Online Celebration!
Let's PARTY on Saturday, May 16th!
Touch base with SHJO members and directors!
Dear SHJO families,
It's time to get "virtually re-connected!" You are cordially invited to participate in our SHJO Social Distancing Membership Reunion on Saturday, May 16 at 11 a.m. via Zoom from your computer, tabloid, or smartphone.
Please RSVP to pfox@shjo.org (by Wednesday, May 13), and provide your name and email address to receive the link and your password to the party!
Click here for a copy of the "let's get connected" invitation.
What’s updated & convenient for SHJO players?
Do you know all sections of this website?
To make it easy to find everything, the entire SHJO Handbook and registration form are on the website under "Resources" and submenu "Registration."
You will need to download, complete (please complete electronically for legibility!), sign where appropriate (both parent & musician must sign), and print a copy of the registration form and bring to the Managing Director on Saturday.
Also, you can pay your music donation fee ONLINE at the Registration link or just bring a check or credit card to a Saturday rehearsal.
Be sure to download and print lots of other "goodies," like:
- FLIER to Share with Friends + Rehearsal Schedule
- POSTER to Place on School/Community Bulletin Boards
- Downloadable CALENDAR 2019-2020
- CONCERT ATTIRE Order Form
Archives of educational enrichment and "Fox Firesides" are available under "Resources."
Announcing Our 37th Season of Music-Making
Open to musicians of all ages, South Hills Junior Orchestra rehearsals are held every Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Upper St. Clair High School Band Room beginning September 7, 2019.
SHJO Spring 2019 Concert: May 19 at 3 p.m.
Selections from the following spring literature...
Rosamunde Overture, Opus 26, by Franz Schubert arranged by Vernon Leidig
A Handel Celebration, arranged by Merle J. Isaac
Warrior Legacy by Soon Hee Newbold
Pavane by Maurice Ravel, arranged by James D. Ployhar
STRING ENSEMBLE
Andrew Lloyd Webber: Symphonic Reflections arranged by Bruce Chase
Bacchanale from "Samson and Delilah" by C. Saint-Saens, arranged by Merle J. Issac
Battle Hymn of the Republic arranged by Peter J. Wilhousky
Bill Critser "In Remembrance" Service on August 25
RIP July 9, 1928 - June 26, 2018
William Critser memorial service will be held on August 25, 2018 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. or so in the small theater of Mt. Lebanon High School. Open to the public. Park in the south lot and enter the glass doors. Up one flight to the theater entrance. Elevator available.
Season #36 Starts on September 8
First 3-4 free-trial rehearsals are "open" to interested instrumentalists of all ages.
Practices are held in the Upper St. Clair High School Band Room from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
SHJO resumes after Labor Day (September 8, 2018).
Concerts for 2018-2019 include the following dates: November 18, December 16, and May 19, 2019.
SHJO's 35th Anniversary Concert
You are invited to participate in the South Hills Junior Orchestra 35th Anniversary Reunion on June 24, 2018 at 2 p.m. Play side-by-side with current SHJO members or attend the performance, which will be held in the Boyce Middle School Theater.
SHJO Makes Plans for 35th Season
Happy Birthday to
South Hills
Junior Orchestra!
The South Hills Junior Orchestra (SHJO) will open its 35th year of music-making Saturday, September 9, 2017 with weekly no-obligation, free-trial rehearsals from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Upper St. Clair High School (USCHS) Band Room.
SHJO is directed by an all-volunteer music staff led by retired public school teachers Paul Fox, Donna Fox and
David Levin. The Orchestra is nonprofit and non-competitive, and supports school string and band programs
throughout the Western Pennsylvania area. It is made possible in part by the Upper St. Clair School District,
professional music educators and community volunteers donating their services, and the SHJO Booster Organization.
In addition to supporting the educational ensembles, organizing the banquet, and funding of the gifts and
scholarships for the student instrumentalists, the SHJO Boosters Association, along with the players and music
directors, are proud of their long history of philanthropy and community service raising more than $30,000 for school district and local charities. In appreciation of 35-years of support in providing a home for SHJO, a“thank-you gift” will be presented to the Upper St. Clair School District on the June 24th concert.
For more information, please contact Managing Director Janet Vukotich at
Welcome David Levin!
Please join us in welcoming our newest Assistant Director, David Levin! We are excited to have David on our team. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise that will greatly benefit our members.
David recently transferred from Maryland (retired in June 2014) with more than 35 years teaching instrumental music classes and ensembles for the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). His assignments have included teaching numerous band ensembles, orchestras, jazz ensembles, and AP Music Theory classes.
Most recently, David was the Director of Music Education for the Potomac Valley Youth Orchestras, as the liaison with education institutions, promoting PR efforts, coordinating audition adjudicators and sectional coaches, and assisting with setting audition standards and protocols. David served as Conductor with the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras (MCYO) for 21 years; including six seasons as Director of Music Education and the MCYO Philharmonic Orchestra conductor.
For over two decades David played trumpet in the M Street Brass Quintet, an ensemble consisting of five local instrumental music teachers performing summer recitals and at various events throughout the year.
Thank you David for taking on this new adventure!