North Hills Instrumental Music Department
The North Hills School District supports a staff of fourteen certified Music Educators.
In the elementary schools, all students receive instruction in general music once every six days from an Elementary Music Specialist. Students may elect to participate in band or orchestra beginning in grade four, and continuing through grade six, receiving one lesson and one ensemble each six days from an instrumental specialist. A district-wide children's chorus gathers together students from each of the elementary schools.
The North Hills Middle School curriculum offers students in grades seven and eight the ability to participate in a variety of ensembles, including four bands, two orchestras, and two choirs. General music courses utilize guitar and world drumming instruction. Extra-curricular offerings include Marching Band, Jazz Band, Concert Choir, the World Drumming Ensemble, and the Winter Musical.
At North Hills High School, four concert bands, a jazz band, an orchestra, and a variety of choirs rehearse daily. Extra-curricular ensembles include the Marching Band, Jazz II, Symphony Orchestra, Pit Orchestra, Senior High Musical, North Hills Singers and chamber music. Students can also perform through the advanced guitar course and elect several levels of music theory and technology, including AP Music Theory.
Throughout its long history, the North Hills Concert Band Program has been accepted to perform at conventions around the country, including the Midwest Clinic, the National Concert Band Festival, the NAfME All-Eastern Convention and, the PMEA All-State Convention. Recent performances include the MENC All-Eastern Convention in 2011, the PMEA All-State Convention and the PASA/PSBA Convention in 2012, the Youngstown State University Wind and Percussion Invitational in 2013, the PMEA All-State Convention and PASA/PSBA Convention in 2014, the NAfME All-Eastern Convention in 2015, the PMEA All-State Convention in 2016, NAfME All-Eastern Convention in 2017, the PMEA All-State Convention in 2018, the NAfME All-Eastern Convention 2019, and the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in 2020.
The North Hills High School Bands have maintained a Commission Series since 1965, making it the longest-running series in the United States. The series has resulted in the creation of nearly fifty works. Composers in this series have included Fred Allen, James Barnes, Jerry Bilik, James Curnow, Calvin Custer, Michael Daugherty, Elliott Del Borgo, Norman Dello Joio, Frank Erickson, Julie Giroux, David Holsinger, Robert Jager, Joseph Wilcox Jenkins, Anne McGinty, Vaclav Nelhybel, Alfred Reed, Jared Spears, Mike Tomaro and Dana Wilson, Philip Sparke, and Timothy Mahr, among others.
In the elementary schools, all students receive instruction in general music once every six days from an Elementary Music Specialist. Students may elect to participate in band or orchestra beginning in grade four, and continuing through grade six, receiving one lesson and one ensemble each six days from an instrumental specialist. A district-wide children's chorus gathers together students from each of the elementary schools.
The North Hills Middle School curriculum offers students in grades seven and eight the ability to participate in a variety of ensembles, including four bands, two orchestras, and two choirs. General music courses utilize guitar and world drumming instruction. Extra-curricular offerings include Marching Band, Jazz Band, Concert Choir, the World Drumming Ensemble, and the Winter Musical.
At North Hills High School, four concert bands, a jazz band, an orchestra, and a variety of choirs rehearse daily. Extra-curricular ensembles include the Marching Band, Jazz II, Symphony Orchestra, Pit Orchestra, Senior High Musical, North Hills Singers and chamber music. Students can also perform through the advanced guitar course and elect several levels of music theory and technology, including AP Music Theory.
Throughout its long history, the North Hills Concert Band Program has been accepted to perform at conventions around the country, including the Midwest Clinic, the National Concert Band Festival, the NAfME All-Eastern Convention and, the PMEA All-State Convention. Recent performances include the MENC All-Eastern Convention in 2011, the PMEA All-State Convention and the PASA/PSBA Convention in 2012, the Youngstown State University Wind and Percussion Invitational in 2013, the PMEA All-State Convention and PASA/PSBA Convention in 2014, the NAfME All-Eastern Convention in 2015, the PMEA All-State Convention in 2016, NAfME All-Eastern Convention in 2017, the PMEA All-State Convention in 2018, the NAfME All-Eastern Convention 2019, and the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in 2020.
The North Hills High School Bands have maintained a Commission Series since 1965, making it the longest-running series in the United States. The series has resulted in the creation of nearly fifty works. Composers in this series have included Fred Allen, James Barnes, Jerry Bilik, James Curnow, Calvin Custer, Michael Daugherty, Elliott Del Borgo, Norman Dello Joio, Frank Erickson, Julie Giroux, David Holsinger, Robert Jager, Joseph Wilcox Jenkins, Anne McGinty, Vaclav Nelhybel, Alfred Reed, Jared Spears, Mike Tomaro and Dana Wilson, Philip Sparke, and Timothy Mahr, among others.