Claire Pikul to participate in Scholastics National Exhibition #DGSPride #99Learns @Dist_99

Senior visual artist Claire Pikul has been chosen to participate in a special exhibition of selected National Medalist work from the 2016 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, and, in the release of the new publication, The Best Teen Writing of 2016.  Claire's photograph titled "Struck," shown above, will be on exhibition in a national gallery.

 The special exhibition takes place at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building in Washington, DC.  The exhibition opens on Friday, September 16, 2016.

The opening reception recognizes students whose work will be displayed in a variety of ways, including in an exhibit at the Department of Education and The Best Teen Writing of 2016.

Congratulations to Claire and her mentor teacher, Michelle Lynn, for her continuing recognition on the national level as a visual artist.

Noah Tunney, 2017 US Army All-American #DGSPride @Dist_99 #99Learns @DGS_Bands

As school begins, the memories of Band Camp for high school marching artists starts to blend into the routine of weekly rehearsals.  The sounds of drum lines, Dr. Beat, band directors’ commands on school PA systems, and beautiful music repeated until perfected will fill the air, as marching bands on high school campuses around the country continue to prepare for the coming school year.

For 125 of those high school marching band students, this school year will be particularly exciting.

Senior Sousaphone player Noah Tunney was chosen, through competitive audition, to be a member of the 2017 US Army All-American Marching Band.  Noah submitted three separate audition videos featuring marching, playing, and articulating his desire to be a US Army All-American.

The band, chosen from more than 1,300 auditioning students from 47 states, is comprised of 125 of the finest high school senior marching musicians in America.  Each member receives an all-expense paid trip to San Antonio, Texas in January of 2017.  Band members will rehearse with nationally renowned instructors for a week, culminating in a performance at the US Army All-American Bowl at the Alamo Dome, an annual East vs. West High School football game that features 90 of the best high school football players in America.  This game is viewed live by more than 38,000 spectators, and, will garner a live viewing audience on NBC of more than 2.5 million viewers.

Noah continues a legacy of All-American excellence for the Marching Mustangs, with students selected to this prestigious ensemble 4 out of the last 5 years (Josiah Williams - 2013; Sam Tedeschi - 2015; Larissa Gurnic - 2016.)

Congratulations to Noah for achieving this prestigious selection.  Thanks also for the high standards you set on the field and in the music suite each and every day.  Have a great season and an even better time in San Antonio - Go Mustangs!!!

Noah Tunney, 2017 US Army All-American #DGSPride @Dist_99 #99Learns @DGS_Bands

As school begins, the memories of Band Camp for high school marching artists starts to blend into the routine of weekly rehearsals.  The sounds of drum lines, Dr. Beat, band directors’ commands on school PA systems, and beautiful music repeated until perfected will fill the air, as marching bands on high school campuses around the country continue to prepare for the coming school year.

For 125 of those high school marching band students, this school year will be particularly exciting.

Senior Sousaphone player Noah Tunney was chosen, through competitive audition, to be a member of the 2017 US Army All-American Marching Band.  Noah submitted three separate audition videos featuring marching, playing, and articulating his desire to be a US Army All-American.

The band, chosen from more than 1,300 auditioning students from 47 states, is comprised of 125 of the finest high school senior marching musicians in America.  Each member receives an all-expense paid trip to San Antonio, Texas in January of 2017.  Band members will rehearse with nationally renowned instructors for a week, culminating in a performance at the US Army All-American Bowl at the Alamo Dome, an annual East vs. West High School football game that features 90 of the best high school football players in America.  This game is viewed live by more than 38,000 spectators, and, will garner a live viewing audience on NBC of more than 2.5 million viewers.

Noah continues a legacy of All-American excellence for the Marching Mustangs, with students selected to this prestigious ensemble 4 out of the last 5 years (Josiah Williams - 2013; Sam Tedeschi - 2015; Larissa Gurnic - 2016.)

Congratulations to Noah for achieving this prestigious selection.  Thanks also for the high standards you set on the field and in the music suite each and every day.  Have a great season and an even better time in San Antonio - Go Mustangs!!!

2016 Band Camp Finale Show #DGSPride #99Learns @Dist_99 @DGS_Bands

Congratulations to the students and staff affiliated with the 2016 Marching Mustangs for presenting an impressive Band Camp Finale Show.  "Cosmic" has numerous visual and sonic elements in the program that are destined to be well received throughout the fall season.  Special congratulations to the 42 members of the Class of 2017 for your impressive leadership throughout the week.

We also extend heartfelt gratitude to the all parent volunteers that made Band Camp this year a success - from catering to props, the pervasive spirit of parent volunteerism is essential to the function of the organization and enables us to provide a great experience for students.

One final special shout out to Coach Molinari and the DGS Football program for collaborating so the Band Camp show could happen between the sophomore and varsity scrimmages.

We look forward to the continuing success of the Marching Mustangs during the fall season - it is going to be a great fall to be a Mustang!

Band Camp 2016 #DGSPride #99Learns @Dist_99

Although the 2016 Marching Mustangs have already collectively rehearsed for more than 50 hours this summer, Band Camp 2016 is still recognized as the official "start" to the season.

Band Camp is an immersive, secluded, focused time to learn the visual and sonic elements that comprise a field production.  Visual elements and musical elements are worked on separately, then, they are coordinated during ensemble rehearsals.  The intensive week of rehearsals provides the students an opportunity to go deeper into artistic community through engaging in the rehearsal process.  The 140+ member ensemble is preparing their show themed around the word "Cosmic," with the music and movement certain to be well received in all venues during the fall performance season.

This Friday, August 19, 2016, the Marching Mustangs will perform a culminating show during 1/2 time of the varsity football scrimmage.  The performance will take place in the stadium sometime between 6:45-7:15 PM.  The public is cordially invited to attend the performance and to stay and cheer on the Mustang football team both before and after the band performance.

Congratulations Representative David S. Olsen! #DGSPride @Dist_99 #99Learns

Congratulations to South High School alum and former Marching Mustangs member David Olsen who was sworn in today at South High School as the State Representative for the Illinois 81st District.  

National Scholastics Awards at Carnegie Hall #99Learns #DGSPride @Dist_99

Two Downers Grove South visual artists were celebrated at a national ceremony in June at Carnegie Hall.  Claire Pikul earned two Gold Medal Awards and Alessandra Lane earned a Silver Medal Award.  Since 1923, the Scholastic Art and Writing Writing Awards are the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious award and recognition program for creative teens. This year the Scholastic Awards received 320,000  submissions for the 2016 program year. Receiving a National Medal from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards places these student artists within the top 1% of all submissions from a national pool of art work.

The Art.Write.Now National Exhibition took place in New York City in June, coinciding with the National Ceremony. Works receiving Gold Medals were on display at the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center at Parsons School of Design at The New School and at Pratt Institute’s Pratt Manhattan Gallery. Approximately 300 works of art and 300 works of writing from National Medalists were included in the exhibition. The Alliance also holds ongoing exhibitions at the U.S. Department of Education and the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. In addition, National Medalist art and writing is displayed in cities across the U.S. as part of the Art.Write.Now.Tour, our traveling national exhibition.

Watch the entire National Awards Ceremony by CLICKING HERE.

Congratulations to these two artists and their mentor teacher Michelle Lynn - well done!

Former Marching Mustangs performing with DCI World Class Corps #99Learns #DGSPride @Dist_99

South High School and the Marching Mustangs have had a strong run of student participation in the drum corps activity.  Special shout out to recent grads Becca Swick (Colts), Brad Jones (Cavaliers), Jess Colip (Colts) and Tim Strenning (Pioneer) for their recent participation in the activity with world class corps.  This summer, DGS has a remarkable three students performing with world class corps.  Sam Tedeschi is a member of the Madison Scouts.  Josiah Williams and John Shimanek are members of the Phantom Regiment.  The DCI season is concluding quickly, with Allentown, PA (August 5-6) preceding the finals in Indianapolis, IN (August 11-13.)  Be sure to follow these former Marching Mustangs and their ensembles online or in person as the 2016 DCI season draws to a close.  

National Composition Award winner Gabby Henderson #99Leans #DGSPride @Dist_99

Congratulations to recent graduate Gabby Henderson for winning a Gold Medal for music composition at the national ACT-SO competition held in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Gabby's vocal jazz composition Moon Rock Island earned her this national honor.

Well done Gabby - you make us all proud to be Mustangs!