WESTFIELD After an earnest appeal from High School Band Director Patrick Kennedy, the School Committee unanimously approved soliciting bids to replace the high school band uniforms, which are 25 years old and wearing thin. Sept. 29, 2020 3:23 PM PT. 1000 character (s) remaining. 36 character (s) remaining. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Besides directing the many ensembles at WHS which include three concert bands, two jazz bands, two percussion ensembles, two winter color guards and the marching band Vitale also co-founded the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association in 2020. We are proud that we have students from every walk of life within . Email remy.samuels@patch.com. I was so unbelievably proud that Westfield was recognized on a national stage for music educators all around the country to see.. Director of Bands Andrew MuthAssistant Director- Alex Sparks Director of Operations- Peter Lintzenich Performing Arts Instruction Assistant- Dave Shinault, Director Andrew MuthAssistant Director- Alex SparksHornline Director- Aaron CowgillDirector of Operations- Peter LintzenichGuard Director - Megan MillerPercussion Director - Michael RennakerProgram Coordinator Jack PursifullMusic Arranger - Don BarrettChoreographer - Brayton MendenhallHornline Staff Dave Shinault, Max Degnan, Mitchell Urban, and Shawn CollierPercussion Staff- Jack Doerges,Colton King, Sammy Bonnet, and Orion Avery Guard Staff- Kevin Panzarella, Glenn Panzarella, and Olivia Carlstedt, Director Andrew MuthAssistant Director- Alex SparksHornline Director- Aaron CowgillDirector of Operations- Peter LintzenichProgram Designer Jack PursifullMusic Arranger - Don BarrettStaff Max Degnan and Dave Shinault, Director - Megan MillerProgram Coordinator - Andrew MuthDirector of Operations- Peter Lintzenich Performing Arts Instruction Assistant- Dave ShinaultProgram Designer- Jack PursifullChoreographer - Brayton MendenhallStaff- Olivia Carlstedt, Kevin Panzarella, and Glenn Panzarella, Westfield Indoor Percussion Staff 2022/23, Director - Michael RennakerProgram Coordinator - Andrew MuthDirector of Operations- Peter Lintzenich Performing Arts Instruction Assistant- Dave ShinaultProgram Designer- Jack PursifullMusic Arranger - Don BarrettPercussion Supervisor- Orion AveryStaff- Jack Doerges, Colton King, and Sammy Bonnet, Andrew Muth email: mutha@wws.k12.in.us, cell: 547-971-1248, Alex Sparks - email:sparksa@wws.k12.in.us, PeterLintzenich - email:lintzenichp@wws.k12.in.us, Please do not contact staff through their. Telephone: (323) 900-2748. For some kids, the online thing isnt for them. with Co-Band Director Trevor Sindorf, did some tallying out of curiosity. Chris takes the 2nd assignment VERY seriously. The Westfield Band Boosters cordially invite you to apply to our 13th Annual Holiday Craft Show to be held on Saturday, November 20th, 2021. Mr. David W. Lee. Vitale also co-founded the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association (NJMBDA) in 2020, with more than 70 high school bands joining the non-profit organization in its first year. He said he still has 30 students in the band at WTA.Kennedy said he is using Google Classroom this year, and the district was fortunate to buy a program for all the kids called SmartMusic, which allows music teachers to buy music to let students work on it at home. Shortly after her 15th birthday, she got pregnant. The agenda of the book club is for everyone involved to learn more about themselves, myself included. A spokesperson for the school district declined to comment, citing the litigation. Vitale considers himself lucky not only because of his students and their families, but because he works in a supportive district filled with talented and dedicated music educators, including his co-director, Trevor Sindorf. Vitale said there were over 35 letters written on his behalf. Mr. Winson began his career in Fort Bend ISD as the assistant director of bands at . The nonprofit NJMBDA had over 70 high school bands join in its first year. Who can participate? WHS Band Director Patrick Kennedy said [] He had explained to me thats what happened when people are in love and that he loved me, she said. Band Director: Andrew Muth. He said the younger music instructors in the district have been helping him with all of the transitions. I think weve been fortunate to maintain as many kids in our program as we have. Hes gone through generations of young women, and the district did nothing to protect these students. The Westfield HS Marching Bulldogs of Chantilly, VA - a 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade band The estimates received from two different companies for 120 uniforms averaged approximately $65,000. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 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. Enrollment in the WHS Bands has doubled since his arrival in 2011. WHS Band Director Patrick Kennedy is learning new tricks. jazz I , jazz II, & STage Band. 871 likes. Venice High Schools Band Director,Mr. Leehails from a small suburban town in South Jersey. The Westfield Bands have given performance tours of Austria, the Czech Republic, and Italy. Westfield High School Bands. "I lost probably 25 kids. 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 LOS ANGELES HIGH SCHOOL BAND AND COLOR GUARD BIOGRAPHY. He described Vitale as an extremely dedicated teacher who is invested in the success of his students. 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. Westfield High School Band director Christopher Vitale has been named to the 2022 40 Under 40, a music education advocacy program launched by Yamaha.Westfield Public Schools, 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 outstanding music educators who are making a difference by growing and strengthening their music programs.. Click on any of the icons below to follow our social media accounts! Enrollment in the WHS Bands has doubled since his arrival in 2011. The baby had a birth defect and died a week later. Get a free morning newsletter with news in Westfield or another town: https://patch.com/subscribe, This article originally appeared on the Westfield Patch. . 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. Choir. "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. I was so unbelievably proud that Westfield was recognized on a national stage for music educators all around the country to see.". He described Vitale as an extremely dedicated teacher who is invested in the success of his students. "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. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. 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. To support the claim that school officials should have protected the girls from Elgas, the lawsuit cites other Anaheim Union teachers who were convicted of molesting their students. Westfield High School Band co-director Trevor Sindorf was among a number of people who wrote letters of recommendation in support of Vitales nomination. In his letter, he noted that Vitale voluntarily hosts a well-attended book club before school for any student interested in strengthening their leadership skills. 18250 N. Union Street . 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. Have a news tip? Mrs. Sarnoff is the Department Chair of the Music Program at Venice High School, where she has been teaching at Venice High School for over 25 years. 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. 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. . 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. He allegedly impregnated one girl three times, ordering her to abort the fetuses. Orchestra. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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 outstanding music educators who are making a difference by growing and strengthening their music programs." 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. Music Director. WHS Band co-director Trevor Sindorf was one of the many people who sent in letters for Vitale's nomination. The band gave concerts at Knotts Berry Farm and played under college conductors at Cal State Fullerton. 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. 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 might put together some small ensembles and record them for the holidays. 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 outstanding music educators who are making a difference by growing and strengthening their music programs.. Elgas told The Times that his students dont know how good they can be. A second pregnancy ended the same way. 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. drum and bugle corps, color guards and drum lines. In his letter, he notes that Vitalevoluntarily hosts a well-attended book club before school for any student interested in strengthening their leadership skills. 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. He died in 2017, according to the Orange County Coroner Division. Granite Bay. A former student, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Roe 2, said Elgas began keeping her after class to touch her breasts when she was in eighth grade in the late 1970s. 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. 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. 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 were slowly edging back towards some sense of normalcy, he said.Kennedy said the numbers of students taking band are lower at WHS than they ever have been. Each time we run the club I learn from my students, which I find very fulfilling!, Vitale views high school band as a vehicle to build good humans. "I was extremely surprised," Vitale said. Westfield Winds is the 2021 IPA Open Class State Champion, 2021 WGI Class A Finalist, and 2021 WGI Fan Favorite. The funds would come from School Choice, [] In October 1983, she gave birth to a boy, naming him Richard after his father. After the 2019 marching season, directors throughout New Jersey began conversations regarding a need for an organization solely focused on providing an educationally sound marching experience for the bands of our state, he explains. "Through music, we can teach acceptance, empathy, communication, accountability, time management and teamwork," Vitale said. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS/AMY PORTER). Though the award recognized me as an individual, I saw it more as a recognition of our band programs in Westfield, he said. 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. Get a free morning newsletter with news in Westfield or another town: https://patch.com/subscribe. Chris takes the 2nd assignment VERY seriously. The final time, in 1983, she had the baby, but he died seven days later, the lawsuit said. Band Director: Andrew Muth. The Westfield High School band has a hashtag #BandFamily that resonates with students, staff and families. All rights reserved (About Us). WESTFIELD, NJ Westfield High School band director Christopher Vitale was recognized among 40 "outstanding music directors" all under the age of 40 for his . Contact Form. He is invested in his students well-being far more than any band director I know.. These eight women deserve to be vindicated. For the last decade, Chris has established a band culture and community at Westfield High School that encourages students to strive for excellence while emphasizing both camaraderie and teamwork, said Thomas Weber, Supervisor of K-12 Visual and Performing Arts. Vitale said his nomination was completely unexpected. WHS Band co-director Trevor Sindorf was one of the many people who sent in letters for Vitale's nomination. There are hand sanitizers in the classrooms and extra masks. 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. The Los Angeles High School Band and Color Guard is the premier band in the city of Los . Remy Samuels , Patch Staff Posted Thu, Feb 10, 2022 at 4:48 . February 7, 2022 - 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 outstanding music educators who are making a difference by growing and strengthening their music programs." Vitale said the organization provides competitive marching band shows throughout every region of New Jersey. The Marching.com links directory lists websites related to high school marching bands, college bands, Im pretty proud of them so far, Kennedy said.Kennedy said the music program In some districts has really been decimated by the coronavirus. Through this program he was able to make his European conducting debut at the historic La Schola Cantorum de Paris. And I think music and art have proven to be a way for students to kind of just step away from that.". The estimated cost of the revised plan is $9MM, approximately half that of the initial proposal. By helping others, you create a better experience for yourself a win-win. Yamaha reported in a written statement 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.. I wonder where Id be today if it wasnt for this person who turned my entire world upside down, said the former student, now in her 50s, who later married and had children. Prior to coming to Westfield High School Mr. Vitale served as a high school band director in Fairfax County, Virginia. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Thank you for continuing to support the WHS Bands and Guard programs during these unusual times. Vitale said the organization provides competitive marching band shows throughout every region of New Jersey. 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. These groups study and perform a variety of literature, including swing, jazz, funk, and latin. The Westfield Public School District, in partnership with families and the community, educates all students to reach their highest potential as productive, well-balanced and responsible citizens who respect individual differences and diversity in an ever changing world. His ensembles have given performances at the NJ State Band Gala, the New Jersey Music Educators State Conference, the Music For All National Festival, at The Lincoln Center, and at The Kimmel Center. 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. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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