Throughout its long history, the Downers Grove Music Club has remained strongly committed to music education and promoting excellence in the musical arts. As part of this tradition, DGMC awards annual music scholarships to local deserving high school juniors to help them hone their craft and further their musical education. Winners are chosen from applicants based on their musical ability and willingness to share their talent with our community. These awards are funded by our house concert benefit concerts, which are generously supported by members and patrons of DGMC. Thanks to the Shelby Bulut Memorial Fund, DGMC also presents multiple Private Lesson Awards to 5th–7th grade students enrolled in the Orchestra program in District 58. These awards (covering the cost of 12 lessons) are given to students who have never had private string lessons and who, based on their applications, seem very motivated to take advantage of more instruction.
This year we awarded six $500 Rising Star Awards, three $1,000 College Music Awards, and eight Private Lesson Awards.
[GG] denotes award supported by the Golden Girls Fund.
Lucas Ciocan (tenor saxophone) Downers Grove South High School Junior
Maija Flannery [GG] (soprano) Downers Grove South High School Junior
Noelle Kelly [GG] (piano) Downers Grove South High School Sophomore
Matthew Lin (cello) Downers Grove South High School Sophomore
Evangeline Selking (flute) Downers Grove South High School Freshman
Rebecca Snouffer (clarinet) Downers Grove South High School Sophomore
Stephen Cecil (viola) Downers Grove North High School Senior
Cameron Hejny (clarinet) Downers Grove North High School Senior
Emelia Parson [GG] (cello) Downers Grove South High School Senior
Madeline Frankie (violin) Highland Elementary School 6th grade
Sophia Lofgren (violin) Lester Elementary School 5th grade
Mira Spector (cello) Whittier Elementary School 5th grade
Maclean Birch (cello) Fairmount Elementary School 6th grade
Sean Casey (cello) Kingsley Elementary School 5th grade
Ethan Smith (cello) Hillcrest Elementary School 5th grade
Katherine Susmarski (violin) Fairmount Elementary School 5th grade
Lydia Larsen (cello) Fairmount Elementary School 7th grade
Congratulations DGMC Music Award winners!
This year we awarded three $400 Rising Star Awards, three $1,000 and one $500 College Music Awards, and seven Private Lesson Awards.
Erika Andreshak (viola) Downers Grove South High School Freshman
Annie Koshy (violin) Downers Grove South High School Sophomore
Gavin Schnall (percussion) Downers Grove South High School Freshman
Zach Gresik (saxophone) Downers Grove South High School Senior
Francesca Korbitz (flute) Downers Grove North High School Senior
Caitlin Stocki (harp) Downers Grove North High School Senior
Olivia Balicki (voice/soprano) – Honorable Mention Downers Grove North High School Senior
Addelynn Amidei Pierce Downer Elementary School 6th grade
Andre Cheng
Whittier Elementary School 6th grade
Caroline Foster Whittier Elementary School 6th grade
Mari Sharkey Lester Elementary School 5th grade
Samuel Martincic Indian Trail Elementary School 6th grade
Wil Thacker Hillcrest Elementary School (will attend O'Neill) 6th grade
Leah Lopez Fairmount Elementary School 5th grade
Congratulations to all DGMC Music Award winners!
This year, we awarded an unprecedented seven $400 Rising Star awards, two $1,000 college music awards and seven Private Lesson Awards.
Penny Ham (flute) Downers Grove North High School Junior
Cameron Hejny (clarinet) Downers Grove North High School Sophomore
Isaac Hsu (cello) Downers Grove North High School Junior
Francesca Korbitz (flute) Downers Grove North High School Junior
Philip Okunev (violin) Downers Grove South High School Junior
Melissa Parkinson (double bass) Downers Grove North High School Junior
Ethan Weingust (piano) Downers Grove North High School Freshman
Carissa Blumka (flute) Downers Grove North High School Senior
Diana Kwak (Voice Soprano/Mezzo Soprano) Downers Grove South High School Senior
Laney Andrys (violin) El Sierra Elementary School 6th grade
Thomas Faber (violin)
Hillcrest Elementary School (will attend Herrick) 6th grade
Beatrix Hawkins (violin) Pierce Downer Elementary School 6th grade
Sophia Nash (violin) Highland Elementary School 6th grade
Mackenzie Stenson (violin) Highland Elementary School 5th grade
Nathan Zabawski (cello) Hillcrest Elementary School (will attend O'Neill) 5th grade
Norah Zimolzak (cello) Fairmount Elementary School 5th grade
Congratulations to all DGMC Music Award winners!
This year, we awarded four $400 Rising Star awards. DGMC also presented $1,000 college music awards to two seniors. We are also pleased to award six String Student Scholarship Awards this year.
Diana Kwak, vocalist DGS Junior
Jonah Sprandel, alto sax DGS Junior
Isaac Hsu, cello and piano DGN Sophomore
Lincoln Peckenpaugh, piano DGN Sophomore
Catherine Ramsey, harp DGN Senior
Miles Teague, French horn DGN Senior
Carla Bolton, Cello 5th grade
Emily From, Violin 5th grade
Breia Graefen, Viola 5th grade
Vivian James, Cello 5th grade
Adrian Leion, Viola 5th grade
Neda Masiulionis, Cello 5th grade
Congratulations to all DGMC Music Award winners!
This year, we awarded two $400 Rising Star awards. DGMC also presented $1,000 college music awards to two seniors and two $500 honorable mention awards. All winners were announced at the 2019 Awards Assemblies held on May 7 at Downers Grove South (DGS) and May 8 at Downers Grove North (DGN).
Miles Teague, French horn DGN
Emilija Irvin, bassoon DGN
Lucie Boyd, viola DGN
Ameila Korbitz, violin DGN
Kelly Jankowski, trumpet - Honorable Mention DGS
Carson Aldrich, trombone - Honorable Mention DGS
Congratulations to all winners! We look forward to hearing our Rising Stars award recipients at the DGMC Rising Stars program next year.
This year, we awarded three $400 Rising Star awards. DGMC also presented $1,000 college music awards to three seniors and two $500 honorable mention awards. All winners were announced at the 2018 Awards Assemblies held on May 8 at Downers Grove South (DGS) and Downers Grove North (DGN).
Lucie Boyd, viola DGN
Amelia Korbitz, violin DGN
Kelly Jankowski, trumpet DGS
Cecilia Kowara, vocals DGN
Bryan Monk, violin - Honorable Mention DGN
Allison Brandt, clarinet DGS
Daniel King, clarinet DGS
Nicolette Cheaure, viola - Honorable Mention DGS
Congratulations to all winners! We look forward to hearing our Rising Stars award recipients at the DGMC Rising Stars program on April 2, 2019.
This year, we awarded five $400 Rising Star awards. DGMC also presented $1,000 college music awards to two seniors graduating from District 99 who had been active in music both at their school and in their community. This year we were also able to award one $500 Honorable Mention award. All winners were announced at the 2017 Awards Assemblies held in May at Downers Grove South (DGS) and Downers Grove North (DGN).
Jennifer Casey, euphonium DGN
Cecilia Kowara, soprano DGN
Allison Brandt, clarinet DGS
Nicolette Cheaure, viola DGS
Danny King, clarinet DGS
Elise Cismesia, soprano DGN
Lydia Walsh-Rock, soprano DGS
Kristina Mucha, clarinet - Honorable Mention DGS
Congratulations to all winners! We look forward to hearing our Rising Stars award recipients at the DGMC Rising Stars program on April 3, 2018.
This year, we awarded four $400 Rising Star awards and also two $500 Honorable Mention awards. DGMC also presented $1,000 college music awards to two seniors graduating from District 99 who had been active in music both at their school and in their community. All winners were announced at the 2016 Awards Assemblies held in May at Downers Grove South (DGS) and Downers Grove North (DGN).
Elise Cismesia, soprano DGN
Maria D'Ambrose, oboe & piano DGN
Brianna Imgruet, trumpet DGS
Kristina Mucha, clarinet & tenor saxophone DGS
Timothy Edwards, cello DGN
Amelia Smerz, cello & trombone DGN
Megan Hung, Clarinet & piano - Honorable Mention DGN
Liam Nelson, cello - Honorable Mention DGN
Congratulations to all winners! We look forward to hearing our Rising Stars award recipients at the DGMC Rising Stars program on April 4, 2017.
This year, we awarded five $400 Rising Star awards. DGMC also presented $1,000 college music awards to two seniors graduating from District 99 who had been active in music both at their school and in their community. All winners were announced at the 2015 Awards Assemblies held on May 5th at Downers Grove South (DGS) and on May 19th at Downers Grove North (DGN).
Timothy Edwards, cello DGN
Amelia Smerz, cello & trombone DGN
Gabrielle Henderson, piano & voice DGS
Tiffany Leung, piano & cello DGS
Akila Shanmugham, piano & voice DGS
Allison Kirkegaard, piano, voice & cello DGN
Samuel Tedeschi, tuba, acoustic & electric bass DGS
Congratulations to all winners! We look forward to hearing our Rising Stars award recipients at the DGMC Rising Stars program on April 5, 2016.
This year, we were able to award six $400 Rising Star awards. DGMC also presented $1,000 college music awards to two seniors graduating from District 99 who had been active in music both at their school and in their community. This year, due to very generous donations by Grove Dental and the Nancy Mundinger Memorial Fund and to the success of our fall fundraiser, DGMC was able to present four $1,000 college music awards. All winners were announced at the 2014 Awards Assemblies held on May 6th at Downers Grove South (DGS) and on May 20th at Downers Grove North (DGN).
Shannon Kennedy, alto DGN
Julija Lemenaite, violin DGN
Anthony McMahon, saxophone DGN
Brett Cohen, baritone DGS
Brooke Nuccio, flute/piccolo DGS
Samuel Tedeschi, tuba/string bass DGS
Elizabeth Brunell, soprano DGN
Ben Casey, tuba DGN
Andrew Molina, cello DGS
Rachel Wydra, bassoon DGS
Congratulations to all winners! We look forward to hearing our Rising Stars award recipients at the DGMC Rising Stars program on April 21, 2015.
This year, we were able to award six $400 Rising Star awards. We also presented an honorary award to a young lady who composed a special song and put together a website for the students involved in the Sandy Hooks shooting. New in 2013, thanks to two very generous donors (Rose Verona and Good Samaritan Hospital), DGMC was able to present $1,000 college music awards to two seniors graduating from District 99. All winners were announced at the 2013 Awards Assemblies held on May 7th at Downers Grove South (DGS) and on May 14th at Downers Grove North (DGN).
Katherine Portman, violin DGN
Spencer Schillerstrom, saxophone DGN
Emilie Cook, vocalist - honorable mention DGN
Caitlin Carr, soprano DGS
Andrew Molina, cello DGS
Kelsey Richardson, bass clarinet DGS
Rachel Wydra, bassoon DGS
Brett Latman, trumpet DGN
Josiah Williams, trombone DGS
Congratulations to all winners! We look forward to hearing our Rising Stars award recipients at the DGMC Rising Stars program on April 8, 2014.