 Members of the middle school’s 8th Grade Band, Wind Ensemble, 8th Grade Orchestra, and Concert Choir performed for judges at the High Note Festival held at the Mary Pappert School of Music on Duquesne University’s campus on May 23.
All four ensembles earned a Superior rating and high praise from the adjudicators, who spent several minutes providing feedback to the students immediately following their performances. As part of the festival experience, students were given the opportunity to spend the afternoon at Kennywood Park. Music teachers accompanying the students to the festival include band directors Lucas Beaver and Tom Hartwell, choral director Shaun Cloonan, orchestra directors Allie Craig and Nick Vranesevic, and music teacher Matt Hickly.  North Hills High School music students traveled to Ohio on May 17-19 for their annual performance tour during which they competed in the Music in the Parks festival at Sandusky Intermediate School and Sandusky High School.
The annual music department tour serves as a culminating experience for our students and teachers by providing feedback that drives future instruction and learning. Over 250 students from the bands, choirs and orchestras performed for each other, attended the awards ceremony at Cedar Point, spent another full day in the park with some beach time on Lake Erie, then visited the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before returning home. A total of 10 North Hills ensembles took part in the adjudication festival, which included students from 19 schools spanning four states. North Hills ensembles earned ratings and ranks as follows:
Along with around two dozen volunteer chaperones, nurses and band staff, North Hills music teachers accompanying the students included band directors Len Lavelle, Lucas Beaver, and Tom Hartwell, choral director Shaun Cloonan, orchestra directors Nick Vranesevic and Allie Craig, middle/high school music teacher Matt Hickly, and elementary music teacher Maura Rushlander. Congratulations to our students! The Choral Parents Association is excited to celebrate our 31 choir seniors at our annual banquet on Wednesday, May 21 at 6:30pm in the High School Cafeteria. The catered dinner is open to all choir families. After the dinner, a slide show honoring all of the seniors and their time in the program will take place, and each senior will be recognized individually. Please click on the store links below to reserve your space at the banquet!
Admission to the Banquet is as follows: Adults: $15 Students: $7.50 Choir Seniors: Free  The North Hills High School Drama Club received nine Gene Kelly Award nominations for its spring musical “Alice by Heart” including Outstanding Musical.
North Hills senior Faith Evans was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role as Tabatha and the Cheshire Cat. Other nominations include:
The Gene Kelly Awards were launched in 1991 as a means to recognize excellence in high school musical theater. Over the past three months, a panel of adjudicators – including educators, administrators, and industry professionals – attended performances at 34 high schools across Allegheny County. Final scoring was tabulated by Deloitte LLP, official auditor of the Gene Kelly Awards. The nominees were announced Wednesday. The 2025 Gene Kelly Awards will be held on Saturday, May 24 at the Benedum Center, featuring group performances by the students from the participating schools and medleys from the nominees for Outstanding Actor and Actress. In addition to the more than 34 awards, several cash and university scholarships will be presented. Congratulations to all! |
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