazz from every sonic aspect imaginable!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

D99/Woodridge Public LIbrary Winners Announced



The second D99/WPL art show opened last night to a postively receptive throng of attenders. We are proud of share the winners from DGS in each media category. Congratulations not only to our category winners. but to each participating artist and to the DGS Visual Art team for creating such a fabulous show.
DGS Category winners include:
David Huettner Best in Show

Mark Bentley Drawing

Julianna Estall Painting

Sunnie Farrar Design

Adam Kotel Photography

Shelby May Ceramics

Ellen Sojka Jewelry

Monique Summerville Mixed Media

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

2010 D99/Woodridge Public Library Art Show







Faculty members from DGS and DGS collaborated to prepare and present the 2010 District 99/Woodridge Public Library Art Show. The show opens on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 6:00 PM with a short awards ceremony at 7:00 PM. Winners in multiple media categories as well as an overall "Best in Show" will be announced for each campus. The Best in Show piece from both schools will be sent to the national Creative Self Expression Show, sponosored locally by Suszyn Mills and the Great Frame Up store in Woodridge. Special thanks also to Susan McNeil-Marshall and the Woodridge Public Library staff for being such wonderful hosts for our student artists.



Tuesday, April 13, 2010

GODSPELL Images - Great production alert!!!!!




Images from last night of the pit orchestra, cast & pit & crew, and the cast preparing for DGS Fine Arts 2010 Musical Production of Godspell. Showtimes are as follows: Thursday, April 15 @ 7:00 PM; Friday, April 16 @ 7:30 PM; Saturday, April 17 @ 7:30 PM, and Sunday, April 18 @ 3:00 PM. Be certain to attend this event!!!!!!!!


Friday, April 09, 2010

More Godspell Pit Images







Godspell Pit







Images from the pit during a recent Godspell rehearsal. The beach ball, Wilson, is the official mascot of the Godspell pit.



Thursday, April 08, 2010

ILLINOIS SUPERSTATE CONCERT BAND FESTIVAL 2010




DGS Fine Arts is proud to announce that the DGS Wind Ensemble has been chosen, through competitive taped audition, to participate in the 2010 Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival.

The Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 7-8, 2010 in the Great Hall of the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Superstate Festival is sponsored by University Bands and the School of Music. Outstanding middle, junior and senior high school concert bands from across the state will perform on the Foellinger Great Hall Stage at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

27 middle, junior and senior high school concert bands have been selected for the festival from audition tapes or CD’s by an adjudication panel of band directors outside of the University of Illinois. In addition, the four Honor Bands from 2009 have been extended an invitation to present a performance for the 2010 Superstate Festival. These bands are not eligible to be chosen as an honor band during the 2010 Superstate Festival. A total of 31 bands will be featured plus a guest performance by the University of Illinois Wind Symphony.
Four separate classes will be offered. The number of bands selected in each class is determined by a panel of adjudicators outside of the University of Illinois. These will be based upon the quality of the performances on tapes and CD’s provided.
"A benchmark of success in District 99 and at Downers Grove South High School is the ability to competitively perform at the state level." said Fine Arts Department Chairperson Glenn Williams. "I abound with personal pride for our students and our staff at this sonic accomplishment. The list of performing ensembles indicates a level of performance excellence that is not only at a state level, but, at a national level."

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Senior Sunnie Farrar National Scholastics Award Winner!!!!

DGS Senior Sunnie Farrar's National Scholastics Silver Medal Award winning piece titled "Overwhelming Evil."
2 students from Community High School District 99, including one from Downers Grove South High School have received a prestigious national Award for her outstanding artwork through The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the 87 year-old national program that recognizes outstanding creative teenagers and offers scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors.This year’s Award recipients from Downers Grove South High School is Senior Sunnie Farrar for her piece title "Overwhelming Evil." Sunnie was awarded a Silver medal for her creation, which is pictured above. The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the national nonprofit organization that presents The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, will honor these students in early June, at a gala celebration at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Selected award recipients and high school seniors recognized with top honors for portfolios will have their art/writing exhibited in Manhattan at the World Monuments Fund Gallery.

GODSPELL being produced at DG South!!

Do you live in Downers Grove, Woodridge, Darien, Oak Brook, or Westmont? You do? Awesome! Then you probably have heard about the show going on at Downers Grove South. It is this April 15, 16, 17 % 18th…It's Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak's Broadway musical, Godspell, put on by the Downers Grove South A Cappella Choir. It features a cast of 70 of some of the most talented juniors and seniors in the school.

The popular musical follows a series of parables from the Bible with modern references and a vibrant color palette. Complete with a contemporary rock feel with energetic song and dance, your family is sure to enjoy this show that is suitable for all ages. Featuring songs such as Day By Day, Prepare Ye, By My Side and more, the spirit and high energy of GODSPELL will deliver a positive message about the importance of community.

The role of Jesus is played All-State Honors Music student, Cory Wilson. Other principal roles are portrayed by Sonny Del Rosario, Claire Drews (All-State Speech), Josh Durham (All-State Speech), Alyssa Frewen (All-State Speech), Michael Herman, Jean Hesik (All-State Speech), Mariah Pulice, Lauren Santee, and Cassie Snyder (All-State Speech). The players include Heather Anderson, Michael Allison, Ryan Breig (All-State Speech), Elise Floss, Mairssa Gallas, Hank Gordon (All-State Choir), Blair Janis, John Junk (All-State Speech), Lauren Laraia, Liam Merrick, Joe Perchatsch, Jessica Rodgers, Amanda Strolia, Tom Reusz (All-State Music), Benita Thorat (All-State Music) and Becca Zeman. The ensemble includes Barb Beecroft, Sean Birth, Tim Carroll, Jennifer Ceranec, Jessica DeJesus, Julianna Estall, Liz Galvan, Michaela Grenier, Robert Gunn, Rachel Haake, Stephanie Hiquiana, Austin Houar, Katie Jalette, Kristen Krumwiede, Frank Kunkoski, Kelly Lamorena, Abi Lechner, Claire Longeway, Shannon Madden, Nicloe O’Toole, Liz Panelli, Anna Parks, Dan Pennino, Brandon Pieczynski, Meredith Richard (All-State Music) , Kathleen Riordan, Shauna Rowe, Lizzie Saban, Lily Space, Cathy Stelling, Mike Szubinski, Tim Utesch, Dana Vykouk, Megan Wanezek, Lindsay Widdel, Ellen Weise, Samantha Worlton, and Kyle Wulf.

Laura Coster, Tiffany Bruce, Nancy Bocek, Hunter Evans, and Glenn Williams are the directors of the show. For tickets, call the DGS Student Activities Office at 630-795-8518. Tickets are $7 for students, $8 for adults, and complimentary for seniors. All tickets are reserved.