Sunday, December 21, 2014

Carnegie Hall Tickets On Sale Tuesday Morning

Reminder ...

Tickets for the March 2, 2015 concert at Carnegie Hall will go on sale at 10:00 AM (CST) on Tuesday, December 23, 2014.

Tickets may be purchased online, at the Carnegie Hall website.  Click here.

If you are traveling with Bob Rogers Travel as a part of the official "Fan Package," you do not need to order tickets independently.  Your seats have already been secured for you, prior to the public sale (and they are great seats!).






Friday, December 19, 2014

Carnegie Hall "Three Sheet" Poster Unveiled

Carnegie Hall, which is home to many rich artistic traditions, advertises concerts in large display boards located on the exterior of the building.  Beginning 14 days before a concert takes place, a poster for the event is rotated through this famous collection of glass cases.

At the time this advertising practice began, printers were not able to manufacture single posters to fill up the 40" x 80" space.  Instead, designers created three separate posters (each approximately 26.5" x 40") and stacked them vertically to create the illusion of a poster that filled the space.  Thus the name "Three Sheet."  Even today, while modern printing techniques make it possible to print singular posters of this size, Carnegie Hall still refers to the posters as "Three Sheets."

District 99/North High Fine Arts faculty member, Mr. Marty Voelker, has created a beautiful "Three Sheet" poster to advertise our March 2nd concert, as well as honor the historic nature of this concert for our community and District 99.

The large 40" x 80" version will be prominently displayed in rotation - at Carnegie Hall - beginning on February 16th.  Smaller scaled replicas of the posters will be created to commemorate the concert, and hung in the Fine Arts hallways at both North & South High Schools following the tour.

Click on the thumbnail below to view the District 99 "Three Sheet."




Monday, December 15, 2014

Students, faculty, alumni, and pros form "Rhapsody in Blue" Jazz Orchestra for Carnegie Hall Finale

As preparations for the March 2, 2015 Carnegie Hall concert (#NYNouveau) continue, students, faculty, alumni and professional guest musicians joined forces this evening to rehearse the scheduled concert finale: an authentic recreation of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, as premiered in New York City by the Paul Whiteman Jazz Orchestra in 1924.

Under the baton of Northwestern University Professor Emeritus Don Owens, special guest musicians will include Ian Williams (piano soloist), Kristin Bowers (clarinet), Peter Wilson (violin), Lauren Wood (saxophone), and members of the Gaudete Brass Quintet.

Enjoy this "teaser" video, shot at tonight's rehearsal ...




And these images from the session ...










Carnegie Hall Concert Prep Continues

United States Air Force Band Concert Master - and DGN Alumnus - Kristin Bowers was on campus today to rehearse the Scott McAllister clarinet concerto "Black Dog." Technical Sergeant Bowers will perform the work with the DGN Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall on March 2, 2015.

Also on campus today is Class of 2012 DGN alumnus Hannah Young (who will be accompanying the DGN Bands on harp at Carnegie Hall) as well as composer & conductor Don Owens (Northwestern University Professor Emeritus).

It was wonderful to welcome all of these special guests to campus today!

Friday, November 28, 2014

Real-Time Tour Itinerary Now Available as a Public Google Calendar

We have created a dynamic Google Calendar with our tour itinerary, and encourage all tour-participants, and family members following our tour from home, to subscribe.  As events in our itinerary are adjusted, added, or deleted, this calendar will be automatically updated in real time.

All events that will take place in NYC have been created as EST events, allowing students who subscribe to view the events correctly on their mobile devices while they are in New York.

To subscribe to this public Google Calendar ...

Step 1:

Go to the following URL:

http://tinyurl.com/NYC15TourCalendar


Step 2:

Subscribe to the calendar, and link it to your own account by looking for this icon in the lower right hand corner of the screen ...



... and clicking it.

Once you have added it you may change the view (Month/Week/Agenda), and you may also add it to your mobile device just as you would any of your other calendars.  (Instructions for this vary based on your type of device.)

If you are searching Public Google Calendar, the official name is: NYC Tour 2015 (DGN & DGS Bands)

The same calendar has also been embedded on this tour blog for your convenience.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Carnegie Ticket Sale Start Date Announced

We were informed by Carnegie Hall today that tickets for the March 2, 2015 concert will go on sale at 10:00 AM (CST) on December 23, 2014.

Tickets may be purchased online, at the Carnegie Hall website.  Click here.

If you are traveling with Bob Rogers Travel as a part of the official "Fan Package," you do not need to order tickets independently.  Your seats have already been secured for you, prior to the public sale.




Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Bus & Roommate Requests

Students may now express their roommate and bus preferences by signing up on the posters outside the Band Room.

Students have until Tuesday, November 25, to make these requests.




Sunday, September 28, 2014

Evening Rehearsal and Meeting Dates Announced for NYC Tour


NYC Tour Families/Students are asked to please make note of the following required rehearsals and tour meeting.

Please note that not all rehearsals involve every student. Please check the dates and times carefully, and add these rehearsals (and the required meeting) to your calendar as appropriate.


  • Thursday, January 22nd – 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Concert Band & Symphonic Band Combined Rehearsal (Band Room)

  • Tuesday, January 27th – 7 PM  Final Parent/Student Meeting (Auditorium) Attendance by traveling student & at least one parent/guardian required for tour participation.

  • Wednesday, February 4th – 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Concert Band & Symphonic Band Combined Rehearsal (Band Room)


  • Thursday, February 19th – 4 – 5:30 PM – Concert Band & Symphonic Band Combined Rehearsal (Band Room)

  • Thursday, February 19th –  6:30 – 8:30 PM  - Wind Ensemble Rehearsal (Band Room)


Saturday, September 13, 2014

How Do You Buy Tickets to the Carnegie Hall Concert?

We have been getting quite a few questions in recent weeks about the process for purchasing tickets to the March 2, 2015 DGN & DGS Bands Concert at Carnegie Hall, and thought it would be helpful to clarify the process:

If you have purchased the "Fan Package" through Bob Rogers Travel, you are all set! Your seats will be reserved first, before tickets go on sale to the general public.  You can count on fabulous seats!

If you are traveling independently to NYC for the concert, or you have family and friends in the NYC area that would like to attend, you may purchase tickets from the Carnegie Hall Box Office website beginning on January 2, 2015.  If you go to the website now, the website will tell you to call the Box Office.  It is our understanding that if you call now, you will be told that tickets will be made available on January 2.

We will provide further updates in December, as we learn more.


Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Parents: Still thinking about traveling to NYC to hear the concert and take in the sights?

Have you been contemplating a trip to NYC to hear our concert at Carnegie Hall, and to join other DGN/DGS Band Families in a wonderful weekend of sight-seeing?  If so, we want you to know that registration for the official "Fan Package" - coordinated through Bob Rogers Travel - will close on Friday, September 12th.  



There are currently 59 persons signed up for the Fan Package.  If you'd like to join them ... go here for the specific inclusions, itinerary, and registration instructions:


The Fan Package includes hotel (Sheraton Times Square), tickets to see the NY Philharmonic, tickets to a Broadway musical, tickets to our Carnegie Hall concert, sight-seeing to several major attractions in luxury coaches, a boat cruise, admission to the 9/11 National Memorial & Museum, several wonderful group meals, and much more.

If you are not interested in the Fan Package, but plan to make your own trip to NYC and join us at the concert, individual concert tickets will be available - through the Carnegie Hall Box Office - beginning in January 2015.  We will share more information about that option in late December / early January.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Don't forget to complete the NYC Tour Survey by Friday!

As of tonight, only 80 of 185 tour participants from DGN have completed the survey and expressed their preference in a Broadway musical to attend.  As a reminder, participants have until FRIDAY of this week to complete the survey.

After taking a few moments to familiarize yourself with both shows (see previous post), please go to the following online survey and register your first-choice.


Special Notes:
  • The survey will also ask tour participants to express any special dietary needs, or food allergies, so that we may begin planning appropriately to support those needs.
  • Students should complete the survey no later than Friday, August 29. Students who fail to complete the survey by August 29 will be assigned to one of the two shows by our staff.
  • We will do our absolute best to assign students to their 'first-choice' production, but in the event that we run out of allotted tickets for a particular show, we will honor requests beginning with the time-stamp on the survey response. 

Monday, August 18, 2014

Which Broadway Show Do You Want To See? Sign Up Now!

NYC tour participants will have the opportunity to see several cultural events while in The Big Apple. On Sunday, March 1, students will attend one of two Broadway musicals.  We need to know - now - which of the two musicals is your FIRST choice. There is no guarantee that everyone will be able to attend their first choice, but the reason we are asking students to make a decision now is that it gives us the best chance to secure tickets for their first-choice production.

After taking a few moments to familiarize yourself with both shows (see links below), please go to the following online survey and register your first-choice.


Special Notes:
  • The survey will also ask tour participants to express any special dietary needs, or food allergies, so that we may begin planning appropriately to support those needs.
  • Students should complete the survey no later than Friday, August 29. Students who fail to complete the survey by August 29 will be assigned to one of the two shows by our staff.
  • We will do our absolute best to assign students to their 'first-choice' production, but in the event that we run out of allotted tickets for a particular show, we will honor requests beginning with the time-stamp on the survey response. 


Broadway Musical Options

Aladdin (http://www.broadway.com/shows/aladdin-broadway/)

The beloved story of Aladdin is brought to thrilling theatrical life in this bold new musical. With just one rub of a magic lamp, Aladdin’s journey sweeps you into an exotic world full of daring adventure, classic comedy and timeless romance. It’s an unforgettable experience that includes all the cherished songs from the Academy Award-­winning score and more written especially for Broadway.







Matilda (http://www.broadway.com/shows/matilda/)

Winner of a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards including Best Musical, Matilda is more than a show, it’s a phenomenon. Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl,Matilda is the story of an extraordinary girl who dares to take a stand and change her destiny. Matilda features a first-ever Broadway score by Australian musician/comedian Tim Minchin and a darkly comical yet compassionate book by Dennis Kelly. Rob Howell’s scrabble-tile explosion of a set, playfully and colorfully lit by Hugh Vanstone, is the visual counterpart of Dahl’s creative genius ...



Saturday, August 9, 2014

Soloists Named for Carnegie Hall Concert

We are pleased to announce that Kristin Bowers and Peter Wilson have agreed to perform solos with our DGN Bands at Carnegie Hall on March 2, 2015.




Kristin A. Bowers (DGN Band Alumnus), is the principal clarinetist with The United States Air Force Band of Washington, D.C.  A native of Downers Grove, IL, her career in the Air Force began in January 2011.

A graduate of Indiana University, Sergeant Bowers received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Clarinet Performance in 2006.  She continued her education and earned a Master of Music degree in 2008 from Northwestern University.

Before joining the Air Force, Sergeant Bowers was the assistant principal and E-flat clarinetist of the South Bend Symphony in Indiana.  She enjoyed solo performances with the Akademisches Orchester in Leipzig, Germany, the Texas Music Festival Orchestra, the University of Chicago Chamber Orchestra and the Northwestern University Summer Orchestra.  Her teachers include Howard Klug, Steve Cohen and Lawrie Bloom.

Sergeant Bowers will perform as soloist with the DGN Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall.



Peter Wilson is an engaging and multifaceted violinist and conductor whose musicianship has been noted as “first-class” by The Washington Post. He is Music Director of the Waynesboro Symphony and Richmond Philharmonic Orchestras. Highly respected throughout the National Capital Region, he has served as a violinist of The White House for nearly a quarter century. He is also Concertmaster of the American Festival Pops Orchestra and has guest conducted such renowned institutions as the National Symphony Orchestra and the National Gallery Orchestra. He holds music degrees from Northwestern University and The Catholic University of America where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts.

Dr. Wilson began his professional career as Concertmaster of the Walt Disney World Orchestra. For 12 years he was a lecturer at Catholic University where he taught courses in conducting and string techniques while serving as Resident Conductor of the CU Symphony Orchestra. A musician in demand for his high energy, versatility and commitment to authenticity, Dr. Wilson is active as a guest conductor, soloist, recording artist and performance clinician throughout the United States.  He has appeared as violin soloist with such legendary artists as Rosemary Clooney, Michael Feinstein, Renée Fleming, Bernadette Peters, and composer/conductor John Williams. He is also cofounder and violinist of the acclaimed string duo "Bridging the Gap" (with double bassist Aaron Clay), which has been hailed for “superior arrangements and uncommon musicianship” by The Washington Post.

Having developed a passion for historically informed performances, Dr. Wilson has researched and conducted several restorations of great American works including Gershwin’s original 1924 version of “Rhapsody In Blue” using his own critical edition, and Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” Suite for 13 instruments. In addition, he has championed Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” Concerti, performing as violin soloist and conductor. He has appeared in international publications including The Strad, which stated “[Wilson] made music that had the stamp of quality.”  Dr. Wilson currently resides in Fairfax, Virginia and is the proud father of three sons.

Dr. Wilson will perform as soloist with the combined DGN Symphonic Band & Concert Band at Carnegie Hall.




Wednesday, July 30, 2014

This makes it feel REALLY official!

The DGN and DGS Band concert on Monday, March 2, 2015 has now been listed on the Carnegie Hall Website.

Please note: In addition to tickets being purchased through the "Fan Package," individual tickets will be available for order, online, beginning on January 2, 2015.


Tuesday, June 24, 2014

It's Official - We are a 'GO' for NYC!

We are pleased to announce that we had a tremendous initial registration for the 2015 NYC Tour, and we currently have 187 persons registered to travel with the student group.  We have authorized our travel agency to proceed with first deposits being charged on July 1st.

Additionally, the "Fan Package" has nearly 50 persons signed up, and that trip is also a "go."

If your family has not yet registered for the tour, but you would still like to, it's  not too late!  Please let us know of your interest to add, and we will help get you set up.  

We extend our thanks to our DGN Band Families for your enthusiasm and commitment to this performance tour.  Carnegie Hall ... here we come!




Thursday, June 19, 2014

One Day More!



*** Final Reminder ***

The DGN Band’s 2015 NYC / Carnegie Hall Tour initial registration closes tomorrow!  You have one day left to complete the online sign-up process.

Do you have all the paperwork in hand from the meeting, and you are ready to complete the online registration?  Simply click here …


Did you miss the tour kick-off meeting, and now want to see the presentation made on June 11th?  Do you wish to view e-versions of the materials we distributed at the meeting?  Everything you need is here:




Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Carnegie Hall / NYC Tour Registration Deadline Approaching

The DGN Band’s 2015 NYC / Carnegie Hall Tour initial registration closes at the end of this week!  You have four days left to complete the online sign-up process.

Do you have all the paperwork in hand from the meeting, and you are ready to complete the online registration?  Simply click here …


Did you miss the tour kick-off meeting, and now want to see the presentation made on June 11th?  Do you wish to view e-versions of the materials we distributed at the meeting?  Everything you need is here:




Thursday, June 12, 2014

Every Touring Musician Will Perform at Carnegie Hall

The purpose of this post is to clarify that every student who participates in our tour to NYC will be a part of a band that will perform at Carnegie Hall.  There seems to be a little bit of incorrect information being passed around that suggests that only certain students on the tour will perform. This is not the case.

We anticipate that we will have somewhere between 160 - 180 students participate in the performance tour.  If those numbers hold true, all DGN band students will be assigned to one of two performing bands at Carnegie Hall.  Each band will perform a full set of music (approximately 30 minutes of stage time).

This "performance of a lifetime" is for everyone in our program.  No one sits on the sidelines!


Did you miss our NYC 2015 Tour Kick Off Meeting?

Got hung up at work? Maybe your family has already snuck out of town?

A video of last night's NYC Tour presentation has now been posted to our Tour Blog.  Additionally, you will find links on the left hand side of the page that will direct you to all of the paperwork that was distributed.  See the "Tour Mailings" link for all of the written information we covered last night.  (We are also sending packets home to DGN Band families who were not present - via US Mail - and they should arrive at your house within a few days.)

Monday, May 12, 2014

Get Tour Planning Text Alerts!

We strongly encourage all NYC 2015 Tour Members (students & parents/guardians) to register for Text Alerts!  Every time we post a new announcement about the tour, you will receive an immediate Text Message.  There is no fee or charge for this service (other than any standard text messaging rates that are part of your contract with your mobile provider).

It's easy to set up.  Simply send the following text message to '40404' ...

follow @dgnbandsnyc2015

* NOTE: you must leave a space between the word 'follow' and the '@dgnbandsnyc2015'.