Friday, October 28, 2016

Sonic wisdom from Carl Allen @Dist_99 @DGS_Bands #99Learns #DGSPride





Legendary jazz drummer Carl Allen worked with DGS Jazz students this morning, sharing a wealth of jazz knowledge in an hour clinic.  The mentor/apprentice relationship has always been at the heart of jazz learning, and today the students gained a glimpse into the musical knowledge of one of the greatest living jazz drummers.  Musical leadership and responsibility, listening to each other and to the music, and unification of musical elements were a few of the topics covered during the master class.  Mr. Allen's appearance today was made possible, in part by the Mustang Band Boosters and Mr. Allen's sponsors, including Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Percussion, Drum World Percussion, Latin Percussion, and Vic Firth Percussion.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Downers Grove Music Club "Notable Celebration of the Arts"


The Downers Grove Music Club is hosting the fourth annual fund raising benefit, A Notable Celebration of the Arts on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at 7:00 PM at the First Congregational Church in Downers Grove.  This event is a music filled evening held in the historic First Congregational Church of Downers Grove. It features performances donated by local professional musicians, coloratura soprano Angela Presutti Korbitz, organist and pianist Chris Garofalo, and pianist Jim Molina.  Also, trumpet player Brianna Imgruet, one of the current Student Music Award winners from DGS, will perform as well. The concert will be followed by a reception and a silent auction featuring many enticing packages. The proceeds from this annual event fund the Downers Grove Music Club Student Music Awards which will be given out next spring.

New this year, if you are unable to attend, you can still support this cause with a donation and/or by participating in the online silent auction. The online auction will open no later than November 1st and will remain open through the evening of the event.

Go to the DG Music Club’s website for tickets and/or more information www.downersgrovemusicclub.org

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Chicagoland 4x5 Art Show @Dist_99 #DGSPride #99Learns

 Aubrey Vernon, artist

 Cannon Brackett, artist

Goda Vertelka, artist

The 4x5 Art Show forces student artists to work within the parameters of a less than ordinary dimension. This idea was evolved so that more work could be shown, more schools could participate and more ideas could be born. The exhibition showcases over 1000 pieces, surpassing most Chicago galleries in quantity and grandeur.  Commonly known as the "biggest little art show," the 4x5 show returns to the Chicagoland region after a recent short hiatus. 


The show takes place at Oswego High School (4520 Rte. 71, Oswego, IL 60543) and can be seen for viewing by appointment made with Michael Skura, OHS Department Chair: 630-636-2065,  mskura@sd308.org from October 31-November 9. November 10 will be a public opening and awards presentation at 7pm. 

South High School is pleased to announce and congratulate the thirty participating student artists in the 2016 4x5 Show:  

Emma Anash
Sydney Antiporek
Monica Baba
Cannon Brackett
Ivy Bukowski
Emanuelle Copeland
Evalina Dygdon
Thomas George
Caroline Grannan
Michelle Hopkins
Nina Kovaltchuk
Jacqueline Lestina
Gabrielle Loconti
Tylie Loya
Molly Mandziara
Samantha Mark
Paige Massey
Chrissy Markovski
Shalyn Martinek
Marissa McGivern
Andrew Meija
Kailee O’Connor
Brad Olsaukas
Meredith Ostrum
Angelina Pantano-Severson
Angela To-Ong
Claire Pikul
Marguerite Reynolds
Aubrey Vernon
Goda Vertelka


Thursday, October 20, 2016

Celebration of culture and music during "Music is a Passport to the World." @D99Orchestra @Dist_99 @DGDistrict58 @DGNFineArts @AyodeleDrum



















This evening more than 200 student musicians from four schools and two districts gathered to celebrate music and culture as the District 99 Orchestra sponsored the "Music is a Passport to the World" concert.  The repertoire during the concert celebrated the music from more than a dozen different cultures, highlighted by student and parent program notes in both English and the native language of the piece being performed. In addition to featuring student vocalists and guitarists on the Mexican folk song "DeColores," the evening concluded with a combined finale featuring guest artists Ayodele, an African drum and dance troupe.  The capacity crowd in the auditorium departed with a palpable enthusiasm for the success of the concert, both in the diversity of repertoire and in the fabulous performances by all the student musicians.

Thanks to the O'Neill Middle School Orchestra, Julie Spring, director, and the Herrick Middle School Orchestra, Madeline Fiene, director, for their significant sonic contributions to this performance.  Thanks also to D99 Orchestra director Jennifer Mullen for envisioning and executing such a collaborative cultural event.

If you were unable to join us in the auditorium this evening, or, if you simply want to re-experience this fabulous event, you can view it on the High School Cube by CLICKING HERE. 

IHSAE "Best in Show" Award Winner Arabella Zurbano #DGSPride #99Learns @Dist_99



2016 South High School graduate Arabella Zurbano won "Best of Show" in the graphic design category at the Illinois High School Art Exhibition last year. Her piece has now been selected to be on display at the upcoming Illinois Association of School Boards Joint Annual Conference in November, where it will be seen by school leaders from throughout the state. CLICK HERE for details. DGS Art Teacher Molly O'Brien-Prusa says that Arabella was an excellent student and artist who always completed her work at a very high quality!
Congratulations to Arabella, and thank you to the District 99 Board of Education for supporting and promoting our Fine Arts students and programs!

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

2016 ILMEA District Audition Results @DGSFineArts @DGS_Bands @D99Orchestra #99Learns #DGSPride



 
The music faculty, private teachers and sender school music teachers associated with South High School are proud to recognize the students that earned 34 placements in band, choir, jazz band and orchestra.  On Tuesday, October 11,  57 student musicians from South High School in Downers Grove took a total of 71 auditions at Carl Sandburg High School to participate in the 2016  Illinois Music Education Association District 1 Festivals.  These students have been selected through a highly competitive audition to participate in the 2016 ILMEA District Festivals.

Student musicians enrolled in music ensembles in the DGS Fine Arts department continue to annually demonstrate remarkable success at both the District and All-State level. "The total number of participating students continues to be consistently high on an annual basis." said DGS Fine Arts Chairman Glenn Williams. "Additionally, DGS is equally well represented in all areas of ensemble performance – band, choir, orchestra, vocal jazz and jazz band - in this process."

For more information about attending these district festivals, please contact Fine Arts Department Chairman Glenn Williams at gwilliams@csd99.org or at 630.795.8681.

CHOIR
Amy Binder - (11) - Alto II
Jake Burrows (11) - Bass I
Matt Burrows (11) - Bass II
Shannon Conniff (11) - Soprano II
Emmanuelle Copeland (10) - Alto II
Vanessa Copeland (12) - Alto II
Michaela Dukes (11) - Soprano II
Emily Kaszyk (12) - Soprano II
Faith Ley (11) - Soprano II
Sean McCarthy (12) - Tenor I
Natalie Olsen (11) -Alto I
Lydia Walsh-Rock (12) - Soprano I
Stephanie Welker (12) -Alto I
Tim Werner (12) - Bass I
Grace Zieman (12) - Soprano I

WINDS AND PERCUSSION (CLASSICAL)
Carson Aldrich (10) - Trombone (Band)
Allison Brandt (11) - Bb Clarinet (Orchestra)
Brianna Imgruet (12) - Trumpet (Band)
Danny King (11) - Bb Clarinet (Band)
Kristina Mucha (12) - Bb Clarinet (Band)
Olivia Porcaro (11) - Flute (Band)
Emily Schwab (10) - Bassoon (Band)
Saahil Sorakayla (9) - Bassoon (Band)
Susan Zhou (12) - Bb Clarinet (Orchestra)

ORCHESTRA STRINGS
Nicolette Cheaure (11) - Viola
Bella Kelly (11) - Violin

WINDS AND PERCUSSION (JAZZ)
Jake Burrows (11) - Trumpet
Matt Burrows (11) - Bass Trombone
Brianna Imgruet (12) - Trumpet
Matt Laczynski (12) - Trombone
Dan Piccoli (12) - Alto Saxophone
Brian Piller (12) - Tenor Saxophone
Olivia Tyrrell (12) - Alto Saxophone
Adam Zlotnicki (12)  -Trumpet

D99 Orchestra Passport to the World - Don't Miss it! @Dist_99 @D99Orchestra #99Learns



This Thursday, October 20th at 7:00 p.m., the District 99 Orchestra, along with the District 58 Orchestras from O’Neill and Herrick Middle Schools will be collaborating in a concert, which will take place in the South High Auditorium.  The theme of the concert is “Music is a Passport to the World,” and will feature music from around the world.  

Music and culture from around the globe will be highlighted in the following ways:

·         Students (and a parent) are introducing the literature in the language of the country from which the composition originates (and then translating for our English-speaking audience)
o    Concert patrons will hear Spanish, Swedish, Russian, Chinese, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Romanian

·        Concert patrons will experience student-created multi-media presentations that feature pictures and video from the various cultures. The videos will be coordinated with a live performance by the orchestra.

·   The grand finale, a piece called African Adventure, will be performed by all musicians (high school and middle school) along with guest artists, Ayodele, an African drumming and dance ensemble.

     Because of the depth and breadth of the literature and the coordination with media and culture, this is a concert you won't want to miss!  Concert admission is free and the public is cordially invited to attend.  

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

2016 Fall Choir Concert #DGSPride #99Learns @Dist_99


















Congratulations to the members of the DGS Choirs for presenting a fabulous Fall Concert this evening.

If you were unable to join us tonight in the auditorium or if you'd like to re-create the experience, please watch the archived broadcast on the High School Cube by CLICKING HERE.