DGN Vocal Festival

Congratulations to the students who participated in nearly 70 events at DGN's Vocal Festival today.  Choir students had the opportunity to work with guest clinicians on solo and ensemble repertoire throughout the day.  Ms. Suna Avci, Mr. Howard Eckdahl (DGN alumn) and Dr. Tracey Ford served as our guest clinicians.  Many thanks to our private voice teachers, our accompanists, our guest clinicians and to our talented vocal students for making this a great day of music making! Congratulations to all!

Virutal "Sprinter" Choir Concert Now Online!

Virtual "Sprinter" Choir Concert Now Online!

Congratulations to the students and staff of the DGN Choirs, for their musicality and resourcefulness, as they have recorded and posted music originally slated to be performed on the February 26th 'Sprinter' Choir Concert.  This virtual concert, recorded on Wednesday, February 27th, captures the hard work, dedication, and artistry of these fine choral ensembles.

Each choir's performance is posted in a unique video, and may be accessed via the DGN Fine Arts YouTube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/DGNFineArts

We invite you to attend our virtual concert!

Two Music Scholarships of Note!

Attention Juniors and Seniors!

Juniors: the Downers Grove Music Club has a ‘Rising Stars’ Scholarship that can significantly help off-set the costs associated with Summer Music Camps.  Please see the information below.

Seniors:  the Downers Grove Rotary awards an annual scholarship of $2,000 to a deserving District 99 student with a strong music background.  The student does not need to be a music major/minor to apply for this scholarship, and financial need is not a criterion.  Please read the information below for more details on how to apply.

Downers Grove Music Club Rising Stars Music Awards

This is to announce the availability of the Downers Grove Music Club Rising Stars Music Awards (formerly referred to as scholarships).  The application is available via the website for the DG Music Club.  The website address is http://downersgrovemusicclub.org/.  The Music Award information and application is available in the Educational Opportunities section of the website or it can be accessed directly at this link:  http://downersgrovemusicclub.org/scholarships.html 

Please make this monetary award opportunity available to all Juniors enrolled in music at both South and North.  Six awards will be given and each recipient will receive $400 toward furthering their musical education through continued study during the summer.  As outlined in the actual application, the requirements of the application are as follows:

• Purpose:  to recognize SIX District 99 High School Music students for excelling at a high level of achievement;
• Eligibility:  current high school Juniors who are actively pursuing music are eligible to apply;
• Requirement:  the award recipients are required to perform the following year at the Downers Grove Music Club’s Rising Stars program scheduled annually in April;
• How to Apply:  complete the written application, along with an optional recording;
• Selection Criteria:  the merit of the applicant’s musical accomplishments and, if provided, the quality of the applicant’s musical performance.
• Award Notification:  the announcement of the Rising Stars Music Award recipients will be made at the spring awards ceremonies at both Downers Grove North and South.

The application must be submitted either via hardcopy, postmarked no later than April 1, 2013.  Or it must be submitted electronically with a date and time stamp of no later than 11:59 pm April 1, 2013.  

• mailing address:  Downers Grove Music Club, Attn: Rising Stars Music Awards, P.O. Box 551, Downers Grove, IL  60515
• email address:  musiced@downersgrovemusicclub.org

This year we are testing the response to allowing applicants to submit an optional audio/video recording of a musical performance.  This is completely optional. All applications, both those with the optional recording and without the optional recording will be given equal consideration.  

Last year's winners are performing on Tuesday, April 2nd at 7:30 pm.  In addition, former Rising Star DGN alumnus and cellist Josh Zajac will be performing as well as future DGS jazz musicians currently in the Lakeview Jazz Band.  Also, the newly formed, student run A Cappella group at the College of DuPage will be included on the program.  The location is the Faith United Methodist Church at the corners of 59th and Fairview in Downers Grove.  Faculty, friends and family are welcome to attend this exciting event.

Rotary Music Scholarship applications now being accepted!

The Rotary Club of Downers Grove is now accepting applications for their annual Charles Dickerman Music Scholarship. Each year the Rotary Club of Downers Grove gives a $2000 scholarship check to a deserving high school senior who resides in the District 99 attendance area. Charles Dickerman was a founding member of the Rotary Club of Downers Grove. He was a nuclear physicist at Argonne National Laboratory who had undergraduate degrees in both physics and music. Charles stayed involved in music throughout his life and was an avid bagpiper.

Download a Scholarship Application form at www.dgrotary.com .

All applicants must have their forms postmarked by March 8, 2013. If selected as a finalist, candidates must be available for an interview and audition in the evening of April 8, 2013.

The qualifications to apply for this scholarship are:

• Be a graduating senior attending a public, private, parochial or home school, and reside in the High School District 99 attendance area.
• Plan to pursue a post-secondary education program
• Have participated in high school curricular music activities and/or extracurricular music activities.
• Composers and/or arrangers qualify for this scholarship.
• Pursuit of an undergraduate music major or minor is not required.
• Financial need is not a criterion for selection

Welcome to the class of 2017

Thanks to everyone who attended the DGN Choirs Open House presentation.  In case you missed it (or just want a recap of the info), here are the courses you should register for in your freshman year:

FRESHMAN GIRLS

Register for Freshman Choir, meets 6th period

* PLEASE ALSO REGISTER FOR PERIOD 4A Freshman Ensemble if there’s   even a small chance you might audition!

   Ensemble auditions will be held in October for Freshman Ensemble

  This is a small ensemble of members of the Freshman Choir that meets daily second semester only during 4th hour   

  resource period.

FRESHMAN GUYS 

Register for Concert Choir, meets 1st period

  * Ensemble auditions will be in August for Concert Singers

    This is a small ensemble of members of the Concert Choir that meets

    daily from 7:25-7:50 am – more info will be sent home in July.

  * Acafellas – we invite you to sing with this all-men’s ensemble.

  You need to request a 5th PERIOD LUNCH to sing with the Acafellas!

Please feel free to contact us with any questions!

Beth O’Riordan – boriordan@csd99.org    

            (630) 795-8086               

Frank Piekarz – fpiekarz@csd99.org

             (630) 795-8085

DGN on ABC

DGN Fine Arts Department's 'Good Time' video was featured on ABC-7 television this morning.

Go Trojans!

DGN Fine Arts Video Gaining Momentum ...

Our Fine Arts "It's Always A Good Time" video is over 4,100 views, and climbing!

We learned today that it has been picked up by ABC-7 TV in Chicago, and a portion of the video will be featured on the Morning Show Thursday morning, November 15th, at 6:20 a.m.

ABC-7 has also added the video to a 'viral video / School Spirit' competition.  Votes may only be cast on Friday of this week.  Visit this link to cast your vote Friday.

The Patch ran an article this morning about our video.  You may view it here.

It's Always A Good Time!

Check out the new Fine Arts Lip Dub.  YouTube will not allow this to be played on mobile devices.  You will need your computer.