South High School 2012 Winter Choirs Concert

Freshmen Mixed Chorus performs The Gypsy Fiddler.
Freshmen Boys Chorus performs We're the Men.
Overtones performs Tyger, Tyger.

Concert Choir performs If Ye Love Me.

Freshmen Girls Select performs He's Gone Away with sign language by Patricia Kunsman.

Chamber Singers performs Fields of Gold. Two male varsity cheerleaders left the home basketball play-off game to perform with the choir, then went back to the game!

Treble Choir performs Dance on My Heart.

Madrigal Singers perform Eric Whitacre's Sleep.

Over 200 singers performed in nine ensembles this evening at the 2012 South High School Winter Choirs Concert. The breadth and depth of the literature during the evening was stunning. The technical execution and musicianship displayed by the singers on all levels was equally impressive. Congratulations and kudos to the Mustang musicians that made this such a wonderful evening of choral music!

2012 Winter Choir Concert

Choral musicians from South High School are preparing for the Winter Choir Concert on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 7:00 PM in the Auditorium at South High School. Admission is free, and the public is cordially invited to attend.

2012 Darien Woman's Creative Arts Fair

Tea Time by Maddie Snyder

Singed Elegance by Maddie Synder

Catch Strong by Egle Keturakyte

The Darien Woman's Club recently held their 2012 Creative Arts at Eisenhower Junior High School in Darien. Sophomore Egle Keturakyte earned high praise from the judges assessing the student work. Her pieced titled Catch Strong (show above,) was award first place in the Drawing Category, and, was given the overall "Best in Show" award. Egle is a member of the Drawing and Painting Studio course at South High School in Downers Grove.

Additionally, senior Maddie Snyder earned second placed in the Drawing category for her piece titled Tea Time, and second place in the Mixed Media category for her piece titled Singed Elegance.

Congratulations to Egle and Maddie and their teacher, Mrs. Marcia Hansen, for their artistic success in this endeavor.

2012 Midwest Music Festival

The South High School Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony performed at the Midwest Music Festival, held at the Performing Arts Center at Lemont High School. Now in its' 26th year, the festival this year hosted more than 3,000 student musicians from just over Illinois 30 high schools. Bands perform for expert adjudicator feedback, and, a rating.
The South High School Wind Ensemble, conducted here by Ron Hornish, performs John Philip Sousa's march Hands Across the Sea.

The Wind Ensemble also performed After Hands Across the Sea, from the Symphony on Themes of John Philip Sousa by Ira Hearshen. Performing college level literature, the Wind Ensemble earned a Division I rating from the panel of adjudicators. Of the 15 Group I performing ensembles in the auditorium during the day, Wind Ensemble placed second with a score of 89.67.

The Wind Symphony, shown here conducted by Ron Hornish, performed Italia and A Longford Legend. The Wind Symphony earned high marks from the panel of adjudicators, also earning a Division I rating. Of the 18 Group II performing ensembles in the gymnasium, Wind Symphony placed 3rd with a score of 93.67. Wind Symphony also earned the caption award for having the Best Woodwind section from the 18 performing bands in the gymnasium during the day.

Great job today by the Mustang musicians in Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony!!!!!!!!!

Mustang Pep Band Rocks the house!!!!

Kudos and congratulations to the members of the Mustang Pep Band and their bassist and musical director, Mr. Roselieb. The ensemble sonically shined during the Pep Assembly today, and, has performed to rave reviews during the course of the boys and girls basketball season.

Expanding the boundaries of the classroom......

The music suite at South High School in Downers Grove is full today with outside experts leading musical learning and expanding opportunities for Mustang musicians.

A representative from Blue Lake Fine Arts camp is listening to student musicians audition, providing a pathway to potential scholarships to attend this prestigious summer arts program in Twin Lake, Michigan.

Dr. Scott Stewart from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, is working with every band ensemble today on performance repertoire and musical concepts. Also a teacher of leadership skills, Dr. Stewart will work after school with the Marching Mustangs leaddership team and later in the evening with the 2012-2013 Marching Mustangs to develop leadership skill throughout the ensemble.


Composer Michael Shelle is working with Concert Orchestra and Symphonic Orchestra today, discussing both what it is like to be a composer, and, how to perform his music. The D99 Orchestra will perform a concert of Michael Shelle's music on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 7:00 PM in the auditorium at South High School.

2012 South HS Winter Guard Festival

The South High School Percussion Ensemble performs in exhibition at the conclusion of the 2012 South High School Winter Guard Festival.

A flag flourish during the South HS Winter Guard show titled "Beyond."

South HS costumes are themed around the movie Beetlejuice.

Winter Guard member Becca Swick opens the show by reading from the text of Beetlejuice.

South High School in Downers Grove hosted the 2012 Winter Guard Festival, featuring more than 20 performing winter guard ensembles from Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. Performing their show titled Beyond, the 2012 South High School Winter Guard finished first place in Scholastic Class AA with a score of 65.7.

Special thanks to all of the parents and students that volunteered today to make this event successful from a performance and logistical standpoint.

South HS Concert Band and Wind Ensemble

Kudos and congratulations to the student musicians in the South HS Concert Band and Wind Ensemble for their fabulous performance this evening.

Repertoire ranged from Frank Ticheli's Cajun Folk Songs to Ira Hearshen's Symphony on themes of John Philip Sousa. A highlight of the evening was the combined bands rendition of Sousa's popular march The Thunderer.

2012 Scholastic Art Awards Opening Reception

District 99 Visual Art Team, led by Marty Voelker, is acknowledged at the 2012 Scholastics Opening Reception.

Senior Bridget Bicek, American Vision Award nominee with

sponsoring staff member Michelle Lynn.

The auditorium lobby at North High School in Downers Grove thronging with patrons viewing the 2012 Scholastics Art Show during the opening reception and exhibition.

District 99 once again hosted the Chicagoland Regional Scholastic Art Show at North High School in Downers Grove. Led by Marty Voelker, the D99 Art Team put in countless hours above and beyond normal expectations to sponsor this regional show.

South High School submitted 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 during regular business hours, from 8 AM to 4 PM. For more information about Visual Art at South High School or about the Chicagoland Regional Scholastics Show, contact Glenn Williams, South High School Fine Arts Department Chairman, at gwilliams@csd99.org.