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.
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.
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 is the Director of Instrumental Activities and Professor of Music at Westminster College. As the Director of Instrumental Activities, Dr. Greig is the founder and conductor of its Wind and Jazz Ensembles. He also directs the Symphonic and “Titan” Marching Bands. In music Education, Dr. Greig co-supervises student teachers, teaches Secondary Instrumental Methods, Instrumental Conducting, Advanced Conducting and Band Literature. Dr. Greig is also the faculty advisor to the Westminster College Pennsylvania Collegiate Music Educators Association and the past Collegiate Representative for Curriculum and Instruction for District Five PMEA. He is responsible for maintaining and evaluating all music for the PMEA Assessment Performance list and is an advocate for Musical Performance Assessment in Pennsylvania. Dr. Greig is an active Guest Conductor, Clinician and Adjudicator throughout the Eastern United States, most recently having been the guest conductor for the Pennsylvania Music Educators All- State Wind Ensemble in 2012. His ensembles at Westminster have earned guest appearances at the PMEA State Conference on numerous occasions. |
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 and Craig Kirchhoff.
As a trombonist, Dr. Greig currently performs with the Youngstown Fine Arts Brass (Quintet) as well as being a free-lance musician throughout the Youngstown and Pittsburgh areas.
Prior to his hiring at Westminster, Dr. Greig was a music educator in the public schools in Greene County, Warren County and Mercer (Pennsylvania) and Struthers (Ohio) for twelve years. He was also hired to re-establish the band program at Thiel College and has taught Brass Methods at Grove City College.
Dr. Greig received his Undergraduate Degree in Music Education from Grove City College, Masters Degree in Music Education from Youngstown State University and his Ph.D. in Music Education from Kent State University. Dr. Greig is the past president of the Pennsylvania Collegiate Bandmasters Association and a member of the Collegiate Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu (past President), International Trombonists Association, National Brass Society, Music Educators National Conference and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.He was also nominated and accepted into the “Who’s Who in American Education”, Who’s Who Distinguished Professionals, Montclair Who’s Who in Collegiate Faculty and was awarded the “Citation of Excellence” award in Music Education presented by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, and the Keystone Salute award given by the Pennsylvania Federation of Music Clubs. Dr. Greig was a nominee for the national Arlin G. Meyer Prize through the Lily Fellows Program in 2010 for his “creative work at an academic institution that emerges from the practices of a Christian vocation”.
In 2013, Dr. Greig was nominated for the United States Professor of the Year award given by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
As a trombonist, Dr. Greig currently performs with the Youngstown Fine Arts Brass (Quintet) as well as being a free-lance musician throughout the Youngstown and Pittsburgh areas.
Prior to his hiring at Westminster, Dr. Greig was a music educator in the public schools in Greene County, Warren County and Mercer (Pennsylvania) and Struthers (Ohio) for twelve years. He was also hired to re-establish the band program at Thiel College and has taught Brass Methods at Grove City College.
Dr. Greig received his Undergraduate Degree in Music Education from Grove City College, Masters Degree in Music Education from Youngstown State University and his Ph.D. in Music Education from Kent State University. Dr. Greig is the past president of the Pennsylvania Collegiate Bandmasters Association and a member of the Collegiate Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu (past President), International Trombonists Association, National Brass Society, Music Educators National Conference and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.He was also nominated and accepted into the “Who’s Who in American Education”, Who’s Who Distinguished Professionals, Montclair Who’s Who in Collegiate Faculty and was awarded the “Citation of Excellence” award in Music Education presented by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, and the Keystone Salute award given by the Pennsylvania Federation of Music Clubs. Dr. Greig was a nominee for the national Arlin G. Meyer Prize through the Lily Fellows Program in 2010 for his “creative work at an academic institution that emerges from the practices of a Christian vocation”.
In 2013, Dr. Greig was nominated for the United States Professor of the Year award given by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
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Assistant Conductor
Sean Desguin Mr. Desguin joined the North Suburban Symphonic Band in 2003, and has served as Assistant 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, Mr. Desguin 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
Arnie Gefsky – Vice-Chair of the Board
Elise Neill – Communications Director, Oboe (Symphonic Band)
Katie Gallagher – Board Secretary, Accessibility Coordinator, Clarinet (Symphonic Band)
Melissa Tsaggaris Corso – Chair of the Board, Promotions, French horn (Symphonic Band)
Sean Desguin – Assistant Symphonic Conductor, Dixieland Band Musical Director, Tuba (Symphonic & Dixieland Band)
Shira Burg – Board Treasurer, NPSB Manager, Oboe (Symphonic Band)
R. Tad Greig – Musical Director and Symphonic Conductor
Elise Neill – Communications Director, Oboe (Symphonic Band)
Katie Gallagher – Board Secretary, Accessibility Coordinator, Clarinet (Symphonic Band)
Melissa Tsaggaris Corso – Chair of the Board, Promotions, French horn (Symphonic Band)
Sean Desguin – Assistant Symphonic Conductor, Dixieland Band Musical Director, Tuba (Symphonic & Dixieland Band)
Shira Burg – Board Treasurer, NPSB Manager, Oboe (Symphonic Band)
R. Tad Greig – Musical Director and Symphonic Conductor
Previous Conductors
Carl Iezzi - 2002-2015
Erich Laseck - 2001-2002
Edwin Arnold - 1997-2000
Kevin Johnson - 1995-1996
Warren Mercer - 1992-1995 Founder
