North Hills Choral Program
The North Hills School District Choral Department consists of four curricular choirs and five extra-curricular ensembles in grades 4 through 12. In addition to the choirs, both the middle and high schools offer dramatic ensembles that perform a musical theatre production each year.
Elementary students have the opportunity to participate in the North Hills School District Children's Choir beginning in grade 4. The Children's Choir meets weekly on Mondays throughout the school year at West View Elementary School. They present a winter and a spring concert of their own in the West View auditorium.
At the middle school, students may enroll in 7th Grade Chorus, which meets 3 days per week, and 8th Grade Chorus, which meets daily. Both classes are full-year courses which involve preparation for 2 scheduled evening concerts.
Students who wish to sing more challenging repertoire are invited to audition for the Concert Choir, which is open to anyone in grades 7 and 8. The Concert Choir meets 3 days per week for 20 minutes during homeroom, as well as during several scheduled after-school rehearsals. They perform at various times throughout the school year as well as at the High Note Festival held at Carnegie Mellon University each spring. Concert Choir has consistently earned Superior ratings at this festival.
High School choral experiences consist of a mixture between academic day class ensembles and extra-curricular groups. The Women's Choir is comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomore girls selecting choir on their schedules. This class emphasizes part independence and refinement of the soprano and alto sound while covering a wide variety of musical styles. Women's Choir may be taken for either one semester or a full year as schedules permit. The Women’s Choir performs on all high school concerts along with the Symphonic Choir and also collaborates with them on special performances of larger works with the bands or orchestra. In the fall of 2014 and 2015, the Women's Choir participated in a regional Women's Choral Festival along with 4 other female ensembles ranging from high school to college and community choirs. At the Music in the Parks festival, these singers have performed well, earning a 1st Place/Superior (2013 at Kings Island), 2nd Place/Excellent (2015 at Hershey Park), and 2nd Place/Superior (2016 Busch Gardens) ratings in recent years.
The Symphonic Choir is the large mixed vocal ensemble of the high school choral program. Women in grades 11 and 12, and men in grades 9-12 enrolled in choir class are a part of this group, which performs 3 concerts annually. Choir meets daily and can be taken for either one semester or a full year. Music learned and performed covers a wide range, from early Renaissance motets to folk songs, classical to world music, Broadway and musical theatre selections to vocal jazz and pop standards. The Symphonic Choir has performed with the River City Brass Band, and collaborates semi-annually with the instrumental ensembles on a major work. Most recently, this ensemble was featured at the Pittsburgh Concert Chorale's 3rd annual Festival of Choirs at Carnegie Music Hall in October 2014. As competitive performers, the Symphonic Choir has earned 1st Place/Superior (2013 at Kings Island), 2nd Place/Superior (2015 at Hershey Park), 2nd Place/Superior (2016 at Busch Gardens), and 1st Place/Excellent (2017 at Cedar Point) ratings in the Music in the Parks festivals.
The select ensemble from the Symphonic Choir is the North Hills Singers, a 26-32 member auditioned choir that performs a mix of more advanced traditional, contemporary, a cappella, popular, and vocal jazz selections at each choir concert as well as around the community. They are featured annually at Opening Day for the North Hills staff, before the varsity game at SoccerFest, at the high school Open House, as the featured entertainment at the NHSD retirees' holiday luncheon, at NH Hockey's senior night, at the district's Arts Alive showcase, and at Commencement. The North Hills Singers have also participated in chamber choir invitationals at Pine-Richland High School (2011), Fox Chapel Area High School (2012 & 2018), shared a concert with the IUP Chorale (2013), and with the first ever North Hills Alumni Reunion Choir (October 2014). During the Music in the Parks festivals, this group has earned a 2nd Place/Superior rating in 2017 (Cedar Point) and 1st Place/Superior ratings as well as Best Overall High School Choral Ensemble awards in 2013 (Kings Island), 2015 (Hershey Park), and 2016 (Busch Gardens).
Additionally, students have the opportunity to be a part of the Madrigal Choir, which performs Renaissance music and skits while in period costumes. This group meets seasonally in the fall to prepare for the Choral Parent Association's Madrigal Dinner fundraiser, and some years in the spring for a performance strolling through the hallways at Arts Alive. The Madrigal Choir is open to all singers in grades 9 through 12.
Elementary students have the opportunity to participate in the North Hills School District Children's Choir beginning in grade 4. The Children's Choir meets weekly on Mondays throughout the school year at West View Elementary School. They present a winter and a spring concert of their own in the West View auditorium.
At the middle school, students may enroll in 7th Grade Chorus, which meets 3 days per week, and 8th Grade Chorus, which meets daily. Both classes are full-year courses which involve preparation for 2 scheduled evening concerts.
Students who wish to sing more challenging repertoire are invited to audition for the Concert Choir, which is open to anyone in grades 7 and 8. The Concert Choir meets 3 days per week for 20 minutes during homeroom, as well as during several scheduled after-school rehearsals. They perform at various times throughout the school year as well as at the High Note Festival held at Carnegie Mellon University each spring. Concert Choir has consistently earned Superior ratings at this festival.
High School choral experiences consist of a mixture between academic day class ensembles and extra-curricular groups. The Women's Choir is comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomore girls selecting choir on their schedules. This class emphasizes part independence and refinement of the soprano and alto sound while covering a wide variety of musical styles. Women's Choir may be taken for either one semester or a full year as schedules permit. The Women’s Choir performs on all high school concerts along with the Symphonic Choir and also collaborates with them on special performances of larger works with the bands or orchestra. In the fall of 2014 and 2015, the Women's Choir participated in a regional Women's Choral Festival along with 4 other female ensembles ranging from high school to college and community choirs. At the Music in the Parks festival, these singers have performed well, earning a 1st Place/Superior (2013 at Kings Island), 2nd Place/Excellent (2015 at Hershey Park), and 2nd Place/Superior (2016 Busch Gardens) ratings in recent years.
The Symphonic Choir is the large mixed vocal ensemble of the high school choral program. Women in grades 11 and 12, and men in grades 9-12 enrolled in choir class are a part of this group, which performs 3 concerts annually. Choir meets daily and can be taken for either one semester or a full year. Music learned and performed covers a wide range, from early Renaissance motets to folk songs, classical to world music, Broadway and musical theatre selections to vocal jazz and pop standards. The Symphonic Choir has performed with the River City Brass Band, and collaborates semi-annually with the instrumental ensembles on a major work. Most recently, this ensemble was featured at the Pittsburgh Concert Chorale's 3rd annual Festival of Choirs at Carnegie Music Hall in October 2014. As competitive performers, the Symphonic Choir has earned 1st Place/Superior (2013 at Kings Island), 2nd Place/Superior (2015 at Hershey Park), 2nd Place/Superior (2016 at Busch Gardens), and 1st Place/Excellent (2017 at Cedar Point) ratings in the Music in the Parks festivals.
The select ensemble from the Symphonic Choir is the North Hills Singers, a 26-32 member auditioned choir that performs a mix of more advanced traditional, contemporary, a cappella, popular, and vocal jazz selections at each choir concert as well as around the community. They are featured annually at Opening Day for the North Hills staff, before the varsity game at SoccerFest, at the high school Open House, as the featured entertainment at the NHSD retirees' holiday luncheon, at NH Hockey's senior night, at the district's Arts Alive showcase, and at Commencement. The North Hills Singers have also participated in chamber choir invitationals at Pine-Richland High School (2011), Fox Chapel Area High School (2012 & 2018), shared a concert with the IUP Chorale (2013), and with the first ever North Hills Alumni Reunion Choir (October 2014). During the Music in the Parks festivals, this group has earned a 2nd Place/Superior rating in 2017 (Cedar Point) and 1st Place/Superior ratings as well as Best Overall High School Choral Ensemble awards in 2013 (Kings Island), 2015 (Hershey Park), and 2016 (Busch Gardens).
Additionally, students have the opportunity to be a part of the Madrigal Choir, which performs Renaissance music and skits while in period costumes. This group meets seasonally in the fall to prepare for the Choral Parent Association's Madrigal Dinner fundraiser, and some years in the spring for a performance strolling through the hallways at Arts Alive. The Madrigal Choir is open to all singers in grades 9 through 12.