Band Camp 2022 Starts Monday! Are you ready?

 

Wow! It's already here! The 2022 Trojan Marching Band season kicks off on Monday, August 1st!

CLICK HERE for final details about Monday's Band Camp start, drops-offs, report times, lunch & dinner breaks, etc. It's all covered in this update! 

CLICK HERE to get some ideas about how to dress for Section Color Night on Monday evening.

We look forward to welcoming you to campus very soon!

Student Leaders Prep for Band Camp 2022

DGN Marching Band Section Captains and Drum Majors are back on campus this week participating in Leadership Training, reviewing marching and conducting fundamentals, and organizing materials for Band Camp 2022! Thank you to each of these dedicated students for their commitment to the Trojan Marching Band and Downers Grove North High School. It's great to have you back on campus!

Drumline & Color Guard Mini Camps Underway!

We are pleased to welcome members of the 2022 DGN Drumline and DGN Color Guard back to campus this week, as they prepare for Band Camp 2022 through mini-camp practices. 

Students Build Culture Through Music: Inaugural D99 Summer Jazz Camp

32 student musicians from North and South schools recently participated in the inaugural District 99 Jazz Camp. The experience was powerful - fueled by a commitment students had to building culture, community, communication, and understanding through the great art form known as Jazz music. 

Coordinated and led by District 99 music faculty member, and DGS Fine Arts Department Chairperson Jerry Lowrey, guests clinicians included Ron Carter, Paul Levy, Kevin Schoenbach, and Lenard Simpson. 

After four days of clinics, rehearsals, jam sessions, and group conversations, the culmination of camp was a Friday night performance, presented publicly at the Fishel Park Band Shell.  

District 99 Jazz Quintet

District 99 We are JAZZ Ensemble

District 99 Guitar Trio

Combined Performance of "We Got That Fire"

Date Adjustment: Marching Band Showcase Performance (August 11)

The date of the DGN Trojan Marching Band's "Showcase" performance has been adjusted, due to a conflict with the school's Freshman Orientation activities, which were scheduled for August 9 after the band's original calendar was distributed to families last April.

The revised date of the Band Camp Showcase is Thursday, August 11, at 6:30 PM on Casten's Field. (Band members will report at 4:30 PM that afternoon for a rehearsal that precedes the performance.)

The most updated 2022-23 DGN Fine Arts Department Calendar, which includes all major DGN Band events, may always be found HERE. 

You may also subscribe to the DGN Fine Arts Department Google Calendar, HERE.

 

Former DGN Drum Majors Conducting DCI World Class Ensembles

Former DGN Trojan Marching Band Drum Majors Carissa Blumka (Class of 2021) and Aidan Purcell (Class of 2019) are traveling the country this summer as conductors of two World Class drum and bugle corps, associated with Drum Corps International. 

Blumka (Colts), and Purcell (Blue Stars), are both serving as field conductors for their respective corps. Both ensembles, a part of the marching arts umbrella organization Drum Corps International, are participating in DCI's 50th Anniversary Tour, and will conclude their competitive summer season at the Drum Corps International World Championships in Indianapolis, IN, August 8-13. 

Congratulations to both Carissa and Aidan on their appointment to each of these World Class drum and bugle corps!

Aidan Purcell (Class of 2019)

Carissa Blumka (Class of 2021)

DGN Band Alumnus Kristin Bowers, Wheaton Municipal Band Soloist - July 9

Unites States Marine Staff Sgt. Kristin Bowers joins the Wheaton Municipal Band as the featured soloist on Saturday, July 9 in Edman Chapel at Wheaton College. 

The Wheaton Municipal Band welcomes back Bowers, where she served as principal clarinetist with the band for several years. She graduated from Downers Grove North High School in 2002 and studied at Indiana University and Northwestern University. She currently is a member of "The President's Own" Marine Band in Washington, D.C. The "President's Own" Band features the very best musicians and performs all over the world. At the July 9 concert, Bowers will perform "Concert Fantasy on Motifs of Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto" by Luigi Bassi.

For additional concert details, click HERE to read an article in the July 7th Daily Herald, or go to wheatonmunicipalband.org.

Sign up for a Uniform Pick-Up Timeslot TODAY!

Good evening DGN Band Family!

Our sign-up for your student's uniform pick-up is now LIVE! As a reminder, we will be hosting our uniform pick-up on Saturday, August 6. Clicking the link below will take you to a page where you can sign up for a time-slot. The sign-up is first-come, first-serve, but if you have an extenuating conflict, please reach out to Mr. Smith or Mr. Teague as soon as possible.

tinyurl.com/DGNMarchingBandUniformPickUp22 

Band Camp is only a few weeks away! There are couple things you can do to get prepared. Students - start practicing and memorizing your music! Check the link below!

TROJAN MARCHING BAND MUSIC

ALL BAND FAMILIES - Please fill out the DGN Activities form prior to band camp as well. See the link below to fill it out online!

ACTIVITIES FORM

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Mr. Smith & Mr. Teague

Trojan Marching Band Joins Forces with Marching Mustangs: 2022 Independence Day Parade

Thank you, and congratulations, to the members of the DGN Trojan Marching Band, and DGS Marching Mustangs, for their collaborative performance in today's Downers Grove Independence Day Parade.

Our District 99 community extends condolences and wishes of healing to the District 113 community, members of the Highland Park High School Marching Band, the city of Highland Park, and all families impacted by senseless gun violence.