Home
EAST ALLEGHENY HIGH SCHOOL
The East Allegheny High School District is located along U.S. Route 30, about fifteen miles east of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and contains the communities of North Versailles, East McKeesport, Wilmerding and Wall. Basically an industrial district, it encompasses an area of about 5.3 miles, and had a school population of about 3500 students K-12 during the years that Mr. Thomson served the school district.
EAST ALLEGHENY SYMPHONY BAND
The East Allegheny High School Symphony Band rehearsed for sixty minutes daily and for two hours each Thursday evening. In addition, each student was seen once a week on a rotating basis, in a small chamber ensemble. Sectional rehearsals were scheduled at the discretion of the section leaders with the permission of the director. The monthly recital series provided the students with frequent performance opportunities.
East Allegheny High School Band Staff (Early 1970s)
John Thomson, Director of Bands, Michael Torino, Music Supervisor, Frank Stofan, Del Dowden
East Allegheny Music Department Reunion (Summer, 1992)
From Left: John Thomson, Band Director, Robert Farrell, Choral Director, Keith Bortoluzzi, General Music, Michael Torino, Music Supervisor, Del Dowden, Band Director, Lee Kumer, Colorguard and Majorette Instructor, Frank Stofan, Band Director
Not in Photo: David Beswarick, Orchestra Director
EAST ALLEGHENY HIGH SCHOOL BANDS
Special Performances and Honors (1967-1981)
1980-1981
- Symphony Band performs at 54th Annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Music Festival, Winchester, Virginia
1979-1980
- Symphony Band performs at International Music Festival, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Symphony Band performs at Pennsylvania Music Educations Association (PMEA) Conference, Hilton Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1976 -1977
- Symphony Band performs at Mid-East Instrumental Music Conference, Hilton Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Symphony Band performs at Mid-West International Band & Orchestra Clinic, Conrad Hilton Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
1975-1976
- Symphony Band performs South Rampart Street: Revisited - Lou Coyner, World Premiere Performance, East Allegheny High School Auditorium, North Versailles, Pennsylvania
1974 - 1975
- Symphony Band performs at Music Educators National Conference (MENC), Eastern Regional Convention, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Symphony Band performs at Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Conference, Hilton Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1973 - 1974
- Symphony Band performs at Mid-East Instrumental Music Conference, Hilton Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1972 - 1973
- Symphony Band performs at Clintondale Exchange Concert, Community Center Auditorium, Mt. Clemens, Michigan
1971 - 1972
- Symphony Band performs at Pennsylvania State Adjudication Festival, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Symphony Band performs at Parsippany Hills Exchange Concert, Parsippany Hills High School Auditorium, Parsippany, New Jersey
1970 - 1971
- Symphony Band performs at Carnegie Mellon Awards Festival, (Superior Rating), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1969 - 1970
- Symphony Band performs at Carnegie Mellon Awards Festival, (Superior Rating), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Symphony Band performs at Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA), Conference, Education Forum, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Symphony Band performs at West York Exchange Concert, West York High School Auditorium, York, Pennsylvania
1968 - 1969
- Symphony Band performs at Allegheny County Teachers Institute, Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Symphony Band performs at Carnegie Mellon Awards Festival, (Superior Rating), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1967 - 1968
- Symphony Band performs at Carnegie Mellon Awards Festival, (Excellent Rating), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
EAST ALLEGHENY HIGH SCHOOL BANDS
Guest Artists (1967-1981)
- 1980 - Randy Purcell, trombone , Artist/Clinician, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- 1979 - Sergeant James Murphy, clarinet, United States Air Force Band, Washington, D.C.
- 1977 - Captain William Graves, III, Guest Conductor, Commander, 8th Air Force Band, Barksdale, Louisiana
- 1977 - Eric Hoover, flute, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
- 1976 - Dr. Jerry Neil Smith, clarinet, Dean, School of Music, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
- 1976 - Dr. Richard Strange, Guest Conductor, Director of Bands (retired), Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- 1976 – Lou Coyner, Guest Composer, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- 1976 – Marilyn Miller Bright, piccolo (East Allegheny Alumni, Class of 1971)
- 1974 - Dr. Rex Mitchell, Composer/Guest Conductor, Director of Bands, Clarion State University, Clarion, Pennsylvania
- 1973 – Gary Rixner, trombone (East Allegheny Alumni, Class of 1971)
- 1972 - Nestor Koval, clarinet & saxophone, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- 1970 - John Paynter, Guest Conductor, Director of Bands, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
EAST ALLEGHENY HIGH SCHOOL SYMPHONY BANDS
Invitational Concert Series (1967-1981)
What started as an opportunity for my students to hear other schools in live performance quickly became a tradition. We invited one or two guest ensembles each year to appear with us in concert. The approach was non-competitive, and the students and staff always had an opportunity to meet and visit before and after the concert. Our invitation to perform would, on occasion, result in a return invitation to perform at our guest’s school, providing my students with an additional performance experience.
- 1981 - North Allegheny High School Symphonic Band
Frank Farina, Conductor
- 1980 - North Hills High School Symphony Band
Warren Mercer, Conductor
- 1979 - North Hills High School Symphony Band
Warren Mercer, Conductor
- 1978 - Union-Endicott (New York) High School Band
Dr. Joseph Scagnoli, Conductor
- 1977 - Fox Chapel High School Symphony Band
Daniel Reuter, Conductor
- 1976 - North Hills High School Symphony Band
Warren Mercer, Conductor
- 1975 - West York High School Band
Alan Wyand, Conductor
- 1974 - Duquesne University Symphony Band
Dr. John Wilson, Conductor
- 1973 - Clintondale (Michigan) High School Symphony Band
John Chipburn, Conductor
- 1973 - Bethel Park High School Symphonic Band
C. Dean Streator, Conductor
Mt. Lebanon High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble
James Mcllroy, Conductor
- 1972 - Parsippany Hills (New Jersey) High School Concert Band
Donald Marrs, Conductor
- 1972 - Carnegie Mellon University Kiltie Symphony Band
Dr. Richard Strange, Conductor
- 1971 - McKeesport Area High School Symphonic Band
Joseph Krysik, Conductor
North Hills High School Symphony Band
Warren Mercer, Conductor