•  Summary of Music Department / Teacher Awards and Distinctions:

    Year

    Award

    2010-2011

    ●      For the fourth consecutive year, North Allegheny was named one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” by the North American Music Merchant (NAMM) Foundation.

    ●      North Allegheny Jazz Ensemble I and NASH Honors Wind Ensemble were selected to perform at the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) Eastern Division Conference in Baltimore, MD

    ●      High school bands competed in the Festivals of Music Band Adjudication in Atlanta, Georgia. The NASH Honors Wind Ensemble won the William D. Revelli Overall Concert Band Award. The following groups earned a Superior rating: NAI Wind Ensemble, NASH Honors Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Ensemble II, NA Marching Band, Indoor Drumline, Dance Team and Majorette Squad. Earning an Excellent rating were the NASH Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble II and the Color Guard. Jazz Ensemble I earned the Overall Jazz Ensemble Award, Best Soloist, and Best Jazz Ensemble Section.

    ●      NA Marching Band won Best Overall Band and Best Overall Drum Majors in (City of Pittsburgh Veterans Day Parade) and Best Overall Band (City of Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade).

    ●      North Allegheny Indoor Drumline was a finalist at the Winter Guard International Regional Championships in Norristown, PA and Dayton, OH.

    ●      NASH Honors Chamber Choir participated in a two-hour Master Class with Dr. Robert Harris, Professor Emeritus at the Northwestern University Bienan School of Music. Dr. Harris is renowned as a master in choral training, conducting and in motivating singers to achieve excellence.

    ●      The Music Department actively participates in local, regional, state, and national music events. The Music Department actively participates in local, regional, state, and national music events.  Below lists the number of students who were selected to perform in festivals:

    ○      One student in an MENC Eastern Division Conference ensemble.

    ○      14 students in PMEA All-State Conference ensembles.

    ○      30 students in PMEA Region ensembles.

    ○      14 students in PMEA District 1 Band West.

    ○      11 students in PMEA Jr. High District 1 Band.

    ○      16 students in PMEA District 1 Choir.

    ○      Four students in PMEA Jr. High District 1 Choir.

    ○      11 students in PA Honors Band.

    ○      11 students in PMEA Honors Jazz Band.

    ○      24 students in PMEA Honors Orchestra.

    ○      76 students in the Allegheny Valley Honors Band Festival.

    ○      Five students in the PMEA Elementary SingFest.

    ○      Four students were selected to participate in the PMEA Elementary Band Festival.

    2011-2012

    ●      For the fifth consecutive year, North Allegheny was named one of the “Best Communities for Music Education”, by the NAMM Foundation.

    ●      North Allegheny Senior High School was selected as one of only 125 high schools selected out of more than 20,000 schools nationwide as a semifinalist in the GRAMMY Signature School program for 2012. This program recognizes schools for their commitment to keeping the arts in their curriculum for the long term benefits of their students.

    ●      North Allegheny sophomore Greta Schaltenbrand, a sixteen-year-old singer/songwriter that also plays the guitar and piano, was the Western Region winner of the Texaco Country Music Showdown and advanced to state-level competition for her original song “Why Say” in September, 2011. Just two months later she released her second single “In Your Deck of Cards.” Both songs are now being played on seven country music radio stations and two cable television stations across the state of Pennsylvania and Ohio.

    ●      Dennis Morton (MCK) and the NA Fiddlers (grades six through twelve), recorded their first professionally produced CD.

    ●      The North Allegheny Senior High School Honors Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the 2012 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Annual In-Service Conference.

    ●      NASH and NAI Bands competed in the Festival Disney Band Adjudication in Orlando, Florida. Jazz Ensemble I, NA Marching Band, NA Indoor Percussion, and the Dance Team each earned a Superior Rating. The following groups earned an Excellent Rating: NASH Honors Wind Ensemble, NASH Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble II, the Color Guard and the Majorette Squad each earned an Excellent Rating. Disney Gold awards were given to NA Indoor Percussion and the Dance Team. Disney Silver was given to Jazz Ensemble I. Marching Band received Best Overall Marching Band and Best Overall Drumline. Indoor Percussion was awarded First Overall in Marching Performance and the Dance Team received Best Overall Indoor Auxiliary Unit. Color Guard Received Best in Class.

    ●      NA Marching Band awarded Best Overall Band, Best Drum Majors, and Best Color Guard (City of Pittsburgh Veterans Day Parade). The ensemble also received Best Overall Band at the City of Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade.

    ●      NASH Concert Choir and NASH Honors Chamber Choir performed at Walt Disney World (Epcot) in Orlando, FL. Each ensemble participated in a two-hour Master Class with Dr. John Sinclair, the John M. Tiedtke Professor of Music, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL. Dr. Sinclair has served as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Bach Festival Society, the International Moravian Music Festivals, the Messiah Choral Society and the Berkshire Choral Festival.

    ●      NASH and NAI Orchestras competed in the Festival Disney Orchestra adjudication in Orlando, Florida. The NASH Honors Chamber Orchestra earned a Superior Rating. The NASH String Orchestra and the NAI Chamber Orchestra each earned an Excellent Rating.

    ●      The Music Department actively participates in local, regional, state, and National music events.  Below lists the number of students who were selected to perform in festivals:

    ○      Seven students in PMEA All-State ensembles.

    ○      30 students in PMEA Region ensembles.

    ○      19 students in PMEA District 1 Band West.

    ○      Nine students in PMEA Jr. High District 1 Band.

    ○      Nine students in PMEA District 1 Choir.

    ○      13 students in PMEA Jr. High District 1 Choir.

    ○      16 students in PMEA District 1 Orchestra.

    ○      25 students in PMEA Honors Band.

    ○      Seven students in PMEA Honors Jazz Band.

    ○      29 students in PMEA Honors Orchestra.

    ○      56 students in Allegheny Valley Honors Band Festival.

    ○      11 students in PMEA Elementary SingFest.

    ○      Six students in PMEA Elementary Band Festival.

    2012-2013

    ●      For the sixth consecutive year, North Allegheny was named one of the “Best Communities for Music Education”, by the NAMM Foundation.

    ●      NASH Honors Chamber Orchestra was invited to perform at the 2013 PMEA Annual In-Service Conference.

    ●      NASH Golden Strolling Strings performed at the PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference.

    ●      NASH Jazz Ensemble I was invited to play at the Kiski Jazz Clinic.

    ●      Allegheny Senior High School Honors Chamber Orchestra was invited to perform at the 2012 Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA) Annual Conference in October, 2012.

    ●      NASH and NAI Bands competed in the Fiesta-Val Band Adjudication in Virginia Beach, VA and were awarded as the Festival Grand Champions. The following ensembles earned a Superior Rating and Outstanding Soloist awards:  NASH Honors Wind Ensemble, NASH Symphonic Band, NASH Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Ensemble II, Jazz Ensemble III. The following groups also earned a Superior Rating: NA Marching Band, NA Indoor Drumline, NA Winter Guard, and NA Dance Team. NAI Wind Ensemble and NA Majorette Squad earned Excellent Ratings. Todd Stefan (NASH) received the Award of Notable Contributions to Musical Excellence

    ●      NA Marching Band awarded Best Overall Band, Best Overall Drum Majors, and Best Color Guard (City of Pittsburgh Veterans Day Parade) and Best Overall Band (City of Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade).

    ●      NASH and NAI orchestras competed at the Dixie Classics Orchestra Adjudication in Atlanta, Georgia.  The following groups earned a Superior Rating: NASH Honors Chamber Orchestra and NAI Chamber Orchestra. NASH String Orchestra and NAI String Orchestra each earned an Excellent Rating. The NASH Honors Chamber Orchestra was awarded Best Overall Orchestra and the NAI Chamber Orchestra Viola Section was awarded Outstanding Section.

    ●      The Music Department actively participates in local, regional, state, and National music events.  Below lists the number of students who were selected to perform in festivals:

    ○      Two students in NAfME (National Association for Music Education, formerly MENC) All-Eastern ensembles.

    ○      Seven students in PMEA All-State ensembles.

    ○      24 students in PMEA Region ensembles.

    ○      12 students in PMEA District 1 Band West.

    ○      Eight students in PMEA Jr. High District 1 Band.

    ○      Six students in PMEA District 1 Choir.

    ○      10 students in PMEA Jr. High District 1 Choir.

    ○      15 students in PMEA District 1 Orchestra.

    ○      17 students in PMEA Honors Band.

    ○      10 students in PMEA Honors Jazz Band.

    ○      32 students in PMEA Honors Orchestra.

    ○      50 students in Allegheny Valley Honors Band Festival.

    2013-2014

    ●      For the eighth consecutive year, North Allegheny was named one of the “Best Communities for Music Education”, by the NAMM Foundation.

    ●      The North Allegheny Senior High School was named a GRAMMY Signature School finalist.

    ●      NASH and NAI Bands competed in the Music in the Parks Adjudication in Cincinnati, OH and were awarded Festival Grand Champions. The following groups earned Superior Ratings:  NASH Honors Wind Ensemble, NAI Wind Ensemble, NASH Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble I and Jazz Ensemble II. Jazz Ensemble I received an Outstanding Soloist Award.

    ●      NA Marching Band awarded Basil Caummissar Grand Champion Award and Parade Grand Champion (Kentucky Derby "Pegasus" Parade, Louisville, KY).

    ●      NA Indoor Percussion won Scholastic A Champions (Three Rivers Winter Ensemble Association) and were Regional Finalists at World Guard International in Dayton, OH.

    ●      NASH Concert Choir and NASH Honors Chamber Choir performed in Walt Disney World at Downtown Disney, Orlando, FL. Each ensemble also participated in a two-hour Master Class with Dr. John Sinclair, the John M. Tiedtke Professor of Music, Rollins College (Winter Park, FL).

    ●      NASH and NAI Orchestras competed in the Fiesta-Val Orchestra Adjudication in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. NASH Honors Chamber Orchestra was awarded Best Overall Orchestra. The following ensembles earned a Superior Rating: NASH Honors Chamber Orchestra and NAI Chamber Orchestra. NASH String Orchestra and NAI String Orchestra each earned an Excellent Rating.

    ●      The Music Department actively participates in local, regional, state, and national music events. Below lists the number of students who were selected to perform in festivals:

    ○      17 students in PMEA All-State ensembles.

    ○      25 students in PMEA Region ensembles.

    ○      20 students in PMEA District 1 Band West.

    ○      11 students in PMEA Jr. High District 1 Band.

    ○      Six students in PMEA District 1 Choir.

    ○      12 students in PMEA Jr. High District 1 Choir.

    ○      15 students in PMEA District 1 Orchestra.

    ○      11 students in PMEA Honors Band.

    ○      11 students in PMEA Honors Jazz Band.

    ○      27 students in PMEA Honors Orchestra.

    ○      52 students in Allegheny Valley Honors Band Festival.

    2014-2015

    ●      For the ninth consecutive year, North Allegheny was named one of the “Best Communities for Music Education”, by the NAMM Foundation.

    ●      The Senior High School was named one of 123 nation-wide Signature School Finalists by the GRAMMY Foundation

    ●      NASH Honors Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the 2015 PMEA Annual In-Service Conference.

    ●      NASH Golden Strolling Strings performed at the PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference.

    ●      Through the Music Department’s Curriculum Review process, many new band and orchestra instruments were purchased throughout the District to support the more than 5,200 students that participate in music electives in grades three through twelve. The Music Department has also continued and augmented the implementation of a technology-based solution to aid in the development of instrumental skills. SmartMusic software is used in many of the vocal and instrumental classrooms to aid in both formative and summative assessments of note reading and pitch accuracy.

    ●      The Music Department has introduced and refined cross-district, large group internal honors ensembles.  The NA Choral Festival, Beginner String Festival, and ExtravaBandza allow the ability to cognitively develop music skills that are fostered through imitation, exploration, improvisation, and composition.  These meta-skills are crucial for the development of critical thinking skills, communication skills, collaboration skills, and creativity skills in every child.

    ●      NASH and NAI bands competed in the Festivals of Music Band Adjudication in Chicago, IL. The following ensembles won First Place in their divisions: NASH Honors Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble I, NA Marching Band, NAI Wind Ensemble and Marching Drumline. Jazz Ensemble II and NAI Concert Band were awarded Second Place. Jazz Ensemble III and NASH Symphonic Band received Third Place. Jazz Ensemble I was awarded Best Overall High School Jazz Ensemble and the NASH Honors Wind Ensemble received the William D. Revelli Best Overall Concert Band Award.

    ●      NA Marching Band awarded Best Overall Band, Best Overall Drum Majors (City of Pittsburgh Veterans Day Parade and Best Overall Band City of Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade).

    ●      NA Indoor Drumline were Scholastic A Champions in the Three Rivers Winter Ensemble Association

    ●      NASH Honors Chamber Choir performed at the St. Paul the Apostle Cathedral, New York, NY. The ensemble participated in a two-hour Master Class with Dr. Brian Clissold, Conductor of the Manhattan Youth Chorale. Dr. Clissold is also the Associate Director of Concert Development and a Bass in the Manhattan Chorale.

    ●      NASH and NAI orchestras competed at the Dixie Classics Orchestra Adjudication in Busch Gardens, Virginia.  The following groups earned a Superior Rating: NASH Honors Chamber Orchestra and NAI Chamber Orchestra. NASH String Orchestra and NAI String Orchestra each earned an Excellent Rating. The NASH Honors Chamber Orchestra was awarded Best Overall Orchestra and the NAI Chamber Orchestra Bass Section was awarded Outstanding Section.

    ●      The music department actively participates in local, regional, state, and national music events. Below lists the number of students who were selected to perform in festivals:

    ○      Seven students in NAfME Eastern Division Conference ensembles.

    ○      14 students in PMEA All-State ensembles.

    ○      23 students in PMEA Region ensembles.

    ○      20 students in PMEA District 1 Band West.

    ○      Two students in PMEA Jr. High District 1 Band.

    ○      Eight students in PMEA District 1 Choir.

    ○      10 Students in PMEA Jr. High District 1 Choir.

    ○      12 students in PMEA District 1 Orchestra.

    ○      13 students in PMEA Honors Band.

    ○      11 students in PMEA Honors Jazz Band.

    ○      27 students in PMEA Honors Orchestra.

    ○      23 students in the Allegheny Valley Honors Band Festival.

    ○      17 students in the PMEA Elementary Band Festival.

    2015-2016

    ●      For the tenth consecutive year, North Allegheny was named one of the “Best Communities for Music Education”, by the NAMM Foundation.

    ●      The North Allegheny Senior High School was named one of 118 nation-wide Signature School Finalists by the GRAMMY Foundation.

    ●      NASH Honors Chamber Orchestra was invited to perform at the 2016 PMEA Annual In-Service Conference.

    ●      Linda Granite (MES and MCK) was honored with a Citation of Excellence in Teaching Award at the PMEA Annual In-Service Conference.

    ●      Todd Stefan (NASH) was named a GRAMMY Foundation Music Educator Award- Quarter-Finalist.

    ●      Steve Schmidt (BWE) was invited to Guest Conduct Oswayo Valley Chorus Fest in Emporium, PA.

    ●      With more than 5,300 students who participate in music electives, the Music Department decided to share students’ successes through the ability to live stream all concerts from the North Allegheny Senior High School auditorium.  This year, the Music Department began live streaming many concerts. These events can be viewed at www.namusiclive.org.

    ●      NASH and NAI Bands competed in the Festival Disney Band Adjudication in Orlando, Florida. The following ensembles each earned a Superior Rating: NASH Honors Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Ensemble II, and NA Marching Band.  NAI Wind Ensemble, NASH Symphonic Band, and Jazz Ensemble III each earned an Excellent Rating. Jazz Ensemble I and NASH Honors Wind Ensemble each received Best Overall awards. NASH Honors Wind Ensemble and NA Marching Band received Disney Gold awards. NA Marching Band also received Best Percussion and Best Auxiliary awards. Jazz Ensemble I earned an Outstanding Jazz Soloist award.

    ●      NA Marching Band was awarded Best Overall Band in the City of Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade.

    ●      NASH Concert Choir and NASH Honors Chamber Choir performed in Walt Disney World at Downtown Disney, Orlando, FL. Each ensemble also participated in a two-hour Master Class with Dr. John Sinclair, the John M. Tiedtke Professor of Music, Rollins College (Winter Park, FL).

    ●      NASH and NAI Orchestras competed in the Festival Disney Orchestra adjudication in Orlando, Florida. NASH Honors Chamber Orchestra earned a Superior Rating and was awarded Second Place Overall Orchestra. NAI Chamber Orchestra earned a Superior Rating and First Place Overall Orchestra. NASH String Orchestra and NAI String Orchestra each earned an Excellent Rating.

    ●      The music department actively participates in local, regional, state, and national music events. Below lists the number of students who were selected to perform in festivals:

    ○      14 students in PMEA All-State ensembles.

    ○      21 students in PMEA Region ensembles.

    ○      21 students in PMEA District 1 Band West.

    ○      11 students in PMEA Jr. High District 1 Band.

    ○      Eight students in PMEA District 1 Choir.

    ○      12 students in PMEA Jr. High District 1 Choir.

    ○      13 students in PMEA District 1 Orchestra.

    ○      13 students in PMEA Honors Band.

    ○      Eight students in PMEA Honors Jazz Band.

    ○      30 students in PMEA Honors Orchestra.

    ○      70 students in the Allegheny Valley Honors Band Festival.

    ○      16 students in PMEA Elementary SingFest.

    ○      Eight students in PMEA Sweet Harmony Sing Festival.

    ○      Six students in PMEA Elementary Band Festival.

    2016-2017

    ●      For the eleventh consecutive year, North Allegheny was named one of the “Best Communities for Music Education”, by the NAMM Foundation.

    ●      The NASH Chamber Orchestra was invited to perform at a session at the American String Teachers Association National Convention.

    ●      The NAI Chamber Orchestra was invited to perform at a session at the American String Teachers Association National Convention.

    ●      BWE Elementary Singing Tigers (4th and 5th-grade students) were invited to perform at the PMEA Annual In-Service Conference.

    ●      NASH Jazz 1 Ensemble was invited to perform at the NAfME Eastern Division Conference held in Atlantic City, NJ.

    ●      Linda Granite (MES and MCK) was named a Finalist 2018 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.

    ●      Todd Stefan (NASH) was interviewed for the September 2016 issue of “Instrumentalist” Magazine, an international band and orchestra publication.

    ●      The Music Department actively participates in local, regional, state, and national music events.  Below lists the number of students who were selected to perform in festivals:

    ○      One student at the NAfME National In-Service Conference in Grapevine, Texas.

    ○      Six students in NAfME Eastern Division Conference ensembles.

    ○      Six students in PMEA All-State ensembles.

    ○      Nine students in PMEA Region ensembles.

    ○      13 students in PMEA District 1 Band West.

    ○      10 students in PMEA Jr. High District 1 Band.

    ○      Four students in PMEA District 1 Choir.

    ○      Eight students in PMEA District 1 Orchestra.

    ○      Nine students in PMEA Honors Band.

    ○      Five students in PMEA Honors Jazz Band.

    ○      32 students in PMEA Honors Orchestra.

    ○      70 students in the Allegheny Valley Honors Band Festival.

    ○      Seven students in PMEA Elementary Band Festival.

    ○      Two students in PMEA Jr. High Chorus Festival.

    ○      Nine students in PMEA Elementary SingFest.

    ○      Seven students in PMEA Elementary String Festival.