Band Director Westfield High School Westfield, NJ. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. "I did not see this coming at all.". I lost probably 25 kids. We have a fantastic team of dedicated educators working together to drive the organization forward, including my co-president Erik Lynch [from Verona High School]., Copyright 2023 Yamaha Corporation of America and Yamaha Corporation. WESTFIELD The Westfield High School Marching Band is in the middle of a busy season, and they're loving every minute of it. The estimated cost of the revised plan is $9MM, approximately half that of the initial proposal. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Band Boosters Charms Office Suite Questions? "I lost probably 25 kids. 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. Vitale, who is in his 10th year with Westfield Public Schools and 15th year as a high school band director, said he was extremely surprised and honored to receive the recognition. 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. [Vitale] takes the 2nd assignment VERY seriously. 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. 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.. The band . I was so unbelievably proud that Westfield was recognized on a national stage for music educators all around the country to see.". A bit aways from his hometown, his musical endeavors have taken him across the globe, but now have landed him in Los Angeles. We are fortunate to have an amazing team of band directors, from elementary school through high school, that work together on a daily basis to make the bands in Westfield some of the best in New Jersey. Band Director: Andrew Muth. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS/AMY PORTER). Stay updated with what's happening at Westfield High School with News You Choose Sign Up Now . He allegedly impregnated one girl three times, ordering her to abort the fetuses. 1000 character (s) remaining. 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.. 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. Kennedy said the numbers of students taking band are lower at WHS than they ever have been. 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. All rights reserved.Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility, New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association. As the Director of Bands at Westfield High School, Mr. Vitale co-directs the Wind Ensemble, directs the Symphonic Band, oversees two winter color guards, and co-directs the Marching Blue Devils. I keep things very casual and try to let the students drive the discussions, Vitale says. Band Director, HS. For so long, he was treated like this venerated figure.. Our workshops are taught by university professors and high school band directors. I think theyll come back once things change. The alleged abuse occurred while Elgas taught at Fremont and Sycamore junior high schools and ranged from sexually harassing students to having years-long sexual relationships with girls, who were 12 or 13 years old when the abuse started, according to the suit. Band Director: Andrew Muth. Granada Hills. "If anything, COVID has taught us that the arts in general, not just music, provides such an important part of a well-rounded education," Vitale said. Im pretty proud of them so far, Kennedy said.Kennedy said the music program In some districts has really been decimated by the coronavirus. The funds would come from School Choice, [] The Westfield HS Marching Bulldogs of Chantilly, VA - a 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade band "City Champions For A Quarter Century". At WHS, he meets with anywhere from 10 to 30 students at a time. He said he sees music students there online every day. He said the younger music instructors in the district have been helping him with all of the transitions. We can all agree that band directing is equal parts music education and life education, Sindorf wrote. Luckily, Vitale said this year has been "pretty normal" and that the students have been extremely resilient through all of it. "I was extremely surprised," Vitale said. I think weve been fortunate to maintain as many kids in our program as we have. As the Director of Bands at Westfield High School, Mr. Vitale co-directs the Wind Ensemble, directs the Symphonic Band, oversees two winter color guards, and co-directs the Marching Blue Devils. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "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.. Mr. Winson began his career in Fort Bend ISD as the assistant director of bands at . 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. 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. There are hand sanitizers in the classrooms and extra masks. Mr. David W. Lee. A spokesperson for the school district declined to comment, citing the litigation. Sept. 29, 2020 3:23 PM PT. According to Director of Bands Chris Vitale, The key ingredients of #BandFamily at Westfield are kindness, acceptance, respect and support. WHS Band co-director Trevor Sindorf was among a number of people who wrote letters of recommendation in support of Vitales nomination. 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. We still have 70-something kids thats not a terrible number, he said.The WHS students are never all in one place at a time. He had explained to me thats what happened when people are in love and that he loved me, she said. 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. These groups study and perform a variety of literature, including swing, jazz, funk, and latin. 18250 N. Union Street. Westfield HS Band, Chantilly, Virginia. We are proud that we have students from every walk of life within . Granite Bay. I tell students that you dont have to be best friends with everyone in our band, but you do have to learn how to work together and help each other be successful. The lawsuit was filed in June by four plaintiffs and amended on Monday to include four additional victims, said Michael Carney, an attorney representing the eight women. In the last period of the day, they have 30 or so students, and have to break into groups; half in the band room, and half in the auditorium, where student leaders lead the practice. "A big part of what we provide in high school band is a social network for the kids.". 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. A strong proponent for musical enrichment in the community, he was deeply involved with the UCLAMusic Performance and Education Outreach Program. The band director, who is in his tenth year at Westfield High School, was named to the "40 Under 40" Music Advocacy Program after several of his colleagues and students sent in letters of support of his nomination. He is invested in his students well-being far more than any band director I know.. Itinerant Music, Band, Teacher. with Co-Band Director Trevor Sindorf, did some tallying out of curiosity. Your Name. Enrollment in the WHS Bands has doubled since his arrival in 2011. How Many Inches Of Snow Did Westfield Get? 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. drum and bugle corps, color guards and drum lines. Anti-Bullying Coordinator. Westfield, IN 46074. WHS Band Director Receives Prestigious Honor. 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. Our staff bring their years and decades of experience to every one of our workshops. The baby had a birth defect and died a week later. Back to Departments. "Through music, we can teach acceptance, empathy, communication, accountability, time management and teamwork," Vitale said. We can all agree that band directing is equal parts music education and life education, Sindorf wrote. "Through music, we can teach acceptance, empathy, communication, accountability, time management and teamwork," Vitale said. The Westfield High School concert bands have been consistently recognized across the state of Texas and beyond, being named the Texas 5A Honor Band three times most recently in 1998, and have performed at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. There, he served asAssociate Conductor of the University Chorus, Assistant Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra, Teaching Assistant of the Advanced Conducting Techniques class, and Tour Manager for UCLA Choral Activities. 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. Central Jersey Music Educators Association. Cerritos. Westfield High School Bands. 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. 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. Band Director: Andrew Muth. Prior to coming to Westfield High School Mr. Vitale served as a high school band director in Fairfax County, Virginia. Each year, these groups perform at concerts, adjudicated festivals, and various civic occasions. In ninth grade, Elgas began taking her to his house to have sex, she said. Westfield High School Bands. Who can participate? They have the covers for trumpets, trombones, and saxophones, and ones for the tubas are enroute. "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.. Band directing is equal parts music education and life education, Sindorf wrote all! The UCLAMusic Performance and education Outreach program happened when people are in love and that students., we can all agree that band directing is equal parts westfield high school band director education and life,. Began taking her to his house to have sex, she said Choose Sign up Now stay updated what! 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