Winter Guard Takes 2nd Place at Cedarburg

Congratulations to the DGN Winter Guard for taking 2nd Place this weekend at the Midwest Color Guard Circuit Competition held at Cedarburg High School.  The Winter Guard improved an impressive 10 points from their initial competitive outing this season.  Great job ladies!

All State Music Composition #WeAreDGN #99Learns #imec2016 @ilmea1

Congratulations to Jeremy Pike on his First Place Award in the Illinois All State Music Composition Contest.

All State Future Music Educators #WeAreDGN #99Learns #imec2016 @ilmea1

Congratulations to Lauren Birkmeier on her selection to the Illinois Music Education Association All State "Future Music Educator Symposium."

All State Band #WeAreDGN #99Learns #imec2016 @ilmea1

Congratulations to David Atwater (horn), Sarah Fantinel (flute) and Todd Griffin (tuba) on their selection to the 2016 Illinois All State Band.

All State Honors Band #WeAreDGN #99Learns #imec2016 @ilmea1

Congratulations to Alyse Bondarowicz (flute), and Caleb Schmurr (trombone) on their selection to the 2016 Illinois All State Honors Band.

All State Honors Orchestra #WeAreDGN #99Learns #imec2016 @ilmea1

Congratulations to Maria D'Ambrose (oboe), Tim Edwards (cello), Megan Hung (clarinet), and Liam Morgan (cello) on their selection to the 2016 Illinois All State Honors Orchestra.

Congrats Wind Ensemble & Composition Contest Winner Jeremy Pike #imec2016 #WeAreDGN #99Learns

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Wind Ensemble on an outstanding performance today at the Illinois Music Education Conference in Peoria, IL. The band performed an arrangement "O Holy Night," by senior Jeremy Pike. Jeremy was awarded First Place in the Arranging Division of the Illinois All State Music Composition Concert.

Bravo to each and every member of the @dgnbands for the professionalism and musicianship on display for the State of Illinois today. #WeAreDGN!

The @dgnbands #JazzEnsemble on Indianapolis News #WeAreDGN #99Learns

Seeking Band Volunteers for Class of 2020 "Freshman Open House" - Thursday, February 4

We are seeking current band students who would like to help us make a positive impact on current 8th graders who will be attending the Incoming Freshman Open House (Class of 2020) next week.  

The Open House is on Thursday, February 4.  We need volunteers to work at both the Elective Fair (in the Field House), and also volunteers to help us make presentations in the Band Room that night.  

If you think you could help us, please follow the link below, and fill out the short form. Specific times are detailed on the form.  

We will look at the volunteer pool, and try to put together a team of speakers and helpers that night that represents a great cross-section of our Band program.  (Various grades, instruments, sender schools, etc.)

Please complete the form no later than Saturday, January 30.

Thanks for your consideration!  

http://tinyurl.com/DGNBandOpenHouse

Winter Guard Opens Competitive Season #WeAreDGN @dgncolorguard

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Winter Guard on a terrific season-opening performance this past weekend at Naperville North High School!

DGN Jazzers Swing at 2016 Purdue Jazz Festival #WeAreDGN #99Learns

Congratulations to the student musicians of the North High School Jazz Program for an outstanding showing at the 2016 Purdue Jazz Festival.   Four ensembles performed and competed with more than 100 high school ensembles from five states across the Midwest.  In addition to receiving a score from the panel of adjudicators in each room, each group received real time formative feedback from each judge in an audio recording.  This feedback is essential to the continuing growth of both individual students and the musicianship of each ensemble.  

Each of the four ensembles from DGN received a Division I rating from the panel of judges.  This is the highest possible rating on the scoring rubric.  In addition to the outstanding ensemble performances, 20 Outstanding Soloist Awards were given by the panel of judges to DGN students for displaying outstanding musicianship.

The DGN Jazz Ensemble earned "Outstanding Performance" for their room (Loeb Playhouse), meaning they were one of the top two ensembles for the day.  The band was also a featured ensemble for an educational lecture presented by Don Owens, Jazz Studies Professor Emeritus from Northwestern University.  The "Jazz Technicians Combo" also earned "Outstanding Performance" for their division in the Anniversary Drawing Room. 

Jazz Ensemble – Division I Rating / Outstanding Performance Award (2nd Place)

Outstanding Soloist Awards: Ellie Banke (vocal), Josie Bondarowicz (bass), Michael Hardy (piano), Ryan Knezevich (trombone), Matthew McCoy (alto sax), Zachary McCoy (drums), Austin Moca (piano), Nate Rapach (trumpet), Vince Rybowiak (guitar), Caleb Schmurr (trombone), 

Jazz Lab Band – Division I Rating / 3rd Place 

Outstanding Soloist Awards: Kevin Griffin (trombone), Kaylee McCarthy (trombone)

Jazz Technician Combo – Division I Rating / Outstanding Performance Award (2nd Place)

Outstanding Soloist Awards: Josie Bondarowicz (bass), Gavin Harker (trumpet), Ben Heppner (drums), Andrew Jackson (tenor sax), Ryan Knezevich (trombone), Austin Moca (piano)

Double Take Combo – Division I Rating / 3rd Place

Outstanding Soloist Awards: Michael Hardy (piano), Caleb Schmurr (trombone)

@dgnbands Jazzers Gear Up For #PurdueJazzFest with @PurdueBands

The DGN Jazz Ensemble & Jazz Lab Band performed "warm up concerts" for one another this morning. Everyone is sounding great and excited for our annual pilgrimage to the greatest college Jazz Fest in the nation! @dgnbands boards the tour bus at 1:30 this afternoon. Best wishes to all for a sonically successful weekend with the @PurdueBands #PurdueJazzFest

Pep Band Tuesday - Report Time Adjusted!

We have made a decision to adjust the report-time for Tuesday night's Pep Band performance at the DGN Basketball game, based on the cross-over schedule of the musicians in Pit Orchestra.  We want to make sure those students have at least 90 minutes to get dinner Tuesday night.

Pep Band members should report at 7 PM Tuesday night (not 6 PM as previously published). We will set up directly in the Purple Gym for the game (Tip Off at 7:30), and do the performance without a pre-game rehearsal.  Don't forget to wear PURPLE!

Pep Band at Winter Classic #WeAreDGN #99Learns @dgnbands

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp - Campus Auditions on Tuesday, February 9

The Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (in Michigan) is one of the nation’s leading arts immersion camps.  BLFAC is a non-profit summer school of the arts specializing in two-week arts programs for intermediate and high school students. 

Because there is a strong tradition of highly qualified District 99 students attending Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, the institution actively recruits in our schools.  Additionally, BLFAC sends a representative to our building each February to hear interested students play and sing.  From those ‘mini auditions’ BLFAC frequently awards merit-based scholarships to attend the camp.  This year’s BLFAC scholarship auditions will be held on Tuesday, February 9th during periods, 5B, 6, 7, 8 and for a short time after school.  If you are interested in playing or singing a short audition for the BLFAC rep, please express your interest on a sign-up sheet in the Fine Arts Office (room 131).  Please see Mrs. DePeder or your music teacher to sign up for a time. 

What should you be prepared to play or sing in your audition?  Plan to perform 2-3 min of music that you have been working on with a private music teacher, or in class.  This could be an etude, a solo, or a piece of literature that you have really enjoyed studying.  Pick something that shows off your abilities!

The Blue Lake representative will share some basic information with the student to take home to parents.  In the meantime, you are encouraged to check out Blue Lake’s website at www.bluelake.org.  

Many DGN musicians have received significant scholarships to attend Blue Lake as a result of these mini-auditions.  Please consider this fabulous opportunity!

DGN Jazz Plays FitzGeralds #99Learns #WeAreDGN

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Jazz Ensemble on a stunning musical performance at the legendary FitzGerald's Nightclub!

FitzGerald's Sunday Night! #99Learns #WeAreDGN @dgnbands @dgnfinearts

The @dgnbands Jazz Ensemble will play FitzGerald's on Sunday night. Opening for the Chicago Grandstand Big Band from 5 - 6 PM, the Jazz Ensemble is ready for the honor of playing one of the most hallowed and revered rooms for jazz and live music in the nation. Come on out Sunday night to support your @dgnfinearts musicians!

DGN Jazz Cafe 2016 #99Learns #WeAreDGN

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Jazz Ensemble, DGN Jazz Lab Band, Herrick Jazz Band, Jefferson 'Friends of Jazz,' and the Westview Hills Jazz Band for terrific performances at the 2016 Jazz Cafe!