Senior Night 2017

Congratulations to the members of the 2017 Marching Mustangs for an epic performance on Senior Night.  "Fly On" was performed visually and musically in a stunning manner, a fitting tribute to the Class of 2017 on Senior Night.  Well done this evening Marching Mustangs - you have set the stage for an epic season indeed - may you enjoy every moment of this season to the fullest possible extent!

Battle of the Adirondack Chairs - DONATE NOW!!

DGS visual artists Samantha mark, Hope Krska, Delaney Kosar and Liam Hiatt for designed and painted an Adirondack Chair for the 2017 DarienFest.  Working with mentor teacher Robyn Bican, the students finished the project which is one of 10 school entries in the "Battle of the Adirondack Chairs" contest as part of DarienFest.  The chairs are on display the Indian Prairie Library for the community to enjoy until they are moved to the Darien Community Park for auction.  Contest winners will be announced on Sunday, September 10th and the highest bid will be donated back to the art program of the winning school.  Congratulations to all the participating schools and artists. Donations can be made online at THIS LINK.

Marching Mustangs perform at Blue on Blue Scrimmage

Marching Mustangs in DCI World Class Corps

DGS Fine Arts congratulates our alums who performed in Drum Corps International this past summer with World Class Corps.  Melissa and Tiffany Wang (Class of 2017) were members of Pioneer;  Sam Tedeschi (Class of 2015) was a member of the Madison Scouts.  Thanks for your dedication to performance excellence in the marching arts, and for showing us all the pathway to a life-long love of music and performance!

Welcome to the Class of 2021!

South High School Fine Arts welcomes the Class of 2021!  We look forward to four years of amazing sights and sounds in the next four years.  It is a great time to be a Mustang!

Jake Burrows and Danny King, 2018 US Army All-Americans

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 from across the country, this school year will be particularly exciting.

Downers Grove South High School seniors Jake Burrows, trumpet and Danny King, clarinet, have been selected, through highly competitive audition, to be members of the  2018 US Army All-American Marching Band.  Both Jake and Danny submitted three separate audition videos featuring marching, playing, and a speaking video articulating their desire to be a US Army All-Americans.

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.  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 televised on Saturday, January 6, 2018.  The game 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.

Jake and Danny will be officially announced as US Army All-Americans during a selection tour stop sponsored by Bowl Games of America on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at South High School.  

Jake and Danny continue an impressive legacy of All-American excellence for the Marching Mustangs, with six students being selected to this prestigious ensemble in last 6 years (Josiah Williams - 2013; Sam Tedeschi - 2015; Larissa Gurnic - 2016;  Noah Tunney - 2017.)

"I'm proud of every student from the Marching Mustangs that auditioned to be a part of this illustrious ensemble." said Fine Arts Department Chair Glenn Williams.  "The artistically joyful dedication and drive both Jake and Danny display in the music suite on a daily basis will be richly rewarded by this experience in San Antonio."

Congratulations to Jake and Danny for achieving this noteworthy honor.  DGS Fine Arts thanks you for the high standards you both 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!!!

DGS Fine Arts Welcomes New Faculty!

DGS Fine Arts welcomes Margaret Winchell to the Fine Arts faculty.  Ms. Winchell will serve as a Choral Director in the Fine Arts Department at Downers Grove South High School, where she will conduct the Freshman Girls Choir, Concert Choir, Treble Choir, and Treble Ensemble. Before coming to South, Ms. Winchell taught choir and theater at Queen of Peace High School in Burbank, Illinois. Ms. Winchell completed her Bachelor of Music Education at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music (IL). There, she studied piano and choral conducting and diversified through involvement with Wheaton’s Opera Music Theater and Arena Theater programs.

In recent years, Ms. Winchell has continued exploring crossover between music and theater as a music director and pianist. Ever hungry for more teaching opportunities, she also tutors for a local test prep company, teaches toddlers in Sunday school at her church, and works as a private piano teacher.

Band Camp 2017 - Finale Show

 Mr. Roselieb with 2018 US Army All-Americans Jake Burrows and Danny King

Congratulations to the students and staff affiliated with the 2017 Marching Mustangs for presenting an impressive Band Camp Finale Show.  "Fly On" has numerous visual and sonic elements in the program that are destined to be well received throughout the fall season.  Special congratulations to the members of the Class of 2018 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.

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!