Homecoming 2011

It's an exciting day at DGN! Homecoming 2011 is in full swing.




The Trojan Marching Band was featured in multiple performances during this afternoon's assembly program.




Congrats to the Color Guard and Drum Line for their outstanding routines!









Six DGN Band members were nominated to the Homecoming Court this year, including (L to R) Senior King Candidate Stephen Shatzer, Senior Queen Candidate Anna Krainc, Junior Attendant Winner Jim Burke, and Junior Attendant Winner Amanda Nagy. (Not pictured are Senior King Candidate Brendan McBride and Sophomore Attendant Candidate Mandy Gibbons.)





"It was great to see so many community members out on the parade route this afternoon," said Band Director Bill Miller. "I love Homecoming and the chance to see former members of the band!"

Superhero Thursday- Fighting Artistic Ignorance for the Good of Humankind!

Thanks to the DGN "Spirit Band" for providing entertainment as students and staff entered North High this morning.




The Fine Arts faculty is participating today in the "Superhero Dress Up" contest today, and is working diligently to stamp out "artistic ignorance" ... as well as the "Duke of York!"

"Super Show"

Congratulations to three Fine Arts Department ensembles for terrific performances at tonight's 2011 Homecoming Variety Show: the Jazz Lab Band (Spiderman), the Chamber Choir (Superman (It's Not That Easy)), and the Jazz Ensemble (Caught in the Web) .

A special shout out to the Jazz Lab Band for their extra work as the 'house band,' backing vocalist Amanda Coppotelli as she performed "Tears Dry On Their Own" by Amy Winehouse, as well as the JLB Rhythm Section and Mr. Miller for providing the amazing soundtrack to "Get Back To Hogwarts." Great job Jazz Lab Band!!!

Homecoming Variety Show Tonight!

Tonights superhero themed Homecoming Variety Show, directed by Mr. Bill Miller, will feature many incredible acts, including performances of "Spider Man" by the Jazz Lab Band and "Caught In The Web" by the Jazz Ensemble.Come on out for a fun-filled evening of entertainment featuring dozens of talented DGN students. The show starts at 7 pm. Tickets are $5.00 and may be purchased at the door.

We Love Our Team

Congratulations to the Trojan Marching Band for a great performance at DGS last Friday night. The DGN Band played from the stands with spirit and energy through to the end.

Now ... on to Homecoming and a victory over the Dukes of York!

Homecoming Week Schedule

It will be an exciting and busy week for the DGN Bands!

You can find a complete listing of DGN Band Homecoming Week rehearsals and performances here ...

http://www.box.net/shared/duxilmabhjxmvqr3dk93

Carl Sandburg Marching Band Invitational

Congratulations to the Trojan Marching Band for an outstanding performance this evening at the Carl Sandburg Marching Band Invitational. DGN was "first class" in every imaginable way, including a very fine musical presentation that garnered two Division I "Excellent" ratings from a distinguished panel of music educators.



The Eastern Illinois University Panther Marching Band performed their traditional pre game show, and an exciting "half time" show, in exhibition. Two DGN Marching Band Alumni (trumpet soloist Jay Kelliher & baritone Elizabeth Grubart) performed tonight with the EIU Band. Congratulations to both!

Drum Major Gift Exchange

Cross Town Classic 2011

The annual Cross Town Classic football game took place this evening. While the football teams from North and South High Schools in Downers Grove squared off against each other on the field, the student musicians joined forces in multiple ways throughout the course of the evening.

Conducted by North High Band director and South High alum Bill Miller, the combined marching bands and choirs from both North and South joined forces to perform a stunning National Anthem prior to the game. In addition to sharing the field for the pre-game festivities, the bands performed a combined dance team number, featuring the Athenas from DGN and the Fillies from DGS. We are proud of every student musician that joined in the collaborative efforts to help celebrate just how much music is a part of the schools and the community here in Downers Grove.

3 Notes of Note

Congratulations to all the fine musicians of the Trojan Marching Band for making a strong impression this early in the season.  Well done!

From an LT Football Parent:

I have a nephew on the LT Varsity football team, and I attend all of his games.  I would just like to comment that it was truly a pleasure to play your team last night at your field.  Your entire organization showed exemplary class and sportsmanship that I feel is sorely lacking at most other schools.  I also felt that it was very nice of your band to play the LT theme song to welcome the opposing team.  You should be proud of the way that Downers Grove North presents itself to other schools.  Your team played well, the PA system is fantastic, the field exemplary, the band excellent, and the overall experience was a pleasure.  I don't normally take the time to write letters such as this except in cases where I feel it's well deserved.  Kudos to a true class act at Downers North!!

From an LT Band Parent:

I just wanted to tell you how impressed I was with the DGN marching band!  As you know I am an LT band parent and I couldn't get over how exuberant DG band students were!  Their routine on the field was excellent as well.  Even after half-time, when most bands start goofing around, the DG band continued with super energy, great pump-up tunes and even choreography!  The most impressive thing is that they learned our school song and played it at the end of the game...real class act.

From a DG community member:

We were at the first game and enjoyed the band and all of the auxiliaries.  The band had the best balance and most mature sound I have heard in years.  The flags were a wonderful in time and a great compliment to the band.  The percussion was very creative pulling the band together no matter how spread out the band was on the field.  The enthusiasm was contagious to everyone in the stands.  You and Bill are bringing out the best in music and spirit.  Thanks for the hard work.  We have lived in Downers for over 40 years and this years is making the highest mark yet in the history of DGN.  Keep the music going.

Pregame - 9-16-11

Halftime 9-16-11

featuring the Herrick Middle School, Jefferson Junior High School and Westview Hills Middle School Bands!

Trojan Band Welcomes "The Future"

This evening the 190 member Trojan Marching Band welcomed nearly 200
middle school and junior high student musicians to perform at half
time. The standing room only crowd gave all the musicians a huge
ovation in appreciation of a job well done.

Thank you to Herrick, Jefferson, and Westview Hills for being with us tonight!

Halftime Show from September 2, 2011

Pregame Show from September 2, 2011

Jazz Bands 2011-2012

Ensemble rosters have now been posted.  The link below takes you to an online folder where you may either view, or download, the audition results in PDF file format.

Many thanks to all the dedicated band students who participated in the audition process.

Link to folder:  http://www.box.net/shared/5axeu5b7jybckuvkgol6

Friday Night Lights

Congratulations from the Press Box!

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to the members of the Trojan Marching Band for their outstanding performance tonight.  From the minute they took to the track in the pregame parade, through the WHOLE game, and all the way back to the Field House for the Alma Mater they showed school spirit, energy, musicianship, and set a great example for how to really enjoy a football game!  Thank you to our Student Leadership team for all your leadership and logistical support.  Thank you to our seniors who have been setting a great example for us for four years now.  Thank you to all our upper classmen who have been helping our newcomers learn the ropes and get used to life at North High.  And THANK YOU to our "former newcomers turned newest formers" who have been doing such a GREAT JOB since they joined us at band camp.

We're off to a really exciting start to our season - let's not stop now!  Let's keep working hard to show our fans what we're all about this year.

Go North!

Jazz Class Callbacks for Friday, Sept. 2

The following students are asked to come to call-backs on Friday, September 2, at 7 am:

Alto Saxophones:
Augustine Calvino
Akira Crabdree
Erin Elgass
Lucy Lu
Brendan McBride
Evangeline Tuohy

Tenor Saxophones:
Kyle Lewandowski
Kaitlyn Wayman-Dodd

Trumpets:
None

Trombones:
John McGarry
Anthony Iacovetti
Ryan Zemel
Joe Vitti


Rhythm Section:
Hannah Young

*** We will likely ask everyone listed above to do some additional Blues in F improvisation, as well as to play more from IND Line and With Gratitude.  Bring everything!

*** If you don't see your name, don't panic.

*** Please check back here on the Blog Saturday for final ensemble lists and a schedule of rehearsals.

Thank you to everyone who has been, and continues to be, a part of this process.