About Us
The North Pittsburgh Symphonic Band (NPSB), founded in 1992 as the North Suburban Symphonic Band, is a community organization with approximately 85 volunteers who share a love of music and the desire to bring a variety of quality musical programming to the community. The NPSB is a full symphonic band encompassing woodwinds, brass and percussion instruments. We welcome musicians of all abilities and ages, and encourage high school and college students to participate in the community band experience. The NPSB rehearses and performs at its concert venue, the North Hills School District Middle School, located just minutes from downtown Pittsburgh off Babcock Boulevard.
We are unique in the Pittsburgh area in that we have a Family of Bands, which includes our core group - the symphonic band - and two ensemble groups (woodwind and dixieland) that perform in numerous and diverse venues throughout the year.
We are unique in the Pittsburgh area in that we have a Family of Bands, which includes our core group - the symphonic band - and two ensemble groups (woodwind and dixieland) that perform in numerous and diverse venues throughout the year.
Vision and Mission Statement
A community band that provides the highest quality and variety of musical experiences available to audiences and musicians in the Pittsburgh region.
The goal of the North Pittsburgh Symphonic Band is to contribute to the musical enjoyment and education of residents of the North Hills and the surrounding communities, and to provide opportunities for musical growth and expression to the members of the band. The NPSB will contribute to the audience's appreciation of wind band literature through the medium of public concerts, encourage young people in the area school districts towards the benefits of participation in musical organizations in both school and community, and above all, maintain and expand the role of the community band in America.
The goal of the North Pittsburgh Symphonic Band is to contribute to the musical enjoyment and education of residents of the North Hills and the surrounding communities, and to provide opportunities for musical growth and expression to the members of the band. The NPSB will contribute to the audience's appreciation of wind band literature through the medium of public concerts, encourage young people in the area school districts towards the benefits of participation in musical organizations in both school and community, and above all, maintain and expand the role of the community band in America.
Conductors
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Conductor / Musical Director
Dr. R. Tad Greig Dr. R. Tad Greig joined the NPSB in 2015. Dr. Greig is the retired Director of Instrumental Activities and Professor of Music in the School of Music at Westminster College, where he taught for 32 years. As the Dir. of Instrumental Activities, he was the founder and conductor of the Wind Ensemble, directed the Symphonic, “Titan” Marching Bands, and Jazz Ensemble. In Music Education, he supervised student teachers, taught Secondary Instrumental Methods, Instrumental Conducting, Advanced Conducting, Band Literature and Marching Band Techniques. He was also the faculty advisor to the Westminster’s Pennsylvania Collegiate Music Educators Association (PMEA) and the past Collegiate Rep for Curriculum and Instruction for District 5 PMEA. His responsibilities included maintaining and evaluating all music for the PMEA Assessment Performance List and being an advocate for Musical Performance Assessment in PA. |
His ensembles at Westminster have earned guest appearances at the PMEA State Conference and received specific mention by the National Association of Schools of Music in their last two accreditation visits. Additionally, they received 1st place in the “American Prize” 2017 national competition for Collegiate Ensembles, “Showcase Ensemble” for the 2021 Collegiate Band Directors National Association Eastern Regional Conference (CBDNA-ERC), and earned a guest performance at the 2024 CBDNA-ERC, hosted by Cornell University. He has been an active guest conductor, lecturer and clinician on various topics regarding music education throughout the Eastern United States, and a guest panelist for CBDNA conferences.
Dr. Greig has studied conducting with Dr. Leslie Hicken (Furman University) and Dr. Wayne Gorder (Kent State University) as well as participating in the renowned University of Colorado Conducting Symposium with Allan McMurray, Craig Kirchhoff, H. Robert Reynolds, and Frank Ticheli. As a trombonist, he currently performs with the Youngstown Fine Arts Brass (Quintet), Butler and Greenville Symphonies, as well as being a freelance musician throughout the Youngstown and Pittsburgh areas.
He received his master’s degree in Music Education from Youngstown State University and his Ph.D. in Music Education from Kent State University. Prior to Westminster, he was a public school music educator in Greene County, Warren County, Mercer (PA) and Struthers (OH) for 12 years, as well as Thiel and Grove City Colleges. He is the past president of the PA Collegiate Bandmasters Association and current member of the CBDNA, Phi Beta Mu (past President), Music Educators National Conference and PMEA.. He was a nominee for the national Arlin G. Meyer Prize Program for his “creative work at an academic institution that emerges from the practices of a Christian Vocation” and the Carnegie Foundation US Professor of the Year award for the Advancement of Teaching. He was accepted into the “Who’s Who in American Education,” and the “Who’s Who in Collegiate Faculty”, was awarded the “Citation of Excellence” in Music Education presented by PMEA, the Keystone Salute award by the PA Federation of Music Clubs, the “Outstanding Bandmaster Award” by Phi Beta Mu, and the “Albert Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award”, Upon his retirement from Westminster, he was awarded the Distinguished Faculty Award for “Continued Excellence in Teaching, Scholarship, and Leadership.”
Dr. Greig has studied conducting with Dr. Leslie Hicken (Furman University) and Dr. Wayne Gorder (Kent State University) as well as participating in the renowned University of Colorado Conducting Symposium with Allan McMurray, Craig Kirchhoff, H. Robert Reynolds, and Frank Ticheli. As a trombonist, he currently performs with the Youngstown Fine Arts Brass (Quintet), Butler and Greenville Symphonies, as well as being a freelance musician throughout the Youngstown and Pittsburgh areas.
He received his master’s degree in Music Education from Youngstown State University and his Ph.D. in Music Education from Kent State University. Prior to Westminster, he was a public school music educator in Greene County, Warren County, Mercer (PA) and Struthers (OH) for 12 years, as well as Thiel and Grove City Colleges. He is the past president of the PA Collegiate Bandmasters Association and current member of the CBDNA, Phi Beta Mu (past President), Music Educators National Conference and PMEA.. He was a nominee for the national Arlin G. Meyer Prize Program for his “creative work at an academic institution that emerges from the practices of a Christian Vocation” and the Carnegie Foundation US Professor of the Year award for the Advancement of Teaching. He was accepted into the “Who’s Who in American Education,” and the “Who’s Who in Collegiate Faculty”, was awarded the “Citation of Excellence” in Music Education presented by PMEA, the Keystone Salute award by the PA Federation of Music Clubs, the “Outstanding Bandmaster Award” by Phi Beta Mu, and the “Albert Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award”, Upon his retirement from Westminster, he was awarded the Distinguished Faculty Award for “Continued Excellence in Teaching, Scholarship, and Leadership.”
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Assistant Conductor
Sean Desguin Mr. Desguin joined the NPSB in 2003, and has served as Associate Conductor since 2006. He is a graduate of Duquesne University with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education, and earned his Master of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music. Since 2007, Mr. Desguin has been the Elementary Band Director in the Hampton Township School District, where he also directs the High School Percussion Ensemble and is Assistant Director with the Marching Band and Middle School Bands. Prior to his current position, he taught Middle and High School Band for five years in the Quaker Valley School District. Mr. Desguin is a native of upstate New York and has lived in Pittsburgh for over 20 years, currently residing in Aspinwall. |
Board of Directors
Shira Burg – Board Treasurer, NPSB Manager, Oboe (Symphonic Band)
Melissa Tsaggaris Corso – President and Board Chair, Promotions, French horn (Symphonic Band)
Sean Desguin – Associate Symphonic Conductor, Dixieland Band Musical Director, Tuba (Symphonic & Dixieland Band)
Katie Gallagher – Board Secretary, Accessibility Coordinator, Clarinet (Symphonic Band)
Arnie Gefsky – Vice-Chair of the Board
R. Tad Greig – Musical Director and Symphonic Conductor
Elise Neill – Communications Director, Oboe (Symphonic Band)
Previous Conductors
Carl Iezzi - 2002-2015
Erich Laseck - 2001-2002
Edwin Arnold - 1997-2000
Kevin Johnson - 1995-1996
Warren Mercer - 1992-1995 Founder
