Sunday, January 29, 2012

2012 Scholastics Art and Writing Awards


American Vision Award Nominee

Bridget Bicek - Photographer

"La Lune"





The Fine Arts Department of South High School in Downers Grove is pleased to announce the results of the judging from the 2012 Scholastic Art Awards, held at Downers Grove North High School. 25 area high schools submitted more than 1,800 works for art for adjudication, with South High School submitting nearly 300 student works for evaluation. 67 student artists from South High School earned a total of 99 awards, including one American Vision nominee (best in show,) 26 Gold Key awards, 28 Silver Key awards, and 45 Honorable Mention Awards. These pieces will be exhibited at the Opening Reception on Sunday, February 5, 2012 from 1-4 PM at Downers Grove North High School. The works will continue on exhibit for one week following the opening reception.


"We are exceedingly proud of both the process followed by our student artists, and, of the products they all create." said Glenn Williams, Fine Arts Department Chairman at South High School. "Recognition at Scholastics represents a high point of achievement for a high school visual artist." For more information about Visual Art at South High School, contact Glenn Williams at gwilliams@csd99.org.

2012 Scholastic Art Award Winners - Downers Grove South High School

American Vision Award Nominee
Bridget Bicek - Photography - La Lune

Gold Key Awards
Sammie Anselmo - Photography (2)

Ashley Austin - Art Portfolio

Eisvina Balsyte - Photography

Bridget Bicek - Photography Portfolio

Bridget Bicek - Photography (4)

Delaney Bondi - Photography

Anna Both - Photography

Ralph Jays Daguit - Drawing

Evelyn Gutierrez - Photography

Alexandra Hansen - Drawing

Kelly Hoos - Ceramics and Glass

Ivana Krcmarevic - Photography

Jena Mancione - Photography (2)

Caitlyn Rahe - Drawing

Rachel Riggin - Photography Portfolio

Christina Simirica - Photography

Thomas Stice - Mixed Media

Kylie Walsh - Photography (2)

Michael Weimer - Ceramics and Glass (2)

Silver Key Awards
Victor Aquirre - Painting

Sammie Anselmo - Photography (2)

Rianda Artis - Photography

Ashley Austin - Digital Art (2)

Bridget Bicek - Photography

Anna Both - Photography

Aleisha Bozek - Mixed Media

Eveyln Gutierrez - Photography (2)

Nicolas Herrera - Sculpture

Mark Hodges - Ceramics and Glass

Jessica Hoos - Drawing

Erin Koehlinger - Photography

Ben Kula - Drawing

Gillian Miller - Mixed Media

Paige Miller - Painting

Vivienne Schafer - Painting

Madeleine Snyder - Drawing

Allison Stears - Photography

Kylie Walsh - Photography

Kylie Walsh - Photograhy Portfolio

Michael Wiemer - Ceramics and Glass (3)

Jane Woywood - Drawing

Eric Zidarich - Drawing

Honorable Mention Awards
Sammie Anselmo - Photography

Bridget Bicek - Photography (3)

Danielle Bonczkowski - Drawing

Anna Both - Photography (3)

Arielle Camis - Painting

Mitchell Chapman - Photography

Agnieszka Cisak - Drawing

Kymberly Coffee - Ceramics and Glass

Eleni Eisenhart - Photography

Hayley Gomoll - Photography Portfolio

Hayley Gomoll - Photography (5)

Evelyn Gutierrez - Photography (2)

Jeff Konkel - Digital Art

Robert Mara - Ceramics and Glass

Paige Miller - Drawing (2)

Crystal Ponce - Mixed Media and Painting

Adriana Quintana - Drawing

Rachel Riggin - Photography (5)

Michael Seminara - Drawing

Madeleine Snyder - Drawing

Shannon Sullivan - Ceramics and Glass

Szilard Tamas- Drawing

Bryanna Uhlir - Ceramics and Glass

Marissa Vazquez - Drawing

Maggie Vincent - Ceramics and Glass

Kylie Walsh - Photography

Michael Weimer - Ceramics and Glass (2)

Michael Weimer - Portfolio

Taylor Wold - Photography (2)

South HS Jazz Ensemble at the 2012 IMEC

Oop, Bop, Shabam, featuring Dr. Bob Lark, DePaul University

Oop Bop Sh Bam from QMaguire on Vimeo.

South High School Jazz Ensemble at the IMEC

Lover Man, featuring senior Mike Ruth on alto saxophone.

Lover Man from QMaguire on Vimeo.

South High Jazz Ensemble at the 2012 IMEC

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, featuring vocalist Colleen DeRosa


Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered from QMaguire on Vimeo.

South High School at 2012 Illinois Music Educators' Conference- part 3








On Thursday, January 26, 2012 the Jazz Ensemble from South High School performed to rave reviews at the IMEC in Peoria, Illinois. This outstanding ensemble performed an entirely different program from their Midwest Clinic performance in December. Music educators in attendance left the room inspired by the energy and level of performance set forth by this outstanding ensemble.




South High School at the 2012 Music Educators' Conference - Part 2

South High School was well represented at the Secondary General Music Composition seminar, organized and implemented by D99 colleague Brayer Teague.

In the Secondary General Music Division, senior Zach Plata won First Place in the instrumental Arranging Category for his piece title Themes of John Mackey. Additionally, Carmy Calabria, drums, Julia Wood, bass, and Ian Williams, piano, served as a rhythm section trio for the SGM improvisation category award winners.

Friday, January 27, 2012

South HS at the 2012 Illinois Music Educators' Conference - Part 1






Student musicians from South High School in Downers Grove are representing the learning community from South at the 2012 Illinois Music Educators' Conference in Peoria, Illinois in amazing ways. These student musicians are performing with the All-State performing ensembles:







HONORS BAND
Samantha Kotlicky – Trumpet (Senior)
William Moroney – Clarinet (Senior)
Zach Plata – Clarinet (Senior)





HONORS ORCHESTRA
Andrew Molina – Cello (Sophomore)
Carly Charles – Horn (Senior)




ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA
Patrick Bartlett - Tuba (Senior)
Lisa Salazar - Viola _(Senior)


ALL-STATE HONORS CHORUS
Alex Bahaveolos – Tenor I (Senior)
William Chengary – Bass I (Senior)
Lars Feste – Bass I (Senior)
Taylor Lane – Soprano I (Senior)
Dan Leahy – Tenor I (Junior)
Erin Christine Walsh – Soprano I (Senior)

ALL-STATE CHORUS
Kyle Crawford – Bass II (Senior)
Ken Deem – Tenor II (Senior)
Rosaley Gai – Alto II (Senior)

JAZZ BAND
Michael Ruth – Alto Saxophone (Senior)
Josiah Williams – Trombone (Junior)

Sunday, January 22, 2012

2012 Purdue Jazz Festival







Four jazz performing groups from South High School in Downers Grove performed and competed at the 2012 Purdue University Jazz Festival in West Lafayette, Indiana on Saturday, January 21, 2012. The Jazz Ensemble, 7:00 AM Combo and 3:30 PM Combo all earned Division I ratings, Jazz Lab Band earned a Division II rating. The 3:30 PM Combo earned "Oustanding Performance" citation from the judges, placing 2nd in their room.

Junior pianist Ian Williams was chosen by the judges as the Outstanding Soloist in the West Faculty Lounge performance site. Senior alto saxophonist Michael Ruth earned special praise from the juding panel, earning a 1/2 tuition scholarship to the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Camp and a 1/2 tuition scholarship to the University of Indianapolis Summer Combo Camp.

In addition to the judges praise for the ensembles, 18 students musicians earned 28 outstanding soloists/musicians based on their performance during the day:

Carmy Calabria - drums (2)
Matt Glad - piano
Joe Hughes - bass trombone
Sean Hux - tenor saxophone
Billy Moroney - tenor saxophone
Brian Moroney - drums
Joe Perillo - drums
Mark Plantz - drums
Chris Reusz - alto saxophone (2)
Mike Ruth - alto saxophone (2)
Emily Rzeszutko - trumpet
John Shimanek - trumpet (2)
Christian Siki - alto saxophone (2)
Tommy Stepp - guitar
Ian Williams - piano (3)
Josiah Williams - trombone
Michal Witek - guitar (2)
Julia Wood - bass (3)

"We are extremely proud of these student musicians and how they represent the learning community at South High School at such a prestigious event." said department chairman Glenn Williams. For more information about jazz at South High School, contact Glenn Williams at gwilliams@csd99.org.

Friday, January 20, 2012

South HS Jazz Cafe 2012




























Just over 250 student jazz musicians from the articulated learning community at South High School in Downers Grove participated in the 2012 Jazz Cafe on Thursday, January 19, 2012. In addition to student musicians from South High School, students from O'Neill Middle School, Jefferson Junior High School, Lakeview Junior High School, and Eisenhower Junior high school celebrated jazz performance in Downers Grove. Guest artist Dr. Bob Lark from DePaul University provided additional musical luster to the evening by soloing with the DGS ensembles. "It is fabulous to see so many students and parents enthused about jazz performance." said Fine Arts Chairman Glenn Williams. For more information about jazz at South High School, contact Glenn Williams at gwilliams@csd99.org.












Monday, January 16, 2012

Marching Mustangs Leadership Seminar




















Over 30 members of the Marching Mustangs gathered in the music suite today to hone their leadership philosophy and skills. Brent Turner from Youth in Music in Minneapolis, MN, provided a seminar that prepared the students for the coming leadership audition process. Special thanks to the Band Boosters and Mrs. Burton for providing such a delicious lunch today. These commited student leaders are demonstrating that the Marching Mustangs are continuing on an upward trajectory of improvement!

Thursday, January 05, 2012

South High School 2012 Middle School Choral Festival















More than 200 future Mustang Musicians participated side-by-side with current South High School singers during the 2012 Middle School Choral Festival today. The festival featured sectionals, pizza, t-shirts, and cross-generational camraderie between and among the participating student musicians. Special thanks to our articulated sender school vocal music teachers for their role in making this event possible: Puja Modi, Eisenhower Junior High School, Alex Buda, Jefferson Junior High School, Jennifer Berman, Lakeview Junior High School, and Glen Sorgatz, O'Neill Middle School. Based on the sights and sounds of the time tonight, the sonic future continues to be bright for the choirs of South High School in Downers Grove.