EIU Trumpet Ensemble

DGN Band Alumnus Jay Keliher returned to North High on Friday to
perform with the Eastern Illinois University Trumpet Ensemble.

Spring Band Concert - March 18

Congratulations to the members of the Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble for their wonderful performance at the March 18th Spring Band Concert.  All three groups achieved sonic success while performing a program of challenging literature.

Special kudos are extended to Caroline Hlohowskyj (trumpet) and Emma Sassano (marimba) for their solo performances, and to Mr. Bob Graham of our Social Studies Department for narrating "Liberty for All."

In Memoriam: John David Katrenak

The faculty, staff and students associated with the DGN Band and the North High Fine Arts Department are saddened by the death of 2008 North High alum John (J.D.) Katrenak.  Our condolences and sympathies are extended to the entire Katrenak family.  


The wake for John David Katrenak will be at Adams-Winterfield & Sullivan Funeral Home (Downers Grove) on Wednesday, March 17, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.  A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, March 18, at 10 a.m. - St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church - 820 Division Street, Lisle, IL 60532.


In lieu of flowers, memorials to Boy Scouts of America, Friends of Scouting, Three Fires Council, Downers Grove North High Music Boosters, or Woodridge Organization of Music Parents at Jefferson Jr. High School, Woodridge School District 68, are suggested.


The March 18th Band Concert at North High will be dedicated to the memory of John Katrenak.  

Congrats to Andrew Zahn - DGN Pi Day Record

Congrats to band member Andrew Zahn on shattering his own school "Pi Day" record (1,123 digits), and reciting 2,010 digits from memory!

Friday, in band class, the members of Wind Ensemble chanted ...

"3 - point - 1 - 4 - 1 - 5 - 9 ... Andrew Zahn is Ultra Fine!"

Did you hear the band on WGN? Can you support our London 2011 Tour?

Members of the DGN band were featured on WGN-Radio 720 on Friday morning.

Are you able to support the band's invitation to the 2011 London New Year's Day Parade?  Please follow this link to the Tour Blog.

NIU Jazz Concert

A fabulous day of jazz immersion concluded with the NIU Jazz Ensemble, led by Ron Carter, and featuring guest soloist John Fedchock. Mr. Fedchock's fluency is matched only by his artistry. It was an amazing evenving indeed.

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Jazz Lab Band and DGN Jazz Ensemble - as well as our cross-town colleagues - for terrific performances to open the concert!

NIU Jazz Clinics

Professor Ron Carter of Northern Illinois University worked with students from Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Ensemble today during a field trip to Downers Grove South.  Professor Carter's incomperable teaching style continues to inspire our jazz musicians at DGN.

DGN Jazz to perform at DGS with NIU Jazz Ensemble

The internationally acclaimed Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble will be in Downers Grove this Thursday, February 4, for a 7 PM concert at the Downers Grove South High School Auditorium.  High School Jazz Bands from both DGN and DGS will open the show, followed by the NIU band and guest trombone soloist John Fedchock.  Tickets may be purchased at the door.

Be Inspired!

Winter Guard off to a great start!

The Winter Guard has already competed at three Team Dance Illinois regional Flag competitions this year.  The team competes in both the Varsity Tall Flag and Varsity Lyrical Flag categories.  This year the Tall Flag routine is set to music from Cirque du Soleil's Kooza and the Lyrical Flag routine is set to "Requiem for a Tower" from Lord of the Rings.

The team has earned the following awards at the three competitions they've gone to so far:

Schaumburg H.S. Competition: Lyrical Flag - 1st Place; Tall Flag - 4th Place.  The team also earned the Artistic Excellence award for the top Artistic score of the day and a qualification to the State Competition in the Lyrical Flag category.

Plainfield East H.S. Competition: Lyrical Flag - 3rd Place; Tall Flag - 3rd Place

Palatine H.S. Competition: Lyrical Flag: 5th Place; Tall Flag - 2nd Place.  The team also earned a State Qualification in the Tall Flag category.

In the coming weeks the team will be competing at the Athena Spectacular at North H.S. as well as the TDI State Competition held in Peoria on March 7th.