The West Hills Symphonic Band presented its debut concert on January 29, 1967, with 58 musicians, launching an ensemble that continues to flourish today. Forming a community band as an opportunity for band alumni and talented adult musicians within the Montour and surrounding suburban communities was the idea of Joseph C. Picchi, the band director at Montour High School who became the band’s first conductor.

 

The large Montour HS Band Parent organization at the time strongly supported and actively assisted with this challenging endeavor, led by their president at the time, James J. Zaccone. A large committee of Hostesses organized receptions after each concert with cookies, beverages and other refreshments. Several female members of the Montour High School Band served as usherettes, dressing in gowns and opera gloves. 43 members, band parents and supporters served on the initial governing ‘General Membership Board of Directors’. These remarkable efforts combined to successfully launch and quickly establish what became popular concert seasons and summer performances for the residents of the western suburbs.

 

Now based at Montour High School in Robinson Township, the band draws from a roster of over 110 musicians with around 85 performing on each concert. The band rehearses on Sunday afternoons with performances also on Sundays in October, December, March and May at 3 PM. The band has performed during the season at Burgettstown Area HS, Moon Area HS, South Fayette HS, and West Allegheny HS in addition to Montour. Outdoor summer concerts offer a vibrant outreach, with the goal to promote and sustain the rich heritage of the American community band through at least four programs scheduled each summer throughout the western suburbs.

 

Notable performances include at the 2005 Three Rivers Community Concert Band Festival, in March 2016 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh as part of the national convention of the Association of Concert Bands and several summer concerts as part of the Bach, Beethoven and Brunch series at Mellon Park.

 

The mission of the West Hills Symphonic Band includes the goal of offering musicians of varying ages and ability levels a challenging means of developing and expressing their musical skills. Members range in age from talented area high school band members seeking a side-by-side enrichment experience with adult musicians through veteran performers in their late 80’s and early 90’s. The band’s printed concert programs include the occupation of each member, recognizing life-long music making from all walks of life, including by many professional musicians and music educators. Above all, the band exists for the sheer joy of coming together to rehearse and perform a wide variety of music in all styles with concerts that enlighten, educate, and uplift the members and audiences alike.

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Admission is always free to the public, with donations accepted along with a successful patron program and fundraising endeavors to offset expenses.