Professional Collaboration

Members of the DGN Jazz Ensemble enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with two of the finest professional musicians in the world today: Fareed Haque (Guitar) and Mark Colby (Saxophone).  Both artists will join the DGN Jazz Ensemble in performance later this week at the Illinois Music Education Conference. #imec2014 #peoriaorbust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DGN Jazz Bands Achieve Unprecedented Success at 2014 Purdue Jazz Fest

DGN student musicians garnered multiple group and individual awards/honors at the 2014 Purdue Jazz Festival this weekend.  Both the DGN Jazz Ensemble, and the DGN Jazz Lab Band, won 1st Place "Honor Band" awards in their respective competition venues.  Having two bands from the same school selected as Honor Bands - in the same year - is a 'first' for DGN, and a rare occurrence for any school at this festival.  All three performing ensembles from North High (Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab Band, and Jazz Combo) received "Division I" distinction as well.

Twenty individual students were richly rewarded with twenty-four Outstanding Solo & Musicianship Awards (list following), and Spencer Schillerstrom received two separate solo award distinctions of special significance: North Ballroom Outstanding Soloist of the Day (which included a Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Scholarship prize) as well as being one of two instrumental soloists from the Jazz Combo competition to receive a scholarship to the prestigious Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop.

The Purdue Jazz Festival, now in it's 24th year, is widely recognized as the most prestigious festival of it's kind in the Midwest drawing bands from a five-state region.  94 bands, and over 2,200 students had the opportunity to perform for a distinguished pannel of nearly thirty adjudicators, all of whom are considered the most widely respected performers and teachers of jazz in the nation.

Awards Recap

Ensemble Awards:

• DGN Jazz Ensemble - 1st Place Honor Band (High School 1st Bands) & Division 1 Rating
• DGN Jazz Lab Band - 1st Place Honor Band (High School 2nd Bands), Division 1 Ratiner, and "Judges Award".
• DGN Jazz Combo - Division 1 Rating

Individual Awards:

• Spencer Schillerstrom - North Ballroom Outstanding Soloist of the Day
• Spencer Schillerstrom - Jazz Combo - Jamey Aebersold Scholarship Award 

Outstanding Solo & Musicianship Awards:

• Michael Brooks - Drums
• Sebastian Calvino - Trombone (2 awards)
• Alexa Castelvecchi - Vocal
• Evan Culligan - Tenor Saxophone
• Darius Daugvila - Piano
• Kathleen Donnelly - Alto Saxophone
• Zack Foster - Bass (3 awards)
• Samuel Heppner - Trumpet
• Justine Hung - Piano
• Max King - Guitar
• Eirene Kowal - Piano
• Rob Kulik - Drums
• Zach McCoy -Drums
• John McGarry - Trombone
• Joe Pacheco - Trumpet
• Clayton Possidoni - Drums
• Nathaniel Rapach - Trumpet
• Spencer Schillerstrom - Tenor & Alto Saxophone (2 awards)
• Grant Severt - Guitar
• Amelia Smerz - Cello

  

IMEC Preparation with David Fodor

Tonight the DGN Jazz Ensemble had the pleasure of working with Dr. David Fodor, recently retired Evanston Township High School Director of Bands. Dr. Fodor, one of the most widely respected jazz educators in the nation, helped the ensemble further refine their music for their upcoming performance at the Illinois Music Education Conference.

Dr. Fodor was the seventh of seven scheduled "Jazz Mentor" masterclasses that were developed to help the Jazz Ensemble prepare for the IMEC, and his words of encouragement - as well as suggestions for a successful performance - were appreciated by all.

Thank you Dr. Fodor!

Heavy Metal Brass Quintet

Congratulations to the "Heavy Metal Brass Quintet" for their performance earlier this month at Holy Trinity Church in Westmont. The ensemble includes DGN Wind Ensemble members Ben Casey and Todd Griffin, as well as 8th Grade Westview Hills students (and future DGN Band members) Jen Casey and Kevin Griffin.

Swingin' at FitzGeralds

The DGN Jazz Ensemble was swingin' hard at FitzGeralds tonight. Playing from the stage that has been home to countless musical legends, the students of DGN played with tremendous musicianship and great energy!

Congratulations DGN Jazz Ensemble, and best wishes on your upcoming performances this month at the Purdue Jazz Festival and the Illinois Music Education Conference!

21st Annual Jazz Cafe

The 21st Annual Jazz Cafe at North High School was a resounding success last night as bands from DGN, Herrick Middle School, and Jefferson Junior High School entertained audiences with terrific jazz music.  In addition to great ensemble playing and student soloists, guest artist Alex Beltran (Tenor Sax - Chicago) joined the DGN Jazz Lab Band and DGN Jazz Ensemble. 

Many thanks are extended to all who gave generously to support this year's designated charity: The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.  We appreciate your support of this organization as they work to help those in need both close to home, and across the globe.  Thank you, as well, to the DGN Music Boosters for their generous support (most notably Hospitality Coordinator Carolyn Donnelly and her crew of wonderful volunteers), and Downers Grove Caribou Coffee for their donation of coffee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DGN Jazz to play FitzGerald's This Weekend!

The DGN Jazz Ensemble will be performing this Sunday night at one of the most famous jazz venues in the country: FitzGerald's.  Located at 6615 Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn, IL, FitzGerald's has a long tradition of featuring the most famous bands and soloists in jazz from across the nation.

The DGN Jazz Ensemble will begin at 5:30 PM, opening for the Grandstand Big Band which will play later in the evening.  Come out to support our great jazz musicians in a concert that will feature the music the band will be performing at the Illinois Music Education Conference on January 23rd.

http://www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com/events/view/Chicago-Grandstand-Big-Band-plus-Downers-Grove-North-High-School-Jazz-Ensemble

21st Annual Jazz Cafe is Friday Night!

The Fine Arts Department invites you to attend the 21^st Annual Jazz Café Charity Concert, Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Cafeteria.  Join us to hear the sounds of the DGN Jazz Ensembles, and ensembles from Herrick and Jefferson.  Soloing with the DGN Bands will be guest jazz saxophonist, Alex Beltran, from Chicago.

Our featured charity this year is The AmericanRed Cross.  The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.  Specifically, we are working to raise money for Typhoon Haiyan relief, and for the Illinois Tornado Relief funds.

The concert is free of charge, located in the Student Cafeteria, and light refreshments will be served.  So come enjoy great jazz in a casual atmosphere!  And please consider making a donation to The American Red Cross while you’re there.

IMEC Preparation with Craig Roselieb

Last spring the DGN Jazz Ensemble was honored with an invitation to perform this month (January 23, 2014) at the Illinois Music Education Conference in Peoria.  Students continue their work in preparing music for that important performance, and tonight the band welcomed Downers Grove South High School Music Teacher, Craig Roselieb, as a guest jazz mentor.  Mr. Roselieb is the sixth of seven guest-conductors who have agreed to serve as mentors to the band leading up to the January 23rd performance.  

Every member of the band enjoyed working with Mr. Roselieb tonight, and appreciated his

musical insights.  Following the full-band rehearsal, Mr. Roselieb worked specifically with the saxophones on jazz style and phrasing.

Thank you, Mr. Roselieb, for inspiring us with your musicianship tonight!

DGN Band Update (Tuesday, January 7)

Thank you for taking time to read this announcement regarding DGN Band.

- All athletics and activities at DGN are cancelled today.  This includes Pep Band.  There is NO Pep Band tonight.

- There will be a 'make up' class for Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Lab Band tomorrow morning (Wednesday, January 8) at 9:00 AM.  Jazz class students may enter the band room at 8:45 to set up instruments, and warm up for class which will run 9:00 - 9:50 AM.

- There is NO Band Board meeting tomorrow at 9:30 AM.  It has been postponed due to the make-up jazz classes.  

- All Band classes (Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble) will meet in the Auditorium tomorrow, during regular class time, for 2014-15 course advising.  Seniors may bring reading materials.  All students will need instruments back at school no later than Thursday, January 9. (Jazzers obviously need them at school tomorrow, January 8.)

- A reminder for Jazz Ensemble students (not Jazz Lab Band): we have a scheduled IMEC Prep Rehearsal on our calendar for tomorrow night (Wednesday, January 8).  This rehearsal with our guest Jazz Mentor is still ON as scheduled.