D99 Jazz in Clinic and Concert with NIU Jazz Orchestra

The student musicians of the DGN and DGS Jazz Bands participated in an educational clinic and concert with the internationally acclaimed Northern Illinois University Jazz Orchestra. Led by Professor Reggie Thomas, the NIU Jazz Orchestra performed an exciting set that kept the audience engaged and cheering for more.

Congratulations to the members of the DGN and DGS Jazz programs for their outstanding performances tonight at South High School. It was a pleasure and honor for our students to open for the great Northern Illinois University Jazz Orchestra!

DGN Band Students Perform at ILMEA All-State 2023!

We're very proud of the six students from DGN who, through competitive audition, earned a spot in the Illinois Music Education Association All-State ensembles! These students have worked very hard for this prestigious opportunity, and performed beautifully on Saturday, in Peoria, Illinois, where the ILMEA All-State concert is held each year. We're grateful to travel with and experience this opportunity with our choir and orchestra friends from DGN and from DGS! 

Students had the opportunity to meet and play with other talented young musicians from all over the state of Illinois, and work with some of the best conductors and music educators in the country. 

Congratulations! 

Cameron Hejny, Clarinet, Honors Band

Tabitha Irvin, Bass Clarinet, Honors Band

Hannah Janka, Horn, Honors Band

Ethan Martin, Tuba, Honors Band

Aarush Palli, Piccolo,  All-State Band

Ethan Weingust, Bassoon, Honors Band

DGN Jazz Musicians Return to Purdue

Congratulations to the student musicians of the North High School Jazz Program for their inspired and energetic performances at the 2023 Purdue Jazz Festival. The DGN Jazz Ensemble and DGN Jazz Lab Band performed alongside more than 100 high school ensembles from five states across the Midwest. This was the 33rd Annual Purdue Jazz Festival, and DGN's first trip back to the event post COVID-19.

In addition to receiving scores from a panel of adjudicators, each group received real time formative feedback from each judge in an audio recording. This feedback is essential to the continuing growth of both individual students and the musicianship of each ensemble.  

The DGN Jazz Ensemble received a Division I rating from the panel of judges, the highest rating on the scoring rubric. Congratulations to Ian McDermott and Adam Pearson, who were tapped with Outstanding Solo award recognitions during DGN performances. 

Guest Clinician - Kevin Geraldi, University of Illinois - inspires DGN Band students

We were so excited to have the new Director of Bands at the University of Illinois on campus to work with the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble students. DGN has a long history of sending musicians and performers to U of I, either as music majors, members of the Marching Illini, or as students playing in their on-campus bands. 

Kevin Geraldi was just recently appointed as the new Director of Bands. You can read more about him HERE. 

The DGN Bands are always grateful to the guests that come and share their expertise, experience, and passion with our students. We look forward to having him back soon!