"I did not see this coming at all.". 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. 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. 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. Westfield High School Bands Band Director: Andrew Muth 18250 N. Union Street Westfield, IN 46074 Phone: (317) 867-6800Fax: (317) 867-2909 Get Connected! Carney urged any additional victims to contact him. Band Boosters Charms Office Suite Questions? 18250 N. Union Street. "I was extremely surprised," Vitale said. It is . Phone: (317) 867-6800. Fine and Performing Arts Course Catalog. A bit aways from his hometown, his musical endeavors have taken him across the globe, but now have landed him in Los Angeles. 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. . 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. The funds would come from School Choice, [] 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. . If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Message. 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. Chris takes the 2nd assignment VERY seriously. 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. Vitale said his nomination was completely unexpected. Fremont Junior High, which closed in 1989, and Sycamore Junior High were part of the Anaheim Union High school district. 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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. 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. 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). WESTFIELD, NJ Westfield High School band director Christopher Vitale was recognized among 40 "outstanding music directors" all under the age of 40 for his . Your Name. Anti-Bullying Coordinator. Enrollment in the WHS Bands has doubled since his arrival in 2011. Trained as a professional opera singer, Mr. Lee has a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory of Music. Seniors Trent Stucenski and Matt McMahon and junior Nate Valeri (seated) showing the new PPE bell covers on their instruments. One of the largest all-handmade craft shows in central Indiana, each year we host over 160 booths and 2,500 shoppers! Westfield High School Bands. Mr. Winson began his career in Fort Bend ISD as the assistant director of bands at . All four of the Westfield High School student musicians who qualified for Region Band in January also were awarded spots in All-State Band. "City Champions For A Quarter Century". 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. In class, Elgas sometimes dimmed the lights and pushed boys and girls together to force them to kiss, she said. Only the flutes dont use them. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS/AMY PORTER). In 1998, he took the Sycamore Junior High band to Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to perform as the opening act for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. 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. 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. 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. How Many Inches Of Snow Did Westfield Get? In October 1983, she gave birth to a boy, naming him Richard after his father. At WHS, he meets with anywhere from 10 to 30 students at a time. I keep things very casual and try to let the students drive the discussions, Vitale says. Vitale is among 40 music educators across the United States who met the programs criteria of "action, courage, creativity and growth.". She had not told her parents about the pregnancies, though they eventually tracked her down. Music Director. Each year, I am amazed and inspired by how accepting our students are of each other no matter what the circumstances.. "A big part of what we provide in high school band is a social network for the kids.". The Westfield High School band director was recognized by Yamaha for his achievements as an educator and growing the WHS music program. The kids have been great in wearing the masks, and staying socially distanced. A second pregnancy ended the same way. Stephanie Lai was a 2020 intern for the Los Angeles Times. 1000 character (s) remaining. 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. To be able to navigate this together is certainly a lot of moving parts, he said.Hes also trying to get the jazz band and drum roll together after school to practice, so theyre ready when they do get a chance to perform. 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. Mr. David W. Lee. Vitale is also a leader throughout the state and helped start the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association (NJMBDA). 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. "We discovered that these 4 students are the 86th, 87th . 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. Prerequisite: Co-enrollment in Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, or Concert Band and/or Director's approval through audition. By helping others, you create a better experience for yourself a win-win. The eight former students sued unnamed defendants who were responsible for overseeing Elgas. 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 Hes gone through generations of young women, and the district did nothing to protect these students. For some kids, the online thing isnt for them. All DMA Staff. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 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. Granite Bay. Granite Bay High School Emerald Brigade. 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 All rights reserved. Band Director: Andrew Muth. I think weve been fortunate to maintain as many kids in our program as we have. 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. Luckily, Vitale said this year has been "pretty normal" and that the students have been extremely resilient through all of it. We can all agree that band directing is equal parts music education and life education, Sindorf writes. More than 70 high school bands joined the non-profit organization in its first year. Venice High School's Band Director, Mr. Lee hails from a small suburban town in South Jersey. The Westfield Band Boosters cordially invite you to apply to our 13th Annual Holiday Craft Show to be held on Saturday, November 20th, 2021. He is very excited to work with the studentsandlooking forward to building a strong and comprehensive music program at Venice High School. Band Director: Andrew Muth. NEW! 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. In ninth grade, Elgas began taking her to his house to have sex, she said. 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. 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 plaintiffs are not named in the lawsuit, and The Times does not name victims of sexual assaults. The WTA band is fully remote this year, because the school is only open for the students during their shop weeks. 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. Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band (California State University, Fresno) Fresno. "I was extremely surprised," Vitale said. He is invested in his students well-being far more than any band director I know.. Due to the Town's legal and financial flexibility with capital projects and bonding capacity, the financing of the entire project will be administered by the Town. Get a free morning newsletter with news in Westfield or another town: https://patch.com/subscribe, This article originally appeared on the Westfield Patch. Granada Hills Charter High School Highlander Band. The baby had a birth defect and died a week later. Have a news tip? Each year, these groups perform at concerts, adjudicated festivals, and various civic occasions. 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. Our students get 1-on-1, hands-on training with music educators at the top of their field. Vitale explained that there is a communal aspect of making music with other people that is not something students get in other academic subjects. Orchestra. 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. Patrick Hoff, Director. Socially distanced band practice at Westfield High School. 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. Who can participate? "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. Westfield, IN 46074. WHS Band co-director Trevor Sindorf was one of the many people who sent in letters for Vitale's nomination. The final time, in 1983, she had the baby, but he died seven days later, the lawsuit said. WHS Band co-director Trevor Sindorf was one of the many people who sent in letters for Vitale's nomination. Enrollment in the WHS Bands has doubled since his arrival in 2011. This is just the tip of the iceberg, Carney said. Ive been impressed here. The Westfield High School band has a hashtag #BandFamily that resonates with students, staff and families. The Westfield HS Marching Bulldogs of Chantilly, VA - a 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade band 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. Performance credits include studio and motion picture work with LA Master Chorale and Pacific Chorale. Links to high school marching bands, college bands, middle school bands and sites of interest to California. 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. "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.. Vitale, who is in his 10th year with Westfield Public Schools and 15th year as a high school band director, says he was extremely surprised and honored to receive the recognition. The marching band is open to any student in grades 9-12. 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. New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association. 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