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. He is invested in his students well-being far more than any band director I know.. drum and bugle corps, color guards and drum lines. WHS Band Director Patrick Kennedy is learning new tricks. 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. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS/AMY PORTER). [Vitale] takes the 2nd assignment VERY seriously. Granite Bay High School Emerald Brigade. All rights reserved (About Us). One of the largest all-handmade craft shows in central Indiana, each year we host over 160 booths and 2,500 shoppers! jazz I , jazz II, & STage Band. And I think music and art have proven to be a way for students to kind of just step away from that.". Email remy.samuels@patch.com. 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. 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. 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. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS/AMY PORTER). More than 70 high school bands joined the non-profit organization in its first year. "I was extremely surprised," Vitale said. "I think our main focus was just on trying to keep the kids connected," Vitale said. The funds would come from School Choice, [] You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. 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. The band director, Richard Elgas, retired in 2003 after a nearly 40-year career. 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. 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. Self-reflection and self-improvement have superseded competition. He is invested in his students well-being far more than any band director I know.. Thank you for continuing to support the WHS Bands and Guard programs during these unusual times. Elgas took her to get an abortion. 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. . 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. At WHS, he meets with anywhere from 10 to 30 students at a time. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. "We discovered that these 4 students are the 86th, 87th . 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. 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. And I have always tried to be bluntly honest with my students, he says. He died in 2017, according to the Orange County Coroner Division. The Westfield Band Boosters cordially invite you to apply to our 13th Annual Holiday Craft Show to be held on Saturday, November 20th, 2021. All rights reserved.Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility, New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association. He is invested in his students well-being far more than any band director I know.. 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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. Carney urged any additional victims to contact him. 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. Two of the districts high school band directors, Alex Delao and Jeffrey William Plum, were convicted of molesting students in the 1980s. Each year, I am amazed and inspired by how accepting our students are of each other no matter what the circumstances.. 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. 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." (THE WESTFIELD NEWS/AMY PORTER). 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. Vitale said there were over 35 letters written on his behalf. Sept. 29, 2020 3:23 PM PT. Vitale said his nomination was completely unexpected. 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 keep things very casual and try to let the students drive the discussions, Vitale says. He said he often hears from WHS alumni that being a part of music program served them well later in life. Itinerant Music, Band, Teacher. Our workshops are taught by university professors and high school band directors. Right now, Bob Plasse of Westfield on Weekends contacted me to see if we could do something on Channel 15. "Through music, we can teach acceptance, empathy, communication, accountability, time management and teamwork," Vitale said. When they do well, I tell them and when they dont, I dont shy away from making that known. 1000 character (s) remaining. WESTFIELD The Westfield High School Marching Band is in the middle of a busy season, and they're loving every minute of it. Prior to coming to Westfield High School Mr. Vitale served as a high school band director in Fairfax County, Virginia. In October 1983, she gave birth to a boy, naming him Richard after his father. Though the award recognized me as an individual, I saw it more as a recognition of our band programs in Westfield, he said. Chris takes the 2nd assignment VERY seriously. Fine and Performing Arts Course Catalog. 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. She dropped out of high school and ran away to a home for unwed teenage mothers. This proves to them that if we work together and work very hard, success will come.. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR & ELEMENTARY DIRECTOR, music/visual instructor & middle school director, MUSIC/VISUAL INSTRUCTOR & MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR, Copyright 2022 Westfield High School Bands. Chris takes the 2nd assignment VERY seriously. The eight former students sued unnamed defendants who were responsible for overseeing Elgas. We can all agree that band directing is equal parts music education and life education, Sindorf wrote. Westfield, IN 46074. He allegedly impregnated one girl three times, ordering her to abort the fetuses. Luckily, Vitale said this year has been "pretty normal" and that the students have been extremely resilient through all of it. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Venice High School's Band Director, Mr. Lee hails from a small suburban town in South Jersey. 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). 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 Bands have given performance tours of Austria, the Czech Republic, and Italy. Chris Vitale - Westfield High School Band Director; Anticipated Cost. Music Teacher, HS. More than 70 high school bands joined the non-profit organization in its first year. "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 NEWS/AMY PORTER). 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. Mr. Winson began his career in Fort Bend ISD as the assistant director of bands at . 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. 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 explained that there is a communal aspect of making music with other people that is not something students get in other academic subjects. Gregory Rupert. I lost probably 25 kids. WHS Band Director Patrick Kennedy said [] Band Director: Andrew Muth. 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. Have a news tip? Westfield, New Jersey. Hes gone through generations of young women, and the district did nothing to protect these students. Band Boosters Charms Office Suite Questions? 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. They have the covers for trumpets, trombones, and saxophones, and ones for the tubas are enroute. Socially distanced band practice at Westfield High School. Your Name. It is . 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. 18250 N. Union Street . Granada Hills Charter High School Highlander Band. He said it wasnt a sin.. Mr. Vitale holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Masters of Music in Conducting Performance from the University of Delaware. 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. Fax: (317) 867-2909. Music Director. 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. Stay updated with what's happening at Westfield High School with News You Choose Sign Up Now . 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. She had not told her parents about the pregnancies, though they eventually tracked her down. 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. The Marching.com links directory lists websites related to high school marching bands, college bands, 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.. The estimated cost of the revised plan is $9MM, approximately half that of the initial proposal. The nonprofit NJMBDA had over 70 high school bands join in its first year. There are hand sanitizers in the classrooms and extra masks. In class, Elgas sometimes dimmed the lights and pushed boys and girls together to force them to kiss, she said. WHS Band co-director Trevor Sindorf was one of the many people who sent in letters for Vitale's nomination. When she was 18 and pregnant by Elgas again, she changed her mind at the abortion clinic. "I did not see this coming at all.". A bit aways from his hometown, his musical . Junior Jimmy Krupienski plays with a new PPE bell cover on his trumpet. 18250 N. Union Street. 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. 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. A bit aways from his hometown, his musical endeavors have taken him across the globe, but now have landed him in Los Angeles. The band . Trained as a professional opera singer, Mr. Lee has a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory of Music. Our team of veteran educators and designers brings 100+ years of combined experience in the activity. To send an email to this staff member, fill out and submit this form. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Email remy.samuels@patch.com. 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. Kennedy is learning new tricks coming at all. `` something students get in other subjects... Than any Band Director in Fairfax County, Virginia, Mr keep the kids connected, '' said... 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