North Hills High School | |
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Location | |
53 Rochester Road Pittsburgh, PA 15229-1189 Coordinates: 40°31′34″N 80°01′33″W / 40.526081°N 80.025769°W United States |
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Information | |
Type | Public |
Motto | Pride, Tradition, Excellence. |
School district | North Hills School District |
Grades | 9–12 |
Enrollment | 1,403 |
Color(s) | Red and White |
Mascot | Indians |
Information | 412-318-1400 |
Website | North Hills Senior High |
North Hills High School is a suburban high school located in Ross Township, a northern suburb of Pittsburgh. It serves students in grades 9-12 in the North Hills School District. The school's mascot is the Indian and its official colors are red and white.
North Hills High School consistently scores in the top 20% of Pennsylvania Public High Schools with its PSSA scores.
Both the Marching Band and Symphony Band have a long history and are very well respected, being one of only a very few high school bands to participate in the inauguration ceremony of President George W. Bush. Warren S. Mercer, Jr., North Hills High Band Director for 31 years until 1992, elevated the North Hills High School Symphony Band to national prominence. Mr. Mercer has received numerous awards to include being elected to membership in the American Bandmasters Association in March 1972 and is the recipient of a citation of excellence from the National Band Association. The band's excellence continued through director David Matthews (1992 - 2011) and under current director Leonard Lavelle (2012–present)
The NHHS Symphony Band has a long and proud tradition, beginning in the 1950s with James Caruso, Warren Mercer, David Matthews, and currently Len Lavelle. The Symphony Band has earned a reputation of excellence, consistently receiving superior ratings at state and national festivals. The Symphony Band has also maintained the longest-running series of commissioned works of any high school band in the United States, beginning in 1965 with Philip Catelinet's Fantasy Mother Hubbard. Other commissioned works for the Symphony Band have been written by Mr. Don Gillis, Mr. Edward Madden, Mr. Robert Jager, Mr. Jerry Bilik, Mr. Rex Mitchell, Mr. Vaclav Nelhybel, Dr. Paul Whear, Mr. Norman Dello Joio, and Dr. Joseph Willcox Jenkins. Guest conductors through the years have included, Dr. William Revelli, Dr. Richard Strange, Dr.James Neilson, Dr. James Dunlop (PSU), Mr. Vaclav Nelhybel and in March 1973, Arthur Fiedler, Director of the Boston Pops Orchestra. ( References: MENC Music Educators National Conference January 19–22, 1973, Boston North Hills Symphony Band Bio Sheet, and.)