The North Hills School District Choral Program consists of five curricular ensembles and four extra-curricular choirs 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. Students in grades 4 and 5 have the opportunity to join the North Hills School District Children’s Choir. This group is
made up of singers from each of the 4 elementary schools. They rehearse on Monday afternoons at West View Elementary school and perform a holiday and spring concert if their own as well as a few community performances like the Block Northway and West View Light Up Night. At the middle school, students may enroll in 6th Grade Chorus and 7th Grade Chorus, which meet 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 6 through 8. The Concert Choir meets during the homeroom activity period, and performs at various times throughout the school year as well as at the High Note Festival held at Carnegie Mellon University each spring. High School choral experiences consist of a mixture between academic day class ensembles and extra-curricular groups. The Chorale is comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomore identifying females 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. Chorale may be taken for either one semester or a full year as schedules permit. The Chorale 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. The Symphonic Choir is the large mixed vocal ensemble of the high school choral program. Sopranos and Altos in grades 11 and 12 (as well as some select 10th graders), and tenors and basses 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, Pittsburgh Concert Chorale, and has collaborated with the Wind Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra on a major work. The select ensemble from the Symphonic Choir is the North Hills Singers, an 18 to 24-member auditioned choir that performs a mix of traditional, contemporary, a ca****la, popular, and Broadway music in the district and around the community. They are also featured at the district's Arts Alive showcase, North Hills Cares’ Community of Music fundraising event, and have participated in chamber choir festivals and invitationals at Fox Chapel, Pine-Richland, and IUP as well as performing for the AIU Convention. 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.
