Both the Marching Band and Symphony Band have a long history and are very well respected, being one of only a very few high school bands to participate in the inauguration ceremony of President George W. Bush. Warren S. Mercer, Jr., North Hills High Band Director for 31 years until 1992, elevated the North Hills High School Symphony Band to national prominence. Mr. Mercer has received numerous awards to include being elected to membership in the American Bandmasters Association in March 1972 and is the recipient of a citation of excellence from the National Band Association. The band's excellence continued through director David Matthews and under current director Leonard Lavelle The NHHS Symphony Band has a long and proud tradition, beginning in the 1950s with James Caruso, Warren Mercer, David Matthews, and currently Len Lavelle. The Symphony Band has earned a reputation of excellence, consistently receiving superior ratings at state and national festivals. The Symphony Band has also maintained the longest-running series of commissioned works of any high school band in the United States, beginning in 1965 with Philip Catelinet's Fantasy Mother Hubbard. Other commissioned works for the Symphony Band have been written by Mr. Don Gillis, Mr. Edward Madden, Mr. Robert Jager, Mr. Jerry Bilik, Mr. Rex Mitchell, Mr. Vaclav Nelhybel, Dr. Paul Whear, Mr. Norman Dello Joio, and Dr. Joseph Willcox Jenkins. Guest conductors through the years have included, Dr. William Revelli, Dr. Richard Strange, Dr.James Neilson, Dr. James Dunlop, Mr. Vaclav Nelhybel and in March 1973, Arthur Fiedler, Director of the Boston Pops Orchestra. The NHHS Symphony Band was awarded the first Sudler Flag of Honor by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation in 1983. The NHHS Symphony Band has won the highest honors in its section at the Carnegie Awards Festival sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University. It has performed at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association State Convention 1965, 1971, 1995, 1998, 2014, and 2016; the Mid-West National Band Clinic, Chicago, Illinois, 1966, 1970, 1983, and 1987; the Mid-East Instrumental Clinic, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1967; the Music Educators National Convention in 1973, 1997, 2015 and 2017. In more recent years, the band played at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Popular culture
The movie Warrior, starring Tom Hardy, was filmed on location at North Hills High School.
Athletics
The North Hills Indians football team is now involved in WPIAL Class AAAAA football. The largest statewide classification is. ;Team National Championships Football: 1987 USA Today National Champions ;Team State Championships Football: 1993 victory over Central Bucks West 15-14.
Rivalries
North Hills has several rivalries with other local school districts. The most notable rivalry is with the Shaler Area Titans. This rivalry is fueled through nearly every sport. Another major rivalry is with North Allegheny Tigers. Two notable postseason rivalries in football are with the Upper St. Clair Panthers and the Penn-Trafford Warriors. Another minor rivalry that has died down is with the namesake Penn Hills Indians.
Lip dub
In 2014, North Hills High School saw viral success with their lip dub of Avicii's song "Wake me up." Nick Ross, the director of the lip dub, was featured on Fox News for a live interview in 2014 and since then has been featured on local news stations such as KDKA-TV. As of April 2020 the video had nearly 500,000 views on YouTube.
Alma Mater
We're united, sons and daughters Bound in love and praise for thee, North Hills High our Alma Mater, Ever faithful we will be, Alma Mater, we shall treasure, Memories that never die, Though the years go swiftly by, We'll be true to North Hills High.
