The North Hills Wind Ensemble has been selected to be featured at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State Conference at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in the Poconos this spring.

For a high school band, this is the equivalent of winning a curricular state championship!

Groups are selected to perform based on the blind evaluation of their achievement through the sharing of live recordings, and this year, there were over 50 applicants.

The wind ensemble will perform in front of the convention audience as the model for what a high school concert band should be. The performance will take place on Friday, April 8, at 1:30 p.m.

Since 2011, North Hills has been selected five times to be featured at the PMEA All-State Convention, four times to be featured at the NAfME All-Eastern Convention, and once to the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival – all in different years.

A band is only eligible to perform at these conventions every other year.

“We can assure you that what our students achieved – and the consistency with which they achieved it – is not easy,” said North Hills Band Director Len Lavelle, adding, “Frankly, what they are doing is unprecedented, and it is an honor to represent North Hills on this level.”

Additionally, last fall, North Hills Wind Ensemble won the 2021 American Prize for band performance in the high school division.