Scholarship Alert for Current Juniors - Downers Grove Music Club Scholarships

$400 Awards for Juniors

This year, the Downers Grove Music Club will present multiple $400 Rising Stars Music Awards.  Awards are given to students enrolled in the District 99 high schools in the areas of Band, Choir or Orchestra.  Award recipients are selected based on the merit of their musical accomplishments, as described on the application form and the quality of the musical performance provided on the recording portion of the application. The goal of these awards is to recognize and reward those students who have worked very hard in their musical pursuits and have achieved a high level of accomplishment as a musician.

Click HERE to be redirected to the DGMC Website with application details.

Who is Eligible?

Any  District 99 high school band, choir or orchestra student, currently in his/her junior year, pursuing a musical educational experience during the summer in which tuition is charged, is eligible to apply for a Rising Stars Award. Pianists may apply in the musical category with which they are affiliated.
 

Award recipients are required to perform the following year at the DGMC Rising Stars program, usually scheduled on a Tuesday evening in April. 

How Can I Apply?

The application must be completed online, along with a performance recording as directed on the website, by April 1, 2019.  Award recipients will be chosen only from among the applications received by the deadline date.

All entries must be completed by the deadline date of April 1, 2019 to be eligible for review.

Questions should be sent to:  musiced@downersgrovemusicclub.org.

D99 Jazz in Clinic and Concert with NIU Jazz Orchestra

The student musicians of the DGN and DGS Jazz Bands participated in an educational clinic and concert with the internationally acclaimed Northern Illinois University Jazz Orchestra. Led by Professor Reggie Thomas, and featuring guest artist Ernie Adams (drums), the NIU Jazz Orchestra performed an exciting set that warmed even the coldest of winter nights. 

Congratulations to the members of the DGN and DGN Jazz programs for their outstanding performances tonight at the Tivoli theater in Downers Grove. It was a pleasure and honor for our students to open for the great Northern Illinois University Jazz Orchestra!

DGS Jazz Workshop

DGS Jazz Lab Band

DGN Jazz Lab Band

DGS Jazz Ensemble

DGN Jazz Ensemble

NIU Jazz Orchestra

Mustang Musicians at the 2019 IMEC #99Learns #DGSPride

Congratulations to the student musicians who participated in the 2019 IMEC as All-State Musicians in at the Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois.   Students worked with inspirational conductors and teachers for several days to prepare and present a concert of challenging repertoire. Even with limited rehearsal time,  each ensemble presented a stunning performance of challenging repertoire to a capacity crowd at Arena in the Civic Center for the All-State and Honors Concerts in Peoria.  Several District 99 students were featured during the concerts as soloists or in principal chairs in each of the ensembles.  

Special kudos also to the music go to the music faculty in District 99 for personifying the spirit of professional volunteerism that keeps ILMEA a vibrant organization - we are proud of each of you for your ongoing contributions.

All the District 99 students and staff extend a heartfelt "thank you" to the staff and volunteers and staff from ILMEA who contributed to creating this experience for our student musicians.   

WINDS AND PERCUSSION

Samantha Guagliardo (12) - Euphonium - Honors Band

CHORUS

Peter Burrows (11) - Tenor I - Honors Chorus

Diana Kwak (10) - Soprano II - Honors Chorus

Matt McKenney (12) - Bass II - Honors Chorus

Samantha Selakovich (12) - Alto II - Honors Chorus

Stefan Tambik (11) - Tenor II - All-State Chorus

Adrian Trujillo (12) - Bass II - All-State Chorus

ORCHESTRA STRINGS

Therese Malinowski (11) - Cello - Honors Orchestra

All-State Musicians Send-Off! #99Learns #DGSPride

Our All-State musicians hit the road to Peoria today!  Congratulations on your selection - have an outstanding few days of rehearsals and some great concerts on Saturday!  

South High Visual Artists at the 2019 Chicagoland Regional Scholastics Art Exhibition

Jennifer Branch - Gold Key Award - Photography

Samantha Marks - Gold Key Award - "Facets"

Jonah Blazak - Gold Key Award - "Springs"

Ryan Bjorset - Gold Key Award - "Optical"

Kristina Huda - Gold Key Award - Photography

The Fine Arts Department at South High School in Downers Grove is pleased to announce the results of the judging from the 2019 Chicago area regional Scholastic Art Awards held at Downers Grove North High School. 1,209 student artists representing 149 arts educators submitted 2,826 works of art for adjudication.  37 South High School visual art students merited 83 awards, including 26 Gold Key Awards, 30 Silver Key Awards, 27 Honorable Mention Awards. These pieces, and all the award winning pieces from the entire regions, will be unveiled at the Opening Reception on Sunday, February 3, 2019 from 1-4:00 PM in the auditorium foyer at Downers Grove North High School.  The works will continue in 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.  “Scholastic Art Awards represent a high point of artistic achievement for a high school Visual Artist.”  "We also congratulate our visual art faculty for mentoring these students through the artistic process." For more information about DGS Visual Art, contact Glenn Williams at gwilliams@csd99.org.

Gold Key Awards (26)

Ryan Bjorseth – Ceramics & Glass

Jonah Blazek – Ceramics & Glass

Jennifer Branch – Photography

Emmanuelle Copeland – Art Portfolio

Nicole Cosenza – Photography

Samantha Groseth – Photography

Kristina Huda – Photography

Michelle Kravec – Digital Art, Art Portfolio, Mixed Media

Kaylee Kushta – Photography

Emma Lafin – Photography

Annie Le – Drawing and Illustration

Gianna Lucacik – Digital Art

Megan Lupie – Photography (2)

Samantha Mark – Mixed Media, Painting, Art Portfolio

Hewane Melkie – Photography, Digital Art

Judith Paniagua-Chavez – Photography

Samantha Perkins – Photography

Grace Reiter – Photography

Pavlo Vovk – Drawing and Illustration

yu xinyang – Ceramics & Glass

Silver Key Awards (30)

Emma Ansah – Drawing and Illustration (2), Painting

Jennifer Branch – Photography (5)

Sarah Cimbalista – Ceramics & Glass

Emmanuelle Copeland – Painting

Nicole Cosenza – Photography

Max Hlavin – Ceramics & Glass

Michelle Kurcina – Ceramics & Glass

Megan Lupie – Digital Art, Ceramics & Glass

Samantha Mark – Painting (4)

Hewane Melkie – Photography (2), Digital Art

Paige Miller – Photography

Madelyn Moushon – Ceramics & Glass

Judith Paniagua-Chavez – Photography (2)

Samantha Perkins – Art Portfolio

Angela Pineda – Photography

Elizabeth Spear – Photography

Goda Vertelka - Painting

Honorable Mention Awards (27)

Emmanuelle Copeland – Drawing and Illustration, Painting, Mixed Media

Nicole Cosenza – Photography

Austin Davis – Drawing and Illustration

Nicole Fajardo – Ceramics & Glass

Skyler Groveau – Photography (3)

Kristina Huda - Photography

Gavan Jones – Ceramics & Glass

Michelle Kravec – Digital Art

Kaylee Kushta – Photography

Gianna Lucacik – Digital Art, Photography

Samantha Mark – Digital Art, Mixed Media, Painting

Frank Mayson – Ceramics & Glass

Hewane Melkie – Photography

Aloha Mendibles – Drawing and Illustration

Judith Paniagua-Chavez – Digital Art

Samantha Perkins – Photography

Angela Pineda – Digital Art

Morgan Silanskis – Photography

Sarah Weigel – Digital Art, Photography

Scholarship Alert - DG Rotary Club Charles Dickerman Scholarship

The Rotary Club of Downers Grove is now accepting applications for their annual Charles Dickerman Music Scholarship.  Each year the Rotary Club of Downers Grove presents a $2,000 scholarship check to a deserving high school senior who resides in Downers Grove or in the District 99 attendance area.  Charles Dickerman was a founding member of the Rotary Club of Downers Grove.  He was a nuclear physicist at Argonne National Laboratory who had undergraduate degrees in both physics and music.  Charles stayed involved in music throughout his life and was an avid bagpiper.

A scholarship application can be downloaded at www.dgrotary.com 

Applicants must have their forms emailed or postmarked by Wednesday, March 13, 2019. If selected as a finalist, candidates must be available for an interview and audition on the evening of Monday, April 8, 2019.

The qualifications to apply for this scholarship are:

• Be a graduating senior attending a public, private, parochial or home school, and reside in Downers Grove or the High School District 99 attendance area. 
• Plan to pursue a post-secondary education program.
• Have participated in high school curricular music activities and/or extracurricular music activities. 
• Composers and/or arrangers qualify for this scholarship. 
• Pursuit of an undergraduate music major or minor is not required.
• Financial need is not a criterion for selection.
  

Information: 

Dave Humphreys
Rotary Club of Downers Grove
musicscholarship@rotarygrovefest.com
630-968-5526 

D99 Jazz Swings Despite Winter Storms

Mother Nature's Winter Storm, which caused the cancellation of the 2019 Purdue University Jazz Festival, was no match for the musicians of the DGN and DGS jazz bands, who gathered today to share the music they had prepared for this weekend's festival and receive feedback from a panel of respected jazz educators. 

District 99 extends thanks to Mr. Tim Coffman (DePaul University), Ms. Patty Sampson (West Aurora High School) and Ms. Stacey Williams-Jackson (Lincoln-Way Central High School) for their tremendous insight and inspirational teaching this afternoon. 

Congratulations to all five D99 jazz bands for spirited performances that showcased their excellent preparation for the 2019 Purdue Jazz Festival.