NIU Jazz Orchestra with D99 Jazz - Tuesday Night @ Tivoli!

On Tuesday, February 1, at 7 PM, the Northern Illinois University Jazz Orchestra makes their return to Downers Grove for the first time in two years. Don't miss the chance to hear this critically acclaimed ensemble while also supporting the Downers Grove North and South High School jazz bands!

Tickets, available at the door (cash only) are $8 for adults and $5 for students. 

Congratulations, District 99 All State Musicians!

Congratulations to the student musicians from District 99 who participated in the 2022 Illinois Music Education Conference as All-State Musicians. During a four-day trip to Peoria, IL, students worked with inspirational conductors and teachers to prepare and present a concert of challenging repertoire. With two days of limited rehearsal time, each ensemble presented a stunning performance of challenging music to capacity crowds at the Peoria Civic Center Arena and Theatre.

Our students and staff in District 99 extend a heartfelt "thank you" to the ILMEA State Office staff and volunteers of ILMEA who contributed to creating this experience for our student musicians.   

DGS Honors the Scholastic Art Award Winners!

Scholastics Arts, “The nation’s longest running, most prestigious 

recognition program awards our DGS Students!”

The Fine Arts Department at Downers Grove South High School is proud to announce the results of the judging from the 2022 Scholastic Art Awards. 948 student artists representing 186 arts educators submitted 2,351 works of art for adjudication. 657 total works were honored with recognitions. This year, South High artists took home a slew of awards, including 4 Gold Key Awards, 11 Silver Key Awards, and 12 Honorable Mention Awards.

DGS Fine Arts Teachers, Kat O’Truk (Drawing & Painting), Samantha Wascher and Gretchen Schreiber (Photography & Computer Art), Molly O’Brien-Prusa (Ceramics), Kim Davidson (Jewelry, Metals, Design & Ceramics), and Laura Murphy (Drawing & Painting) are pleased to announce this year’s Scholastic winners and honorable mentions! 

 

Grace Krause “Ocean Waves"

Cassandra Rapp “Jewel”

Maya Kolakowski “Forever Yours”

DGS Visual Artists Honored - 2022 Scholastic Art Awards

Gold Key Awards (4) 

Corina Karling (Mixed Media) Flex

Tsegereda Melkie (Photography) Trying to Emerge

Julianna Rossi (Photography) The Struggle                  

Carly Zubrzycki (Digital Art) The Road to Recovery

Jasmine Slaton (Drawing & Illustration) The Denouement of Love

Silver Key Awards (11) 

Lindsy Bende (Photography) Colored Splash

Abby Jongsma (Photography) Inside My Head

Maya Kolakowski (Ceramics & Glass) Forever Yours

Grace Krause (Ceramic & Glass) Ocean Waves

Jasmine Slaton (Drawing & Illustration) The Denouement of Love

Sophia Lodhi (Photography) Ghost in the Woods

Maria Mathew (Photography) Modern Day Student

Ashlyn Mesker (Photography) Dark Tableside

Andrew Novotny (Photography) Illuminated Path

Cassandra Rapp (Ceramics & Glass ) Jewel

Shamari Reed (Painting) “Keariyn”

Corina Karling “Mixed Media Flex”

Honorable Mentions (12) 

Marcus Burson (Photography) The Beauty of Power

Emma Clemens (Ceramics & Glass) Strength From Within

Corina Karling (Mixed Media) Unfazed By Agony

Sally Lichner (Painting) Longing

Marilyn Mejia (Drawing & Illustration) Sophia

Tsegereda Melki (Photography) Woven Heritage Basket

Olivia Nowowiejska (Photography) Date Night

Jenil Patel (Photography) Lego Life

Cassandra Rapp (Drawing & Illustration) Decay

Charles Shaw (Photography) Spring Still Life

Jasmine Slaton (Drawing & Illustration) The Denouement of Love

Annie White (Jewelry) Copper Encases Lihen

Hannah Tolomeo “SickofThis”

 

Scholarship Alert (Seniors): DG Music Club College Music Award

The Downers Grove Music Club will present a $1,000 College Music Award to at least one student enrolled in Band, Choir or Orchestra in District 99. Award recipients will be 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 video 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.

Seniors may apply for one of the two possible College Music Awards ($1,000 each). Additional information, on the Downers Grove Music Club website, may be found HERE.

Who Is Eligible?
Any District 99 high school band, choir or orchestra senior, who will be graduating during the this academic year and who will be attending college in the fall of 2021, is eligible to apply.

How Can I Apply?
The application must be completed and submitted, along with a performance video recording, as directed on the submission website, by April 1, 2022.  Award recipients will be chosen only from among the applications received by the deadline date.

All entries must be DATE/TIME STAMPED by the deadline date of April 1, 2022 to be eligible for review.

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

DGS Friends of Fine Arts Interest Form

    This is a reminder that as we continue to build, we would like to work alongside the community to revitalize and reimagine the South High School Friends of Fine Arts (FOFA) organization. The vision is that we will together build an organization that supports the needs of every student beyond the district obligation, and provides a support system that more equally represents band, choir, and orchestra in our department. 
If you have a student currently enrolled in a Fine Arts class and are interested in being a part of the FOFA Executive Board and Planning Committee, please fill out the linked form. We will reach out to you via email later this month. Together we will plan for our first meeting to decide on next steps.  
On behalf of the entire Fine Arts staff here at DGS, we thank you for your consideration and support.  Please feel free to reach out with any questions.  Have a wonderful long weekend. 

FOFA Planning Committee Interest Form

It was a great Downers Grove South High Choir Festival!

     DGS Choirs had an amazing collaboration event with O'Neill, Eisenhower, Jefferson, and Lakeview Junior High School choirs.  Over 80 incoming freshman students sang alongside 50 of our high school performers. 

These students represent the future of our music programs... 

and the future of DGS Choirs is very bright!!