Highland Park High School supports the bitter jester music festival

Check out what HPHS in Highland Park, Illinois, has to say about the Bitter Jester Music Fest!

We are honored to write a letter on behalf of the 15th Annual Bitter Jester Music Festival and Nicolas DeGrazia, founder and Producer and a HPHS class of 1997 graduate. Nic was greatly influenced by the HPHS music program, theatre department, and FOCUS on the arts. He speaks highly of FOCUS and how it has positively impacted his life's course.

As we have learned, the Arts are incredibly important to the social emotional well being of our students. The Bitter Jester Music Festival works with many young musicians who are outside the traditional school music programs. Many of the performers are ingarage bands outside of school. We have great pride and appreciation in our alumni not only for starting this music festival for teens but, as it's grown, keeping it local to Highland Park. Even as the Bitter Jester Music Fest branches out and invites more out of town and out of state performers, it has been important to keep it branded to our local community. The Bitter Jester Music Festival has partnered with D113 for fifteen years doing its Grand Finale Concerts at Wolters Field every July 4.

The Festival has featured over 1,300 young performers since 2006. This festival appeals to children of all age groups and abilities. They come to the events with their families year after year and form bands just so they can compete in Bitter Jester. Even though there aren't many rock bands forming from Highland Park, what is more important is they are inclusive and supportive of youngHighland Park and Highwood musicians and students. They encourage, they inspire, and they educate. Bitter Jester fosters networking and collaboration.

The major goal is to grow the Bitter Jester Music Festival into a regional festival. They need help, more local support, and additional funding. Their success shines bright on the Highland Park and Highwood communities and our students, musicians, families and local businesses.

Kind Regards, Deborah Finn, Principal & Alesia Margetis, Assistant Principal