DGS FOFA Poinsettia Fundraiser Reminder!

 

Poinsettia Fundraiser FINAL Reminder

Hello from the DGS Friends of Fine Arts!  We hope you will continue to support our Fine Arts Community by contributing to the annual poinsettia fundraiser. You can place your orders by following these simple steps:

1. Use this LINK to access the Friends of Fine Arts Webstore link.  You can also access it through the District 99 Webstore home page. Simply click on the DGS Band Boosters from there.

2. Complete the form, double checking to make sure that all information is accurate.  

3. Disregard the membership information (unless you are contributing in addition to purchasing a poinsettia), and simply list the amount that you are paying in the comment space provided. Each poinsettia is $18 advanced purchase ($25 on the night of the concert)

4. List student name (if applicable) as well as the items you are purchasing (ex. 1 Poinsettia)

5. Click 'Add to Cart'

6. Follow the site as it leads you through the  payment information. 

7. Done!

All purchased poinsettias will adorn the Performing Arts Center, Learning Commons, and STEAM on December 8th and be made available for pickup at the conclusion of the festivities. Questions about the poinsettia fundraiser should be directed to FOFA President, Mrs. Ann Andreshak at aandartistry2melody@gmail.com  Please contact me if you have questions about the event as well. 

Once again, thank you for supporting the Fine Arts here at Downers Grove South High School. We look forward to seeing you all on December 8th!  

South High Vocal and Instrumental Students Recognized at the 2022 ILMEA District Festival!

 

Congratulations to the all of our amazing DGS vocal and instrumental student-musicians that were selected to perform in the Illinois Music Education Association District Festival. Students from across the Chicago region were selected by competitive audition to participate in day-long educational workshops with highly respected guest conductors, and present a culminating concert for family, friends, and educators.

Special congratulations to these students and a shout out to our wonderful faculty - Mrs. Belt-Roselieb, Mr. Hernandez, Mr. Kennedy, Dr. Pedroza, Ms. Hicks, Mr. Lowrey, and Ms. Zall as well as our entire community for supporting the endeavors of our amazing students. 

Thank you to the faculty, staff and Music Education majors at Elmhurst University for welcoming our students to campus as the festival host site.  Here are snapshots of some of the great moments that our students experienced throughout the day!

DGS Students Named All-STATE Musicians!!!!

 

10 Student Musicians from South High School have been selected through competitive audition to participate in the 2022-2023 Illinois music Education Association Al-State Bands, Orchestras, and Choirs. Students summitted video auditions which were evaluated by a panel of adjudicators. The top placing scores participated in the District Music Festival, held on November 19, 2022. The top placing scores from District Festivals around Illinois earned a nod as All-State musicians. Congratulations to:

CHORUS
Sebastian Blanco(10) - Bass II
Gianna Caponigro(11) - Soprano I
Scott Conley(11) - Bass II
Maija Flannery(11) - Soprano I

Kyle Kuper(10) - Bass I
Jack Melie(9) - Bass I
Abby Parson(11) - Alto I
Delaney Turner(12) - Alto I

BAND
Evangeline Selking(9) - Flute

ORCHESTRA
Erika Andreshak(10) - Viola
Luidas Davies(12) - Violin II

"To not only complete such a rigorous audition process, but to also be placed among the top musicians in the entire state of Illinois is a testament to the work, dedication, and sacrifice that these students have made," said Fine Arts Department Chair Jerry Lowrey." Everyone here in the South High School Community is proud to have these wonderful students represent us at the Illinois Music Educators Conference in Peoria Illinois in January of 2023. Thank you all for your inspiration!" 

Congrats to Gretchen, Becca, Anthony, and Evangeline!

These four musicians got the opportunity to play in the ILMEA Senior Band on Saturday! 

Students audition by preparing challenging literature and submitting videos in October. The best musicians in the state get invited to play in their district bands. From there, students are chosen for ILMEA All-State, which performs in January at the Illinois Music Education Conference at the Peoria Civic Center. We are still waiting back to hear those results. 

Gretchen Hasselhorst (viewers left) on french horn, Becca Snouffer on clarinet, Anthony Lopez on trumpet, and Evangeline Selking on flute. Special shout-out to Evangeline, not only was she first chair but she also had multiple solos and knocked them out of the park! 

DGS is so proud of these students and can't wait to see who makes it into ILMEA band next year. 

(Their new album cover.)

DGS drum major and flutist Briyana Zeigler sang in the ILMEA choir!

Dr. Roxanne Stevenson, Director of Bands at Chicago State University was the guest conductor for the day. We hope to have her come to DGS to clinic in the near future! 

Concert time! 

Becca and Anthony are all smiles with department chair Mr. Jerry Lowrey!

 

DGS Friends of Fine Arts Partners with GIA MIA For Fundraiser on November 17th!

 

Friends of Fine Arts is excited to announce an upcoming restaurant sponsorship with Gia Mia in downtown Downers Grove.  They have amazing food and we are grateful to partner with them in our first fundraising restaurant sponsor event! 

Save the date:  Thursday November 17th and show your support for Friends of Fine Arts

ALL DAY you can order food for carry out or dine in at the Downers Grove Gia Mia location.

  

Please show our flyer created especially for Friends of Fine Arts when you dine-in, carry out or pick up curbside or mention our special code DGS1117 when you check out!  

There is No tastier way to offer your support!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tj9pTjfHF-5dtVHOE6jbliq_fPGfqw2e/view?usp=share_link

Your participation will earn Friends of Fine Arts 20% of the sales from those patrons participating all day on Thursday, November 17th.  The proceeds help supplement the amazing opportunities provided to the students and provide scholarships to aid and accomplish their artistic goals in the visual and performing arts departments at Downers Grove South High School.  

Alone we can do so little but together we can do so much!

Please reach out if you have any questions: aandartistry2melody@gmail.com or 630-272-2195

Thank you for your participation

Ann Andreshak

President, DGS FOFA

DGS Jazz Concert November 15th!!

 DGS Jazz Concert Tuesday November 15th 7:00pm!!

Come show your support for the DGS Fine Arts Community and Family by joining us for a night of swing, dance, and positive energy.  These kids have been working so hard to put something special together for all of you, so come out and enjoy the show. Tomorrow night's concert will feature our DGS Jazz Workshop, Lab Band, and Jazz Ensemble. We'll be filling the Performing Arts Center with works from Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Count Basie, Sonny Rollins, and more.  

We always prefer to have a large audience to contribute to a festive atmosphere, but if you cannot attend in person, check our livestream out on the DGS Fine Arts Youtube channel.  Thank you all and see you tomorrow night!!!

DGS Wind Ensemble Invitational TONIGHT!

 

DGS Wind Ensemble Invitational Tonight! 

Come enjoy an evening of beautiful music tonight as we celebrate the Downers Grove area school community.  Tonight's performance will feature fine performances from the DGS Wind Ensemble as well as Eisenhower Jr. High School. A special message and presentation from the Lakeview District 66 students and director, Tom Tedeschi will capstone the evening. We look forward to seeing you!

If you cannot attend in person, you can watch the livestream by following the DGS FineArts page on Youtube!

What a Great Couple of Weeks for the Downers Grove South Bands!

 

So many stories, so many memories, so many fantastic rehearsals and performances. Our community is better because of the commitment these students, faculty members, families, and friends put forth for each other and for the music. We thank all of you and look forward to many more great experiences!

The Fall Bands Concert with our Wind Symphony, conducted by Ms. Robbi Hicks and Mr. Aaron Kennedy!

Congratulations to our Marching for a Season of HUGE strides and great success!  Here are some pics from the ISU Championships.

Drum Majors Annie White, Bradley Padavic and Briyana Ziegler representing our DGS Community

Into the Clouds

It was WINDY, but our student musicians and performance did and incredible job as a capstone on a fantastic year.

The great Ms. Georgia Hash! Thank you for your unwavering support and happy soon-to-be retirement!

Beautiful set pieces and choreography

Alumni there to lend a helping hand!   #Familyaffair

Last minute inspiration for Mr. Kennedy

Peace and love indeed!

And the Snouffers!

The South High Friends of Fine Arts Membership Drive Continues. Help Make it a Success!

 

This is the second reminder and call to action regarding the Friends of Fine Arts Membership Drive. Our membership drive began two weeks ago with a goal of at least 100 new contributing members. We have now approaching 40, but we have a very long way to go!

The Friends of Fine Arts are a volunteer organization of parents, educators and community members supporting and promoting the Fine Arts at Downers Grove South High School. If you have a student in the Arts, you are automatically a member. However it would be incredible for you to become a contributing member. Your membership and contributions go a long way in ensuring that every students has access to quality experiences in the Arts. Through gifts and service, DGS FOFA is dedicated to:

• Providing private lesson scholarships as well as music and art summer grants to every student we can, to increase access for all.

• Enlightening classroom experiences through guest clinicians, artists, entrepreneurs, and conductors.

• Purchasing equipment for Fine Arts instruction that extends beyond the district’s financial obligation.

• Supporting Fine Arts events with publicity, volunteers, and hospitality.

• Advocating and communicating Fine Arts activities and student achievement in the Arts to the broader artistic community.

• 
  

MEMBERSHIP

Again the primary purpose is to increase access for EVERY student.  We have much to do and your support is greatly appreciated. You can become a contributor by:

• Following this link to the Downers Grove Friends of Fine Arts Individual Membership Form. 

• Submitting contribution as a business, by using the Business Donation Form.

• For paper and mailing, attached is a copy of the FOFA Membership Form as a PDF that includes a QR Code to the webstore.

Once completed, please take all of this a big step further by:

• Passing this information along to friends and family. All are welcome. 

• Consider being present and helping at events by filling out this  Volunteer Interest Form

If you have questions about membership or about FOFA in general, reach out to me at any time. Thank you again for your consideration and we look forward to an amazing drive.  

Sincerely,

Jerry Lowrey

Ms. Ann Andreshak - Friends of Fine Arts President

Jerry J. Lowrey (he/him)

DGS Fine Arts Department Chair, Band Director 

  

		1436 Norfolk Street Downers Grove, Illinois 60516 630-795-8681 jlowrey@csd99.org
District 99 is committed to providing high-quality educational opportunities  for all students in a caring, equitable and inclusive environment.

DGS Fall Play "Small Mouth Sounds" Premieres Tonight!

 Join us for the Downers Grove South HS Fall Play!  Our talented performers & stage crew members will shine as they present Small Mouth Sounds this weekend, directed by our own Ms. Tiffany Rubin! 

Please click here to read more about the production, Small Mouth Sounds. 

Music Unites Us: District 99 & 58 Orchestras

Congratulations to the members of the District 99 Symphonic Orchestra, District 99 Concert Orchestra, the Herrick Middle School Orchestra and the O'Neil Middle School Orchestra for an outstanding Fall Orchestra Concert: Music Unites Us. Bravi tutti!  

Special thanks to dancers Norah Rajesh and Prakruti Torlikonda for sharing their artistry with the audience.

Did you miss the concert? Have out-of-town family that couldn't make it? We have you covered. Tune in to the re-broadcast on the DGN Fine Arts YouTube Channel, HERE. A digital concert program may be found HERE.