Student Success Stories

North High Band students selected to the Illinois All-State Bands, Orchestras, Jazz Ensembles or those who have had compositions recognized at the All-State level:

• Gordon Dix - 1995 All-State Band, Euphonium

• Brian Johnson - Tuba

• Hillary Nelson - Flute

• Scott Eblen - 1997 All-State Orchestra, Trumpet & 1998 All-State Jazz Ensemble, Trumpet

• Chris Peck - Jazz Guitar and music compositions

• Matthew King - Trombone

• Molly Cantrall - French Horn

• Holly Hendricks - French Horn

• April Foss - Oboe & English Horn

• Lisa Lyczak - Clarinet

• Lisa Godlewski - Oboe & English Horn

• Scott Szczurek - Jazz Bass

• Kelly Darrah - Bass Clarinet

• Megan Moscato - Flute

• Kristen King - 2001 All-State Honor Band, Clarinet & 2002 All-State Honors Orchestra, Clarinet (1st Chair)

• Nick Mazzarella - 2002 All-State Jazz Combo, Alto Saxophone

• Christopher Dortwegt - 2002 All-State Band, Flute, & 2003 All-State Honors Band, Flute

• Katie Duffin - 2003 All-State Band, Tuba

• Kyle Rhoades - 2002 & 2003 1st Place Award for Music Arranging

• Bryce Bowlin - 2004 All-State Honors Band, Euphonium

• Mackenzie Martin - 2004 - IMEA Future Music Educators Leadership Symposium, 2005 & 2006 All-State Honors Orchestra, Percussion

• Michael Jacobson - 2005 All-State Orchestra & 2006 All-State Honors Orchestra, Bassoon

• Natalie Lorch - 2005 All-State Honors Orchestra, Oboe/English Horn

• Ashley Martin - 2005 All-State Band, Contra-Bass Clarinet

• David Shoup - 2005 All-State Honors Band, Tenor Sax (1st Chair)

• David Taylor - 2005 All-State Jazz Band, Guitar

• Tim Williams - 2005 All-State Orchestra, Trombone

• Sarah Younker - 2005 All-State Orchestra, French Horn

• Lauren Dortwegt - 2006 All-State Band, Oboe

• Rusty Jehangir - 2006 All-State Honors Jazz Combo, Trombone

• Aaron Shatzer - 2006 All-State Honors Band, Bassoon

Our records for All-State selection date back to the 1993-1994 school year.  

If you are aware of students who should be acknowledged in this section prior to 1993, please contact our office.

• Rusty Jehangir - 2006 National Grammy All-Star Big Band, Trombone

Student Success Highlights from Recent Years:

• Performance by the "TROJAN" Marching Band at Chicago White Sox baseball games (1994 & 1998) and a Chicago Power Soccer Game. (1994)
• Tour to Minneapolis, MN - 95 students. (1994)
• Addition of a second Jazz Ensemble (The Jazz Lab Band), providing all instrumentalists (including non-traditional jazz instruments) an opportunity to learn about jazz music and improvisation. (1994)
• Release of the first compact disc recording (RESPECT) of the band, including selections by the Marching Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Ensemble. (1995)
• Twice named "most disciplined band" at the Northwestern University Band Day Festival. (1995 & 1996)
• Addition of a charity benefit concert ("The Jazz Cafe"), which raised over $1,000.00 for the American Cancer Society in 1995 and continues to support a variety of charities each year.
• New Marching Band uniforms. (1995)
• Performance by the Jazz Ensemble at the Purdue University Jazz Festival. (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
• Tour to Orlando, FL - 160 students. (1996)
• Release of the second compact disc recording (OVATIONS) of the band, and the first to feature ensembles from the entire Fine Arts Department. (1996)
• Tour to Germany - Members of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble, participating in the District 99 Honors Band. (June, 1997)
• Tour to Washington, D.C. (March/April, 1998)
• Selected "Festival Honor Band" at the Dixie Classic Music Festival, Richmond, VA. (April, 1998)
• The North High Fine Arts Department named one of only 100 "Grammy Signature Schools" in the United States, by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. (1999)
• Marching Band performance in the 2000 Dublin, Ireland St. Patrick's Day Parade (March 17, 2000).  Over 230 student musicians participated in the tour.
• Marching Band performance in the 2001 Marshal Field's Jingle Elf Parade (November, 2001).
• Tour to Toronto, Canada (February/March, 2002).
• Marching Band invited to perform as the featured band at the Northwestern University vs. Texas Christian University NCAA football game (September 7, 2002)
• Marching Band invited to perform as the featured band at the Northwestern University vs. Air Force Academy NCAA football game (September 6, 2003)
• Tour to Orlando, FL - 190 students. (2004)

2001

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Last Revision Monday, August 20, 2007 03:47 PM