FAX: (323) 936-8455. WHS Band co-director Trevor Sindorf was among a number of people who wrote letters of recommendation in support of Vitales nomination. All rights reserved.Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility, New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association. Itinerant Music, Strings, Teacher . Vitale is also a leader throughout the state and helped start the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association (NJMBDA). 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 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 The backbone of . Westfield, IN 46074. We can all agree that band directing is equal parts music education and life education, Sindorf writes. "I was extremely surprised," Vitale said. Ive been impressed here. The club reads Stephen Coveys The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People over the course of several months and meets before school every few weeks to discuss various topics covered in the book. Katherine Pierce. 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. Vitale said the organization provides competitive marching band shows throughout every region of New Jersey. To motivate and inspire his students, Vitale maintains a good balance between high standards and positive support for his students. 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. They have the covers for trumpets, trombones, and saxophones, and ones for the tubas are enroute. Cerritos. How Many Inches Of Snow Did Westfield Get? Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band (California State University, Fresno) Fresno. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. I keep things very casual and try to let the students drive the discussions, Vitale says. Westfield, IN 46074. Only the flutes dont use them. Though the award recognized me as an individual, I saw it more as a recognition of our band programs in Westfield, he said. Band Director: Andrew Muth. Enrollment in the WHS Bands has doubled since his arrival in 2011. Phone: (317) 867 . All rights reserved. These groups study and perform a variety of literature, including swing, jazz, funk, and latin. 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. 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. 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. Each year, these groups perform at concerts, adjudicated festivals, and various civic occasions. 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. 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. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS/AMY PORTER). The nonprofit NJMBDA had over 70 high school bands join in its first year. Contact Form. We might put together some small ensembles and record them for the holidays. He said it wasnt a sin.. He is very excited to work with the studentsandlooking forward to building a strong and comprehensive music program at Venice High School. 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. 1000 character (s) remaining. 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. Vitale said there were over 35 letters written on his behalf. 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. When they do well, I tell them and when they dont, I dont shy away from making that known. Great Oak High School Marching Band. He said he often hears from WHS alumni that being a part of music program served them well later in life. The estimates received from two different companies for 120 uniforms averaged approximately $65,000. 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. Elgas does not appear to have been criminally charged. 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. Venice High School's Band Director, Mr. Lee hails from a small suburban town in South Jersey. She had not told her parents about the pregnancies, though they eventually tracked her down. The administration and maintenance are doing a nice job, and trying to keep the rooms really clean. Stay updated with what's happening at Westfield High School with News You Choose Sign Up Now . Band Director: Andrew Muth. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS/AMY PORTER). 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. WHS Bands Staff Director of Bands- Andrew Muth Assistant Director- Alex Sparks Director of Operations- Peter Lintzenich Performing Arts Instruction Assistant- Dave Shinault Pride of Westfield Staff 2022 Director - Andrew Muth Assistant Director- Alex Sparks Hornline Director- Aaron Cowgill Director of Operations- Peter Lintzenich Socially distanced band practice at Westfield High School. In 1999, a jury awarded $2.5 million to a former student who was 13 when science teacher and track coach Clifford Scofield began a sexual relationship with her. 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. A bit aways from his hometown, his musical . 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. Vitale said the organization provides competitive marching band shows throughout every region of New Jersey. Get a free morning newsletter with news in Westfield or another town: https://patch.com/subscribe. 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. This proves to them that if we work together and work very hard, success will come.. The Marching.com links directory lists websites related to high school marching bands, college bands,
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. Central Jersey Music Educators Association. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The facility has a Springfield postal address . 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. Performance credits include studio and motion picture work with LA Master Chorale and Pacific Chorale. "I did not see this coming at all.". In addition, his ensembles continue to earn top performance accolades year after year. WHS Band Director Patrick Kennedy is learning new tricks. The WTA band is fully remote this year, because the school is only open for the students during their shop weeks. William Schnepper . All DMA Staff. Westfield High School Bands. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. He continues to perform with ensembles, such as the Charles Dickens Carolers at venues throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Westfield High School Bands. For the Veterans Day ceremony in Westfield, it was just Kennedy and two of his trumpeters playing taps, the first time in his career that they havent brought the band to the ceremony. Enrollment in the WHS Bands has doubled since his arrival in 2011. The marching band is open to any student in grades 9-12. Scofield served 13 months in prison. Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Sarnoff is also one of six female American Sailing Association instructors/evaluators, where she is the lead instructor of the largest sailing school in Southern California. Fine and Performing Arts Course Catalog. Gregory Rupert. Vitale explained that there is a communal aspect of making music with other people that is not something students get in other academic subjects. Seniors Trent Stucenski and Matt McMahon and junior Nate Valeri (seated) showing the new PPE bell covers on their instruments. 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. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). The Westfield High School Bands, under the direction of Vitale and Sindorf, are three-time Band of America regional finalists, repeated New Jersey State Gala participants, and an invitee to the Music for All National Concert Band Festival. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. "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. Carney urged any additional victims to contact him. [Vitale] takes the 2nd assignment VERY seriously. Fax: (317) 867-2909. Were trying to find some ways to offer something for the holidays, and beyond that well see what happens, Kennedy said.This gave us all a chance to pause and reflect on things that are important to us, things we enjoy doing, and how fragile things are, Kennedy said. Remy Samuels 2/10/2022. In 1998, he took the Sycamore Junior High band to Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to perform as the opening act for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. [Vitale] takes the 2nd assignment VERY seriously. Back to Departments. Click on any of the icons below to follow our social media accounts! He died in 2017, according to the Orange County Coroner Division. Always professional and well respected by his colleagues, I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition., Vitale says that through music, we can teach acceptance, empathy, communication, accountability, time management and teamwork. "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. 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. Your Email. Have a news tip? He allegedly impregnated one girl three times, ordering her to abort the fetuses. 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. The Westfield Band Boosters cordially invite you to apply to our 13th Annual Holiday Craft Show to be held on Saturday, November 20th, 2021. Self-reflection and self-improvement have superseded competition. Message. "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. 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. Phone: (317) 867-6800. In October 1983, she gave birth to a boy, naming him Richard after his father. Music Director. He is invested in his students well-being far more than any band director I know.. "City Champions For A Quarter Century". . He said he often hears from WHS alumni that being a part of music program served them well later in life. When she was 18 and pregnant by Elgas again, she changed her mind at the abortion clinic. Vitale said his nomination was completely unexpected. This is just the tip of the iceberg, Carney said. Right now, Bob Plasse of Westfield on Weekends contacted me to see if we could do something on Channel 15. Mr. Lee sang with the NEC Chamber Singers and Concert Choir and regularly performed in the Undergraduate Opera Scenes program and Graduate Opera productions. WHS Band Director Receives Prestigious Honor. The Westfield High School band has a hashtag #BandFamily that resonates with students, staff and families. The Los Angeles High School Band and Color Guard is the premier band in the city of Los . A spokesperson for the school district declined to comment, citing the litigation. . "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. For some kids, the online thing isnt for them. At WHS, he meets with anywhere from 10 to 30 students at a time. In ninth grade, Elgas began taking her to his house to have sex, she said. Vitale said there were over 35 letters written on his behalf. 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. I think theyll come back once things change. Patrick Hoff, Director. Self-reflection and self-improvement have superseded competition. 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. Band Director, HS. The agenda of the book club is for everyone involved to learn more about themselves, myself included. By helping others, you create a better experience for yourself a win-win. 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. Band Boosters Charms Office Suite Questions? Telephone: (323) 900-2748. 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. Stephanie Lai was a 2020 intern for the Los Angeles Times. Two of the districts high school band directors, Alex Delao and Jeffrey William Plum, were convicted of molesting students in the 1980s. Vitale is among 40 music educators across the United States who met the programs criteria of "action, courage, creativity and growth.". Westfield HS Band, Chantilly, Virginia. A bit aways from his hometown, his musical endeavors have taken him across the globe, but now have landed him in Los Angeles. The kids have been great in wearing the masks, and staying socially distanced. 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. The eight former students sued unnamed defendants who were responsible for overseeing Elgas. Mr. Vitale has an extensive background in the drum corps activity spanning over 20 years and currently serves as a visual designer for high school and collegiate marching bands in Delaware, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Michigan. She is an educator of many musical talents, where there have been times where she was a one wo-man band. "I think our main focus was just on trying to keep the kids connected," Vitale said. 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." One of the largest all-handmade craft shows in central Indiana, each year we host over 160 booths and 2,500 shoppers! 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. 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. Kennedy does all of the remote classes from the high school, which he has made as home base. with Co-Band Director Trevor Sindorf, did some tallying out of curiosity. We meet every day, and are experimenting with using the computer to broadcast the music in the room, and have the kids play along at home, Kennedy said. Music Teacher, HS. 18250 N. Union Street . Through this program he was able to make his European conducting debut at the historic La Schola Cantorum de Paris. A strong proponent for musical enrichment in the community, he was deeply involved with the UCLAMusic Performance and Education Outreach Program. The baby had a birth defect and died a week later. Your Name. Luckily, Vitale said this year has been "pretty normal" and that the students have been extremely resilient through all of it. And I have always tried to be bluntly honest with my students, he says. Prerequisite: Co-enrollment in Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, or Concert Band and/or Director's approval through audition. Copyright 2017 The Westfield News Group. 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.. 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. Kennedy said the numbers of students taking band are lower at WHS than they ever have been. 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. 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