Alumni Choir Set for October 4

North Hills School District will hold its first Alumni Choir Reunion and Concert on Oct. 4 welcoming back singers from throughout the decades for the special event.

All former members of the North Hills High School choirs are invited to attend the event this fall.  Singers will participate in special activities including building tours and memorabilia sharing throughout the day and come together to prepare choral selections for an evening public concert that will mark their return to the North Hills stage.

The alumni concert will celebrate the many decades of North Hills choral history by showcasing selections from 1950’s concert programs through recent performances. Suggestions will come from participating alumni who will pick a favorite piece from their time at North Hills. 

The intent is to create a varied program that will pay tribute to the choirs of past directors Alice Conner, Frank Cummings, Greg Gyllsdorf, Susan McKinney and Harriet Valliant. 

“There is a long history of excellence in music here at North Hills, and an event like this will honor that tradition as well as the legacy of such strong music educators, said current North Hills Choir Director Shaun Cloonan. 

“It’s exciting to think that so many could potentially be back to share the stories of the wonderful things done in our North Hills choral program over the years.”

The event was inspired by a recent gathering of choral alumni who organized themselves to honor long-time choral director Cummings’ 85th birthday. Nearly 30 of Cummings’ former students prepared a short performance and shared memories with him at his nursing facility. Choral alumni contacted Cloonan expressing interest in a larger, more formal reunion, and plans were set in motion.

Cost for the event is to be determined, however, music will be provided by the North Hills Choral Parents Association. Practice files will be posted online after the concert program is finalized, so that participants may learn their parts prior to the full group rehearsal.

To register for the event, go to www.northhillschoralmusic.org and click on the Alumni Choir 2014 tab. For more information, contact Cloonan at cloonans@nhsd.net or 412-318-1400 ext. 3047.

Pictured: the alumni group that performed for Frank Cummings' (Mr. C's) 85th birthday in April.