Volume 52 Issue 2
Downers Grove South High School
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Dec. 16, 2016
@DGSBlueprint
Marching Mustangs mark new opportunites in trip to Florida
Freshman percussionist Tyler Blue is excited to participate in the marching band trip.
Photo and illustration by Claire Pikul By Gabrielle Bartkeviciute, Print Editor-in-Chief One hundred sixteen students involved in different bands at DGS will leave for Tampa, Florida on Dec. 28 to play in the Outback Bowl over winter break.
While the band is participating in a competition, Assistant Band Director Gregory Hensel wants the students to enjoy the trip as well. “Because we are there, there is a competitive aspect to it. We would like to do well competitively, but we will also like to perform and have a chance to travel, see the country, and hopefully have some fun,” Hensel said. Due to the lack of time remaining for the band to reherse, their performance will be determined by the student’s responsibility to practice outside of school. Although there is less time, Hensel explains how the music is different than other competitive music. “[The] show with the other high schools is a stand still, and the music we are playing is much easier to prepare...When you have kids spread out from twenty yard line to twenty yard line, [with] the way that sound travels, it can be hard to line everything up that way,” Hensel said. Senior Emily White explained the challenges she encounters as a drum major and a musician for the Outback Bowl. “It is a lot of fun because you get the best of both worlds, and I get to experience what it is like to be inside the
band and view from the director’s viewpoint. It can be challenging sometimes though...I have to spend more time outside of the band program to practice and make sure I am up to speed on everything,” White said. The mass-band halftime show will consist of a series of four Latin songs including music by artists such as Gloria Estefan. Head Director Craig Roselieb explained the trip’s music choices. “We are not doing our competitive marching band music, but wind ensemble is performing three numbers that we are performing at the holiday concert. Our jazz band is also performing,” Roselieb said. With the music learned, bags packed and $1,200 payed, the band will be leaving on buses towards Tampa, Florida. Aside from the competitive aspect to the trip, there is also a social aspect, according to Hensel. “[Its] a great social thing to do. To be able to stay in a hotel with your friends and to ride a bus down to Florida with your friends, spending that time with them in a social aspect is great,” Hensel said. Students also form connections with other bands across the country because they work together to put on the half
time show. “I am excited for the mass-band performance, and that will be a lot of fun because you will get to meet other members from around the country,” White said. Junior Jake Burrows shared his thoughts on being able to meet band members across the country. “We all are extremely enthusiastic to perform at such a high level. Personally, from the Outback Bowl, I want to take away the memories of spending time with my fellow bandmates and just be grateful for our band program to have this opportunity,” Burrows said. The band directors also will expeirnece social benefits. Roselieb explained what he hopes to get from meeting with other band directors. “We just socialize with the other directors and students, but the clinician that runs the mass-band is a college director, and we will also get to see both college bands perform for, whatever group is chosen to go. That’s a fun time watching two college bands perform at the same football game,” Roselieb said. This unique oppurtunity offers DGS music students various beneficial lessons both musically and socially.
No place like home for the holidays: DGS military reunions By Jayna Bardahl, Print News Editor In the midst of the holiday season, the tradition of togetherness causes military families to experience some of the most heart-felt homecomings of the year. These reunions hit our community even closer to home when we recognize the several DGS students who have their own loved ones serving our country. Senior Matthew Kowalski has an older brother in the Army who has just returned home from two years of flight school at Fort Rucker. In years passed, Kowalski’s brother has not been able to return home for the holidays, placing an emotional barrier over the family’s traditional holiday festivities. With this in mind, Kowalski emphasized how special it is that his brother will be around the Christmas tree this year. “What makes getting to see my brother during the holiday season special is that I know he is home and safe. We don’t have to worry about anything happening [to him], and I have someone to fight with since it gets boring when he is gone,” Kowalski said. Families like the Kowalski’s appreciate the times when everyone can come together in celebration. The atmosphere created when a family comes together for the holiday season is some-
thing not easily replaceable. DGS senior Michelle Hopkins commented on this change of atmosphere her family faced when her cousin was unable to return home for the holdiays. Hopkins cousin serves for the Navy and has been most recently stationed in Guam, an island in the western Pacific Ocean. Although he will come home this year, Hopkins evaluated the way her family’s holiday celebration had been altered when her cousin did not get the privilege of coming home. “It changes the atmosphere because we always talk about good memories we’ve had as a family, and then we think about how we miss having my cousin around to create more memories,” Hopkins said. Junior Madelyn Josey, reflected in a similar way on how her family’s atmosphere was changed when her brother, who serves for the Coast Guard, was away at basic training during the holiday season a few years ago. “Our family missed him a lot. It was different. It was the first time having him not there. He’s the oldest grandchild, so it was just kind of weird without him,” Josey said. Although she has never experienced it herself, junior Jessica Windischman predicted how her family would react if her brother, an Army reservist, were to be stationed away during the holi-
days. “It would definitely affect my mom. She’s very emotional about my broth-
joys seeing each other. It’s nice that even though they’re gone for majority of the year, they can still make it back to celebrate the way we always have together,” Hopkins said. Despite the emptiness felt with a loved one away from home, Windischman explained the sense of pride she has in her brother since he has joined the Army. “I’m just really happy and supportive of him. It’s just a cool step in someone’s life to go through that,” Windischman said. Kowalski acknowledged Junior Jessica Windischman and her family, proudly stand that not all familys are beside Windischman’s brother in uniform. able to celebrate together Photo Courtesy and illustration by this year. Jessica Windischman and Claire Pikul “Unfortunately not all [troops] get to come home er...It would just be kind of weird. It for the holidays, but I’m thankful that would feel like something is missing,” there’s people out there fighting for our Windischman said. freedom so we can celebrate the holiAll of these indivudals expressed days peacefully,” Kowalski said. gratitude that thier loved ones be home These four individuals represent this year. Hopkins vocalized her opin- only a fraction of families with loved ion on the significance of troops return- ones serving our country. The impact ing home for seasons like this one. of troops away from home is exempli“What makes it more special is the fied during the holiday season, causing fact that my whole family gets together families to cherish the togetherness in for all the holidays and everyone en- a different way.