More Midwest Clinic Photos......

Straighten up and Fly Right

Straighten Up and Fly Right from QMaguire on Vimeo.

South HS Jazz Ensemble at the 65th Midwest Clinic

South High School Jazz Ensemble at the 65th Midwest Clinic

Congratulations to the DGS Jazz Ensemble and their director Craig Roselieb for being accepted to perform at the 65th annual MidWest Clinic. This ensemble will perform on Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 1:00 PM in room W-196. Held at McCormick West Place in Chicago, the MidWest Clinic is annually attended by nearly 16,000 professional educators from all 50 states and from more than 30 countries internationally. Each conference features nearly 30 concerts and 90 clinics by the finest performing ensembles and music educators from around the world.

"Acceptance to perform at this convention is the pinnacle of performance success for a high school ensemble." said DGS Fine Arts Department Chairman Glenn Williams. "This truly outstanding group continues a remarkable run of recent performance success."
For information about the DGS Jazz program or the MidWest Clinic, contact DGS Fine Arts Department Chairman Glenn Williams at gwilliams@csd99.org.

South HS Jazz Ensemble at the Jazz Showcase

Enjoy the Jazz Ensemble from South High School in Downers Grove performing Sonny Rollins' St. Thomas as arranged by Michael Philip Mossman.

St. Thomas from QMaguire on Vimeo.

South High School Jazz Ensemble at the Jazz Showcase

Enjoy the South High School Jazz Ensemble at the Jazz Showcase on Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Don Owens and the South High School Jazz Ensemble

Don Owens spent time working with the South High School Jazz Ensemble this evening. Professor Owens is a guest conductor and clinician for the South High School Jazz Ensemble as they prepare for their performance at the 65th Midwest Clinic on Thursday, December 15, 2011. Professor Owens is the retired director of jazz studies at Northwestern University. D.O., as he is affectionately known by his proteges, blends passion, musicianship, humor and craftmanship in his teaching style in a singularly unique manner. Sister Sadie has never sounded better than when D.O. was finished working with the ensemble.

South High School Fall Jazz Concert

Congratulations to the members of the South High School Jazz Workshop, Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Ensemble for an outstanding fall jazz concert on November 10, 2011.

In addition to the Jazz Ensemble "tuning-up" for their upcoming performance at the 65th Midwest Clinic, the concert featured the premiere of Jazz Workshop, the third curricular, credited jazz performance ensemble at South High School. Directed by Ron Hornish, this ensemble "wowed" the audience with their tight ensemble and diverse repertoire.

Carl Allen clinics the Jazz Ensemble at South High School

Jazz educator, drummer and Artistic Director of the Jazz Studies program at the Julliard School of Music Carl Allen http://carlallen.com/ spent time working with the jazz ensemble at South High School this afternoon. As a rhythm section effort, Mr. Allen spent time working on groove and feel with the entire ensemble. The sounds the students were producing felt good before Mr. Allen's visit - they are starting to feel even better as Mr. Allen works with the entire ensemble on groove and feel.

Ron Carter with the Jazz Ensemble from South High School

Ron Carter, director of jazz studies at Northern Illinois University and educational clinician for the Jazz at Lincoln Center, worked with the members of the Jazz Ensemble from South High School in preparation for their upcoming performances at the 65th Midwest Clinic and at the 2012 Illinois Music Educators Conference. Professor Carter coached the student musicians on the nuances of jazz in his singularly enimitable manner.

2011 IMEA District 1 South HS Jazz Festival Participants

Congratulations to the fourteen members of the Jazz Ensemble at South High School who were selected, through competitive audition, to participate in the 2011 IMEA District 1 Jazz Festival. The festival will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at Rick-South High School in Richton-Park, Illinois.

Well done Mustang Musicians!




Carmy Calabria - senior - drum set
Carly Charles - senior - trumpet
Sean Hux - junior - tenor saxophone
Samantha Kotlicky - senior - trumpet
William Moroney - senior -tenor saxophone
Zach Plata - senior - alto saxophone
Michael Ruth - senior - alto saxophone
John Shimanek - sophomore - trumpet
Christian Siki - junior - alto saxophone
Danny Tedeschi - junior - trombone
Josiah Williams - junior - trombone
Ian Williams - junior - piano
Michal Witek - junior - guitar
Julia Wood - junior - bass

2011 Homecoming Variety Show

The Jazz Ensemble from South High School in Downers Grove opened the 2011 Homecoming Variety Show with a fabulous rendition of the classic tune Straighten Up and Fly Right, featuring senior vocalist Colleen DeRosa. The ensemble swung hard, and the crowd appreciated the professional presentation of the tune. Great work tonight Jazz Ensemble!

South HS Combo @ DG Chamber of Commerce Black and White Ball

A student directed combo from South High School performed at the Downers Grove Chamber of Commerce Black and White Ball on September 17, 2011. Here is what a few patrons in attendance at the event had to say about these stellar student musicians:

"The members of the combo were very professional and mature - we could not have asked for better music."

"There is no recorded music playing right now - that is the live music in the room. They are really, really good - I can't believe they are high school students."

Kudos to these student performers - keep up the great work!

South HS Jazz Ensemble to appear at Chicago Jazz Showcase

The Jazz Ensemble from South High School in Downers Grove, directed by Craig Roselieb, will appear at Chicago's famous Jazz Showcase on Tuesday, December 6, 2011. This special performance, in part to prepare for their appearance at the 65th annual Midwest Clinic, will be a collaborative performance with the Jazz Ensemble from St. Charles North High School. The ensemble from St. Charles North is also performing at the 65th Midwest Clinic. "We are thrilled beyond belief to collaborate with St. Charles North to provide this performance experience for our student musicians." said South HS Fine Arts Chairman Glenn Williams. Stay tuned to this blog for updated information about cover charge fees and performance times. For right now, reserve Tuesday, December 6, 2011 to ensure that you are a part of this special collaborative jazz performance.

Farewell to the DGS Jazz Class of 2011!

Farewell and best wishes to the DG South Jazz Class of 2011. Your contributions to the legacy of sonic success are numerous. We will miss you all!

Elliot Bild - trumpet; Tim Neumann - trombone; Will O'Dell - baritone saxophone; Callie Sorce - tenor saxophone; Trevor Yde - drums; Peter Zlotnicki - trumpet

Jazz at Fishel Park 2011

The Jazz Ensemble from South High School in Downers Grove swung hard last night in their final public performance of the 2010-2011 school year. Opening with Rockin' in Rhythm and closing with The Git, the ensemble displayed impressive soulfulness and technical capacity. We pay special homage to our parting seniors: Elliot Bild - trumpet; Tim Neumann - trombone; Will O'Dell - baritone saxophone; Callie Sorce - tenor saxophone; Trevor Yde - drums; Peter Zlotnicki - trumpet. Your contributions to the recent performance success at DGS is remarkable - we'll miss each of you tremendously! Special "shout-out" to our colleagues at DGN for their performances, and, for hosting the event tonight while the new band shell at Fishel Park undergoes final construction.

DG South Jazz at 65th Midwest Clinic

Congratulations to the DGS Jazz Ensemble and their director Craig Roselieb for being accepted to perform at the 65th annual MidWest Clinic in December of 2011. Held at McCormick Place in Chicago, the MidWest Clinic is annually attended by nearly 16,000 professional educators from all 50 states and from more than 30 countries internationally. Each conference features nearly 30 concerts and 90 clinics by the finest performing ensembles and music educators from around the world.
"Acceptance to perform at this convention is the pinnacle of performance success for a high school ensemble." said DGS Fine Arts Department Chairman Glenn Williams. "This truly outstanding group continues a remarkable run of recent performance success."
For information about the DGS Jazz program or the MidWest Clinic, contact DGS Fine Arts Department Chairman Glenn Williams at gwilliams@csd99.org.

Ellis & Liberty Islands. In a word: breathtaking.

The DGS Jazz Ensemble arose to a scrumptious breakfast before hitting the road at 8:00a (EST) this morning.

We toured Ellis Island first, learning much about this great American gateway that ushered over 11 million immigrants through its doors. The students viewed much memorabilia from the era and were in awe of the photos they saw. Imagining the emotions and attitudes present during its heyday can easily overwhelm. It was incredible.

At Liberty Island, we experienced a different type of awe. Lady Liberty looked dazzling against the cloudless blue sky. Neither postcards nor my phone's wimpy camera can do her justice, (forgive the pun) but photos will be posted anyway. It was truly something to behold.

More ramblings later. Lunch!

Welcome to the Empire State. Briefly.

The DGS Jazz Ensemble has hit the New York scene. Our plane has landed, bags have been claimed, and bus has been boarded at LaGuardia -- and that's about all we'll get to do in NY today -- now, it's New Jersey time. We're getting a great tour on the way, though. Topics covered so far include: the Mets (and Citi Stadium), the World Fair, street nomenclature and topography, the spike atop the Empire State Building (created to harbor blimps, apparently), and the schist which you'll find in Manhattan sidewalks. Sadly, my battery indicator tells me that I must conclude this post. Good night!

Vistas from Times Square...........

More Times Square views

Sights of Times Square

Delicious and nutricious..............

Traveling with Bob Rogers Travel ALWAYS means a quality breakfast. Hots, colds, and fruit. Delicious and nutricious indeed.................

Tutuma Social Club

At the Tutuma Social Club, the DGS JE listened and ate while alumna Lauren Wood and her Afro-Peruvian band tore it up onstage. It was a real treat to see Lauren again, as well as to hear her latest musical endeavors firsthand. Once Lauren's band completed their set, several DGS students joined in, collaborating with some of the NY musicians from Lauren's band, as well. The students had a blast. Fun was had by all.

And the winners are.............

The finale concert at Avery Fisher at the Lincoln Center featured the top three high school jazz bands, followed up by the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Next year, in addition to the music of Duke Ellington, the EE program will promote the music of Dizzy Gillespie.

The top three high school bands as selected by the judges are the Dillard School of the Arts from Florida, Roosevelt HS from Washington, and Mountlskr Terrace HS near Brier, Washington.

Numerous student musicians from all 16 bands were awarded a variety of individual and section awards. Congratulations to these Mustang musicians for being recognized by the judging panel:

Ian Williams, sophomore - piano
Andrada Pteanc, junior - bass
Julia Wood, sophomore - bass

Our bus driver........

The name of our bus driver is John. He might be the best bus driver I've worked with in more than two decades. Your students will have many stories about the escapades of John the bus driver. Be certain to ask them about him.........

The performance is finally here............

Playing in front of a packed house at Rose Theatre and for an illustrious panel of adjudicators (Wynton Marsalis, Jeff Hamilton, David Berger, Vincent Garnder and Rich DeRosa,) your DG South Jazz Ensemble held their own against the 15 bands from around the world. The judges are in deliberation currently, and the results will be announced in less than 30 minutes. Regardless of the decision of the panel, our students played in the swing style with amazing authenticity. Great work today everyone!

The stage is set, the band is ready. Hit it!

It's show time. The band is backstage warming up, and the energy in the air is palpable. Catch the performance on