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Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Smith Appointed to DGN Fine Arts Faculty

Community High School District 99 has announced the appointment of Mr. Jessen Smith to the faculty of the Downers Grove North High School Fine Arts Department. Mr. Smith will begin in the 2018-19 academic year teaching five courses: Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Lab Band and Digital Music. He will also assume the role of Lead Director with the DGN Trojan Marching Band, effective July 1, 2018.

Currently the Director of Bands at Illinois State University High School (Normal, IL), Mr. Smith is a 2017 graduate (Magna Cum Laude) of the DePaul University School of Music, where he studied Music Education and Trumpet. Mr. Smith is a former Iowa All-State Musician, member of the MACY’S Great American Marching Band (2009-2012), and member of the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps (2010-2012, 2015). Within the marching arts community, Mr. Smith has served as a drill writer for Central DeWitt High School, Davenport Assumption High School, Lisbon High School, North Cedar High School, South O’Brien High School, and Center Point Urbana High School. He has also served as a Visual Instructor for the marching bands of Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School and Clear Creek-Amana High School.

Mr. Smith’s appointment is the culmination of a search that drew an international applicant pool of 125 highly qualified music educators. Finalists for the position were observed teaching District 99 music students and demonstrated personal musical aptitude through a performance on their major instrument. “Mr. Smith impressed our committee through every facet of the search process,” said DGN Fine Arts Chairperson Brayer Teague. “He is an incredible educator and musician. There is no doubt he will be an engaging and motivating presence in our classrooms, as well as an extremely collaborative and innovative member of our North High faculty.”

Having watched Mr. Smith conduct and teach during the search process, DGN Band member and current senior Michael Price shared, “Mr. Smith will be a perfect fit at North. His passion and excitement is very easy to see, and it rubs off on the students. His teaching style really gets the group connected to the music. The way he explains his ideas is very clear and very easy for us to understand. He makes the ensemble excited to perform music and get better.” Current junior Andrew Jackson offered, “His passion and excitement for the music was infectious. When working with him I couldn’t help but want to make the music better.” Sophomore Emma Krause added, “Mr. Smith has a lot of positive energy and is very motivational. I know he will push us to be the best musicians we can be.”

“I am beyond excited to join the team at DGN,” remarked Smith. “The students are bright, caring, and ready to work hard; the teachers are passionate, and the administration strongly supports their endeavors within the arts. I am very grateful to be joining this wonderful community.”

A PDF of the full press-release may be found HERE.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

DGN Winter Guard Takes 2nd at Coal City



In their first ever appearance at the Coal City Winter Guard Competition the DGN Winter Guard put on a great show. The team continues to excel as their score improves from performance to performance. The guard took 2nd Place on Saturday, finishing 0.75 of one point behind the first-place guard. This was the Winter Guard's final regular season contest before heading to championships in LaPorte, Indiana on April 7, 2018. Congratulations DGN Winter Guard!









Thursday, March 15, 2018

DGN Bands Exude Musicianship at Spring Concert

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band on their extremely musical performances this evening at the Spring Band Concert. Each ensemble played with attention to detail and a sensitivity to the art form. 

Special congratulations are extended to seniors Jennifer Casey and Hannah Kutchek for their Senior Concerto performances tonight with the DGN Wind Ensemble. Bravo!

Tonight's concert featured the 'debut performance' of a new percussion instrument, welded by DGN parent Mr. Joe Howard. Thank you, Mr. Howard, for creating this instrument for our band program!











Wednesday, March 14, 2018

DGN Bands In Concert - March 15

Join the @dgnbands for the Spring Band Concert, March 15th!

Monday, March 12, 2018

Winter Guard Takes 2nd at Lincoln-Way East


Congratulations to the DGN Winter Guard on another outstanding showing at this weekend's Lincoln-Way East Winter Guard Invitational. The team elevated their score again to a season high 70.26 and a 2nd Place finish in their class.




Sunday, March 11, 2018

Thank You DGN Friends of Fine Arts!


The DGN Friends of Fine Arts (DGN-FOFA) supports our DGN students in many ways. A tangible example of their support is the recent acquisition of a new Adams 4.3 Octave Rosewood Marimba. It is through the generous donations to DGN-FOFA that this kind of tangible support is realized for the benefit of the students in our Fine Arts programs. 

Thank you DGN-FOFA!

Monday, March 05, 2018

August 2018 DGN Band Camp Schedule Released

The Fine Arts Department is beginning to receive inquiries from families regarding the dates for the 2018 Summer Band Camp practices for the Trojan Marching Band.  The official Fine Arts Department Calendar (2018-19) is currently in ‘draft form’ and awaiting final approval from our school’s administrative team.  We expect to publish the official calendar in the next several weeks, but in the meantime we can share the Band Camp schedule now.  

Here, then, are report dates for Band Camp 2018, with detailed times and schedules in the attached image.

  • July 30 – All Student Leaders (Drum Majors and Section Captains) report for Leadership Training
  • August 1 – All Percussion & Color Guard report for three day Mini-Camp
  • August 6 – All band members report for Band Camp 2018