[Vitale] takes the 2nd assignment VERY seriously. 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. WHS Band Director Receives Prestigious Honor. Im pretty proud of them so far, Kennedy said.Kennedy said the music program In some districts has really been decimated by the coronavirus. And I think music and art have proven to be a way for students to kind of just step away from that.". You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles 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 school's music program by Yamaha. 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. WHS Band Director Patrick Kennedy said [] He is invested in his students well-being far more than any band director I know.. More than 70 high school bands joined the non-profit organization in its first year. Ive been impressed here. Though the award recognized me as an individual, I saw it more as a recognition of our band programs in Westfield, he said. Stay updated with what's happening at Westfield High School with News You Choose Sign Up Now . 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. 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. 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, says Thomas Weber, Supervisor of K-12 Visual and Performing Arts. 18250 N. Union Street . 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 estimates received from two different companies for 120 uniforms averaged approximately $65,000. West Springfield (often referred to as WSHS) enrolls students from grades 9-12, offers the Advanced Placement program and currently enrolls over 2,400 students.. "I was extremely surprised," Vitale said. Band Director Westfield High School Westfield, NJ. The facility has a Springfield postal address . In addition, his ensembles continue to earn top performance accolades year after year. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. . 1000 character (s) remaining. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS/AMY PORTER). A spokesperson for the school district declined to comment, citing the litigation. 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., Westfield Public Schools302 Elm StreetWestfield, NJ 07090Phone: (908) 789-4400, Falynn Balassone I think theyll come back once things change. 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. "I was extremely surprised," Vitale said. 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. The final time, in 1983, she had the baby, but he died seven days later, the lawsuit said. The nonprofit NJMBDA had over 70 high school bands join in its first year. She had not told her parents about the pregnancies, though they eventually tracked her down. "I think our main focus was just on trying to keep the kids connected," Vitale said. Prerequisite: Co-enrollment in Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, or Concert Band and/or Director's approval through audition. 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 school's music program by Yamaha. Prior to being at Venice High School, Mr. Lee was interviewed as one of six finalists for the Band Officer position of the United States Air Force Band. 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. Message. 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. 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." 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. 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. THE LOS ANGELES HIGH SCHOOL BAND AND COLOR GUARD BIOGRAPHY. Two of the districts high school band directors, Alex Delao and Jeffrey William Plum, were convicted of molesting students in the 1980s. 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. 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. Shortly after her 15th birthday, she got pregnant. 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. Vitale said the organization provides competitive marching band shows throughout every region of New Jersey. Kids love to play, and everybody loves to see them do it. He is very excited to work with the studentsandlooking forward to building a strong and comprehensive music program at Venice High School. Luckily, Vitale said this year has been "pretty normal" and that the students have been extremely resilient through all of it. Our workshops are taught by university professors and high school band directors. 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. Trained as a professional opera singer, Mr. Lee has a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory of Music. The kids have been great in wearing the masks, and staying socially distanced. Salad, Sandwich Shop To Open Very Soon In Westfield, Union County Celebrates Arbor Day 2023 with Free Trees for Schools. New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association. 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. Band Boosters Charms Office Suite Questions? 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. All rights reserved (About Us). She dropped out of high school and ran away to a home for unwed teenage mothers. How Many Inches Of Snow Did Westfield Get? At WHS, he meets with anywhere from 10 to 30 students at a time. Granada Hills Charter High School Highlander Band. 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. I keep things very casual and try to let the students drive the discussions, Vitale says. To send an email to this staff member, fill out and submit this form. Each year, these groups perform at concerts, adjudicated festivals, and various civic occasions. Westfield, IN 46074. Your Email. All DMA Staff. Please enter an email address where you can be reached if the staffer needs to respond to you. Prior to coming to Westfield High School Mr. Vitale served as a high school band director in Fairfax County, Virginia. The eight former students sued unnamed defendants who were responsible for overseeing Elgas. For so long, he was treated like this venerated figure.. 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. 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. Elgas took her to get an abortion. "Through music, we can teach acceptance, empathy, communication, accountability, time management and teamwork," Vitale said. Westfield High School Bands. Cerritos. We are proud that we have students from every walk of life within our school community in the band. Im going to keep a Google Classroom until I retire. WHS Band co-director Trevor Sindorf was one of the many people who sent in letters for Vitale's 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. Fax: (317) 867-2909. 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. 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. 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. "I did not see this coming at all.". 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 can all agree that band directing is equal parts music education and life education, Sindorf writes. In 1998, he took the Sycamore Junior High band to Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to perform as the opening act for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Fine and Performing Arts Course Catalog. 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. Band Director: Andrew Muth. This is just the tip of the iceberg, Carney said. We can all agree that band directing is equal parts music education and life education, Sindorf wrote. 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. Carney urged any additional victims to contact him. Westfield HS Band, Chantilly, Virginia. 18250 N. Union Street. Have a news tip? She is an educator of many musical talents, where there have been times where she was a one wo-man band. 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