Members of the Downers Grove North High School Jazz Bands took their show on the road this past weekend, participating in the 21st Annual Purdue University Jazz Festival. The Purdue festival, which draws outstanding high school jazz programs from Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, began on Friday, January 21 with a concert featuring the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra from New York and continued all day Saturday, January 22 with hundreds of student musicians performing for panels of internationally recognized jazz musicians.
The DGN Jazz Ensemble performed in the Loeb Playhouse and earned a Division I rating. Six students from this band garnered Outstanding Soloist/Musicianship awards. Congratulations to Sebastian Calvino (trombone), Justine Hung (piano), John Janke (guitar), Spencer Schillerstrom (tenor sax), Zach Schneeweis (trombone), and Isaac Stevenson (percussion).
The DGN Jazz Lab Band, performing in the North Ballroom had eight students recognized with Soloist/Musicianship Awards. Congratulations to Rachel Clivaz (piano), Jeremy Craven (trumpet), Connor Dimmick (guitar), Tommy Donnelly (trumpet), Steve Janke (bass), Brendan McBride (alto sax), John McGarry (trombone), and PJ O'Hara (percussion), for earning this distinction from the adjudicators.
The DGN Jazz Combo performed in the Faculty Lounge, and were lauded by the adjudication pannel for their creative programming and musical arrangements. Congratulations to Nolan Schillerstrom (guitar), Spencer Schillerstrom (tenor sax), Isaac Stevenson (percussion), and James Tandaric (bass) for their Soloist/Musicianship Awards in this division of the competition.
"Our students enjoy the opportunity to attend this great Jazz Festival each year because we have the chance to hear so many wonderful jazz ensembles and soloists. Having 18 musicians recognized with awards is a credit to the hard work and dedication of our North High students," said department chairperson and music teacher Brayer Teague.
The community is invited to hear the award winning DGN and DGS Johnson Auditorium as they share the stage with the renowned NIU Jazz Ensemble and guest artist Ernie Watts at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 3, 2011. Tickets are $8 ($6 for students) and available at the door.
