DGN Band Alumnus Wins Gold In Tokyo!

 

CONGRATULATIONS to North High Band alumnus Kendall Gretsch for her thrilling Gold Medal win in Tokyo this weekend.

Gretsch made her Paralympic debut at the 2018 PyeongChang Games, where she became the first American athlete to win biathlon gold at either the Paralympics or Olympics. She left PyeongChang with two medals (both gold).

With her triathlon win in Tokyo, Gretsch becomes only the fifth American – and third U.S. woman – to win gold at both the summer and winter Paralympic Games.

CLICK HERE to view NBC Sports coverage, and video of the exciting finish.

Gretsch, a 2010 graduate of Downers Grove North High School, played clarinet in the DGN Bands and was a member of the District 99 Honors Band. Following her time at DGN she attended Washington University in St. Louis, studying Biomedical Engineering and developing a 3D-printed prosthetic arm that cost just a fraction of the price of similar prosthetics and was noticeably lighter in weight. 

In the summer of 2012, Gretsch who was born with spina bifida, made her first run at a triathlon at a camp in Chicago. For the triathlon, she had to learn how to use a hand cycle for the biking portion. She acquainted herself with a racing wheelchair for the running events. Upon completing her first race, there was no doubt about it. She was hooked

“You talk to a lot of people who do triathlons, and they’ll say if you do the first one, it kind of hooks (you) from there,” she said. “That’s what happened with me.”

Congratulations Kendall; the entire District 99 community is immensely proud of you!

Trojan Marching Band Makes 2021 Season Debut

Congratulations to the members of the 2021-22 Trojan Marching Band for a terrific debut performance this weekend! Despite the high heat and humidity, band members provided an energetic and captivating display of musicianship and spirit.  

Special appreciation is extended to the members of the Class of 2022, and their families, as North High celebrated the contributions of our seniors prior to the Pre-Game Show and Kick-Off.

Appreciation is extended to the volunteers who provided the Marching Band with water during the game, assisted with moving Front Ensemble instruments, sold merchandise at the DGN-FOFA table, and photographed the band's performances.

CLICK HERE for a gallery of additional photos from the August 27, 2021 performance.

CLICK HERE for a gallery of photos featuring the Class of 2022 and their families. 

DGN Band Update 8-25-21

We have some important updates that impact this Friday's performance of the DGN Trojan Marching Band, as well as our schedule for U of I Band Day (September 4) and ticket ordering information from the University of Illinois. Please read carefully!

CLICK HERE for today's update.

2021-22 DGN Jazz Course Rosters

Thank you to all the students who auditioned for placement. We appreciate the time and energy that you invested in preparing the audition materials, and we are looking forward to making some great music with you this year!

Our first class/rehearsal will be Wednesday, August 25, at 7:00 AM.

Note: if you are an AP Music Theory student, you will attend FULL jazz class tomorrow (Wednesday). Dr. P is aware and in agreement. No need to email him, or Mr. Smith/Mr. Teague.

Please click HERE for the 2021-22 Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Ensemble Class lists.

DGN Band Update 8-20-21

Happy Friday! Please take a moment to read our DGN Band Update! In it, you'll find useful information about next week's first home game performance, uniform changing procedures, an adjusted schedule for Thursday evening's rehearsal, and more! Thank you for reading it carefully!

DGN BAND UPDATE 8-20-21

Trojan Marching Band Uniform Distribution Day is a Huge Success!

We are so thankful to Dr. Emmie Pawlak and her team's work to put our students into uniforms today. It truly takes a village to keep a great program like ours running smoothly. Today was a great example of that proverb in action! The Trojan Marching Band is going to look professional, uniform, and confident at the first home game performance on Friday, August 27th! 

If any of our DGN Band Families have a moment to send Dr. Pawlak a word of thanks, please do! Her work is a critical part of the success of our season. Our students work hard to put on an excellent show for our community, and she works hard to make sure they look good while they do it!

If you or your student were unable to get fitted for your uniform today, you should have already been in contact with Dr. Pawlak to get fitted after our next Thursday evening rehearsal. Thank you for your help in completing the uniform fitting process!

Looking for an opportunity to help the DGN Band program? Check out volunteer opportunities on the DGN Friends of Fine Arts website. Sign up today! 
http://dgnfofa.blogspot.com/p/volunteer.html

Mask / Face Covering Update: Effective August 16, 2021

Based on CDC guidance, as well as IDPH and ISBE mandates, all students in Illinois are currently required to wear face coverings while inside a school building. This includes students in band classes. Beginning Monday, August 16, until announced otherwise, students who play woodwind and brass instruments should have a secondary face-covering, with a slit, that will allow them to keep the majority of their nose and mouth covered while playing their instrument in class. Students have two options for masks during band and jazz band classes:

1) the student may bring a personal mask from home that they have modified to include a slit.

2) the student may use a school-provided non-medical disposable civilian mask (like these) that will be modified with scissors to include a slit.

Flutists, whenever possible, should adapt a mask to include a slit for playing. Alternatively, they may pull their traditional mask down while playing, and then replace the mask immediately when not playing. 

Percussionists, pianists, guitarists and string players should wear a standard mask, without a slit, during music class. 

Last year, mitigation guidance mandated shortened rehearsal blocks (not to exceed 30 minutes), the use of bell-covers on wind instruments, and 6' distancing. Those mitigations are no longer in effect. Students will sit in traditional arcs, at a distance of 3'. Rehearsals will continue through the full class period. Face shields are not required for any student this year.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Smith or Mr. Teague.

Marching Band Showcase 2021

CLICK HERE to be redirected to a folder with 300+ photos from the 2021 DGN Trojan Marching Band Showcase performance!

Coach Horeni Thanks Trojan Marching Band

The members of the Trojan Marching Band had an opportunity to hear directly from DGN Head Football Coach Joe Horeni today during practice. Coach Horeni - himself a former tuba player - stressed his appreciation to the band for their contributions to the Friday Night Lights atmosphere at North High. "The football team really appreciates all you do for our school, and all you do to support them," said Horeni. "We admire your incredible work ethic and we are here to support you every step of the way!"

2021 Band Camp - Day 5