Despite the pandemic, the enrollment in our Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Jazz Band and Winter Guard continue to be very strong due to all of his efforts. West Springfield High School is a public high school located in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, at 6100 Rolling Road, and is part of the Fairfax County Public Schools system. "We found that coming out of this, students are dealing with all kinds of things and stress levels are higher than we've ever seen them. According to Yamaha, they received hundreds of nominations from students, parents, teachers and local instrument dealers and mentors, highlighting the music educators impacting their community and students in a positive direction. Get a free morning newsletter with news in Westfield or another town: https://patch.com/subscribe, This article originally appeared on the Westfield Patch. William Schnepper . WESTFIELD, NJ Westfield High School band director Christopher Vitale was recognized among 40 "outstanding music directors" all under the age of 40 for his achievements in enhancing the school's music program by Yamaha. Remy Samuels , Patch Staff Posted Thu, Feb 10, 2022 at 4:48 . Band Director: Andrew Muth. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Contact Band Director, Andrew Muth at mutha@wws.k12.in.us Follow Us: Westfield High School 18250 N Union Street Westfield IN 46074 Phone: (317) 867-6800 Fax: (317) 867-2909 with Co-Band Director Trevor Sindorf, did some tallying out of curiosity. They are: Nolan Daly, 11th grade, Trumpet, All-State Symphonic Band . The marching band is open to any student in grades 9-12. In addition, his ensembles continue to earn top performance accolades year after year. He had explained to me thats what happened when people are in love and that he loved me, she said. She had not told her parents about the pregnancies, though they eventually tracked her down. Granada Hills Charter High School Highlander Band. Music Teacher, HS. She is an educator of many musical talents, where there have been times where she was a one wo-man band. WHS Band Director Receives Prestigious Honor. 871 likes. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS/AMY PORTER). They appreciate the honest approach and the sense of accomplishment that they feel when they reach their goals is far greater as a result., Every other year, Vitale runs a leadership book club that is open to any student. In addition, his ensembles continue to earn top performance accolades year after year. Vitale explained that there is a communal aspect of making music with other people that is not something students get in other academic subjects. Kennedy sees a third of his members on Cohort A, a third on Cohort B, and he has another third that are fully remote and participate online. Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band (California State University, Fresno) Fresno. How Many Inches Of Snow Did Westfield Get? To send an email to this staff member, fill out and submit this form. Granite Bay High School Emerald Brigade. Sept. 29, 2020 3:23 PM PT. . Vitale is among 40 music educators across the United States who met the programs criteria of "action, courage, creativity and growth.". He said he often hears from WHS alumni that being a part of music program served them well later in life. The Westfield Band Boosters cordially invite you to apply to our 13th Annual Holiday Craft Show to be held on Saturday, November 20th, 2021. WESTFIELD - Band has been a little bit of a challenge to get underway, says Westfield High School and Technical Academy Band director Patrick Kennedy, but "we're slowly edging back towards some sense of normalcy," he said. WHS Band co-director Trevor Sindorf was among a number of people who wrote letters of recommendation in support of Vitales nomination. "I lost probably 25 kids. A counselor at Fremont Junior High witnessed Elgas reaching under her blouse and took no action, the former student said in an interview with The Times. Pulseline: to submit your thoughts click here, Gateway grows up, downs Westfield Technical 41-8, St. Marys schools go remote amid uptick in city COVID cases, Threadbare high school band uniforms to be replaced, Southwick Food Pantry receives donation from Westfield River Brewery, Think local when planning your holiday shopping list. The band director, Richard Elgas, retired in 2003 after a nearly 40-year career. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Donations can be made by check made out to WHSBPA (Westfield High School Band Parents Association) and sent to the attention of Chris Vitale, Director of Bands, at 550 Dorian Road, Westfield, NJ 07090 or by donating online. Westfield High School Band director Christopher Vitale has been named to the 2022 "40 Under 40, a music education advocacy program launched by Yamaha last year to "recognize . Links to high school marching bands, college bands, middle school bands and sites of interest to California. He allegedly impregnated one girl three times, ordering her to abort the fetuses. Phone: (317) 867 . "A big part of what we provide in high school band is a social network for the kids.". Orchestra. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Growing up, he played trombone, flute, and piano, and was actively playing in top-notch ensembles throughout his high school career, including an award-winning 165 member marching band. "I did not see this coming at all.". Luckily, Vitale said this year has been "pretty normal" and that the students have been extremely resilient through all of it. Gahr High School Marching Gladiators. When they do well, I tell them and when they dont, I dont shy away from making that known. Prior to being at Venice High School, Mr. Lee was interviewed as one of six finalists for the Band Officer position of the United States Air Force Band. Vitale went to school for music education where he learned to play a variety of instruments, as well as upper level musical concepts that he now teaches to his students. WHS Band co-director Trevor Sindorf was one of the many people who sent in letters for Vitale's nomination. All rights reserved (About Us). Mr. Lee has attended the European American Musical Alliance Conducting Program in Paris, France arenowned composition-drivenprogram drawing from the pedagogical tradition of Nadia Boulanger. Having leadthe Mighty Gondolier Marching Band fortwo years at an after school capacity,Mr. Lee has continued his career at Venice High Schoolas full-time Instrumental Music Teacher. He said students learn skills in classes, like band or orchestra, that can carry over into their professional lives, such as working with people at a company toward a common goal. He said students learn skills in classes, like band or orchestra, that can carry over into their professional lives, such as working with people at a company toward a common goal. Socially distanced band practice at Westfield High School. Salad, Sandwich Shop To Open Very Soon In Westfield, Union County Celebrates Arbor Day 2023 with Free Trees for Schools. He said the jazz band, which is anywhere from 10 to 20 students, can fit in the practice room together.In some ways this has allowed us to evaluate what we do and who we are, he said.Kennedy acknowledged that all of the moving parts have slowed down how much material they can cover, and they havent been allowed to schedule any performances. If I can teach that and foster a love and appreciation for music along the way, then I think Im doing everything I set out to do as an educator.. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR & ELEMENTARY DIRECTOR, music/visual instructor & middle school director, MUSIC/VISUAL INSTRUCTOR & MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR, Copyright 2022 Westfield High School Bands. Band Boosters Charms Office Suite Questions? Lai is an undergraduate student at Columbia University studying political science and serves as the news editor for her student paper, the Columbia Daily Spectator. "I think our main focus was just on trying to keep the kids connected," Vitale said. The backbone of . Vitale is among 40 music educators across the United States who met the programs criteria of "action, courage, creativity and growth.". WHS Band Director Patrick Kennedy is learning new tricks. Copyright 2023 Westfield Public Schools. A strong proponent for musical enrichment in the community, he was deeply involved with the UCLAMusic Performance and Education Outreach Program. The final time, in 1983, she had the baby, but he died seven days later, the lawsuit said. If I can teach that and foster a love and appreciation for music along the way, then I think Im doing everything I set out to do as an educator.. FAX: (323) 936-8455. Westfield Winds is the 2021 IPA Open Class State Champion, 2021 WGI Class A Finalist, and 2021 WGI Fan Favorite. A junior high school band director from Anaheim molested eight students from the 1970s to the 1990s, forcing one girl to have two abortions, a lawsuit alleges. Venice High Schools Band Director,Mr. Leehails from a small suburban town in South Jersey. The funds would come from School Choice, [] 18250 N. Union Street. More than 70 high school bands joined the non-profit organization in its first year. Vitale also co-founded the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association (NJMBDA) in 2020, with more than 70 high school bands joining the nonprofit organization in its first year. Chris takes the 2nd assignment VERY seriously. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Westfield High School Bands Band Director: Andrew Muth 18250 N. Union Street Westfield, IN 46074 Phone: (317) 867-6800Fax: (317) 867-2909 Get Connected! Anti-Bullying Coordinator. I think theyll come back once things change. We are proud that we have students from every walk of life within our school community in the band. Email remy.samuels@patch.com. 18250 N. Union Street . Westfield, New Jersey. Westfield Band Boosters are grateful for the crafters and shoppers who participated in the Outdoor Event on October 10, 2020. During COVID, Vitale said he dealt with a number of challenges as band director and that he had to get creative when it came to teaching music online. He died in 2017, according to the Orange County Coroner Division. The plaintiffs are not named in the lawsuit, and The Times does not name victims of sexual assaults. . I lost probably 25 kids. Despite the pandemic, the enrollment in our Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Jazz Band and Winter Guard continue to be very strong due to all of his efforts. I bounce from place to place, he said.The band just received bell covers for the wind and brass instruments, which were ordered by the district as personal protective equipment to keep spray from spreading. Kennedy said the numbers of students taking band are lower at WHS than they ever have been. We look forward to growing in 2022 as an organization run by directors focused on providing world-class adjudication at a low price, Vitale says. At the Oct. 15 football game against Minnechaug at Bullens Field, which the Bombers won 13 to 0, the band couldn't wait to get to halftime. "We found that coming out of this, students are dealing with all kinds of things and stress levels are higher than we've ever seen them. 1000 character (s) remaining. We hope to have that partnership in place, to share some music with the community, and have the kids perform in a different type of venue, he said. Many of her students have been accepted into prestigious programs, such as California Summer School of the Arts, SCVA Honors Choir, California All-State Choir, and ACDA National Honor Choir, for the past consecutive years. These groups study and perform a variety of literature, including swing, jazz, funk, and latin. They have the covers for trumpets, trombones, and saxophones, and ones for the tubas are enroute. Chris takes the 2nd assignment VERY seriously. I was so unbelievably proud that Westfield was recognized on a national stage for music educators all around the country to see.". All DMA Staff. Vitale is among 40 music educators across the United States under the age of 40 who meet the programs criteria of action, courage, creativity, and growth. We can all agree that band directing is equal parts music education and life education, Sindorf wrote. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. He described Vitale as an extremely dedicated teacher who is invested in the success of his students. The Westfield Marching Band was named a 2015 USBands Northeast Regional and National Class Champions and was named a Bands of America Regional Finalist three times since 2018. Vitale said his nomination was completely unexpected. Westfield High School Band - Westfield Band Announcements Pre-Assessment Concert #1 @ Westfield Highschool Auditorium - 02/28 - 7PM Pre-Assessment Concert #2 @ Westfield Highschool Auditorium - 03/01 - 7PM Marching Bulldog Calendar If the calendar below does not appear on your device. Contact Form. He said the younger music instructors in the district have been helping him with all of the transitions. WESTFIELD, NJ Westfield High School band director Christopher Vitale was recognized among 40 "outstanding music directors" all under the age of 40 for his achievements in enhancing the school's music program by Yamaha. At WHS, he meets with anywhere from 10 to 30 students at a time. Music Director. It is . The estimated cost of the revised plan is $9MM, approximately half that of the initial proposal. Im pretty proud of them so far, Kennedy said.Kennedy said the music program In some districts has really been decimated by the coronavirus. . Though the award recognized me as an individual, I saw it more as a recognition of our band programs in Westfield, he said. Self-reflection and self-improvement have superseded competition. Patrick Hoff, Director. Fine and Performing Arts Course Catalog. He described Vitale as an extremely dedicated teacher who is invested in the success of his students. Vitale said there were over 35 letters written on his behalf. He is invested in his students well-being far more than any band director I know.. Through music we can teach acceptance, empathy, communication, accountability, time management and teamwork, among other things, he says. The eight former students sued unnamed defendants who were responsible for overseeing Elgas. These eight women deserve to be vindicated. Shortly after her 15th birthday, she got pregnant. Remy Samuels 2/10/2022. Westfield High School Bands. Elgas was a well-known band director in Orange County. The Westfield High School band has a hashtag #BandFamily that resonates with students, staff and families. Westfield plans to award a band scholarship in her name, and donations payable to Westfield High School Music Boosters Club may be sent to the school at 4700 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly, VA 20151. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Seniors Trent Stucenski and Matt McMahon and junior Nate Valeri (seated) showing the new PPE bell covers on their instruments. Here in Southern California, Mr. Lee has been on the musical staff of the Santa Monica Youth Orchestra a tuition-free orchestra program for young musicians, where he served as a musical instructor and also ran a weekly after school musical enrichment program as the Musical Artist in Residence at Virginia Avenue Park. He continues to perform with ensembles, such as the Charles Dickens Carolers at venues throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Yamaha says in a press release that hundreds of nominations were received by students, parents, teachers, and local instrument dealers and mentors, highlighting the music educators impacting their community and students in a positive direction.. In class, Elgas sometimes dimmed the lights and pushed boys and girls together to force them to kiss, she said. WESTFIELD The Westfield High School Marching Band is in the middle of a busy season, and they're loving every minute of it. Scofield served 13 months in prison. Granada Hills. drum and bugle corps, color guards and drum lines. Hoboken's Official St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl, Saint Joseph High School Annual Basket Raffle, Johns Crazy Socks Enters the Wholesale Channel so Retail Stores Can Sell Our Socks, Tax Relief, Debt Service, Transit Fare Freeze: 3 NJ Budget Takeaways, More Snow, Ice, Winter Weather On The Way To NJ, Forecasters Say, Westfield School Board Cuts Arts Teachers Amid Student, Parent Uproar. Academy for Academic Excellence Marching Knights, American High School Eagles Marching Band, Archbishop Riordan High School Marching Band, Benecia High School Panther Marching Band, John Burroughs High School Instrumental Music Association, Canyon High School Canyon Regiment Marching Band, Cathedral City High School Royal Regiment, Centennial High School Husky Marching Alliance, Central Union High School Spartan Marching Band, Citrus Hill High School Midnight Marching Band, Clovis North Educational Center Bronco Marching Band, Coachella Valley High School Marching Mighty Arabs, Crescenta Valley High School Marching Band, Don Lugo High School Conquistador Marching Band, El Camino High School Golden Pride Marching Band, Fairfield High School Scarlet Brigade Band, Fountain Valley High School Royal Regiment Marching Band, Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band (California State University, Fresno), Granada Hills Charter High School Highlander Band, Hanford West High School Mighty Huskies Marching Band, Henry J. 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North High School Blue Star Regiment, North Hollywood High School Royal Regiment Band, Orange Glen High School Marching Patriots, Poway High School Emerald Brigade Marching Band, Ramona High School Royal Alliance Marching Band, Rancho Buena Vista High School Marching Band, Rancho Cucamonga High School Marching Cougars, Rancho Verde High School Crimson Regiment, Redlands East Valley High School Marching Wildcats, Reyburn Intermediate School Instrumental Music Program, Riverside Community College Marching Band (RCC), Sacramento State Marching Band (California State University, Sacramento), San Diego State University Marching Aztecs, San Gorgonio High School Spartan Marching Band, San Jose State University Spartan Marching Band, San Pedro High School Golden Pirate Regiment, San Ramon Valley High School Instrumental Music, Santa Cruz High School Cardinal Marching Band, Santa Margarita Catholic High School Eagle Regiment, Santa Monica High School Samohi Viking Marching Band, Santiago High School Bands of Santiago Sharks, Saugus High School Centurion Marching Band, Simi Valley High School Instrumental Music, Sound Machine of the Inland Empire Youth Band Archive, Stockdale High School Silver Mustang Marching Band, Temple City High School Pride of Temple City Marching Band, Tesoro High School Titan Regiment Marching Band, Thousand Oaks High School Lancer Marching Band, Trabuco Hills High School Thundering Mustangs Marching Unit, University High School Marching Trojan Regiment, University of California Davis Marching Band, University of California Los Angeles Bruin Marching Band (UCLA), University of San Francisco Dons Band (USF), University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band (USC), Vista High School Regimental Band & Pageantry Corps, Vista Murrieta High School Golden Alliance Marching Band, Westlake High School Regiment Marching Band. 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