The goal of the WHS Band Program is for every Westfield Band member to develop a lifelong appreciation for the value of music in his or her life. We want every student to become the most proficient musician and performer of which he or she is capable. We hope to instill a strong sense of self-discipline, self-motivation, and an inner drive for excellence as well as to provide students with memorable musical experiences through participation in our performing ensembles. We hope to develop an attitude of success while striving to focus each student’s skills and abilities to the common good of the band.
The Westfield High School Band program serves over 220 students in 10 performing ensembles. The Concert Bands serve as the foundation of our band program. Although we provide many different opportunities for musical performance, these ensembles provide the fundamentals from which other opportunities stem. In order to participate in extra musical ensembles (jazz, etc) students must be enrolled in a curricular performing ensemble. Extra ensembles available to students include three jazz bands, an indoor color guard, two percussion ensembles, and the 135-member Marching Blue Devils!
Program Highlights
TRAVEL
2015 Performance Tour of Austria and Czech Republic
2018 Performance Tour of Italy
Anticipated 2021 Performance Tour of Germany
CONCERT ENSEMBLES
2014 performance at Avery Fischer Hall, NYC
2016 Performance at Kimmel Center, Philadelphia
2017 & 2019 Invitation to Perform at NJ State Band Gala
2018 Invitation and Performance at New Jersey Music Educators Conference
2019 Music for All National Concert Band Festival Invited Ensemble
Wind Ensemble has received Gold ratings at State Concert Band Festival for 9 straight years
MARCHING BAND
2015 Class A Music In Motion Northeast Regional Champions
2015 USBands Group 5A National Champions
2018 Bands of America Mid-Atlantic Regional Finalist - 10th place
2019 Bands of America Mid-Atlantic Regional Finalist - 7th place and Class AAA Bronze Medalist
JAZZ ENSEMBLES
Performances with guest artists:
Saxophone: Todd Groves and Jaleel Shaw
Trombone: Sean Nelson, John Fedchock
Trumpet: Al Chez
Drums: Scott Neumann
Recent Guest Clinicians & Guest Artists
Colonel Arnold Gabrial - Conductor Ermeritus, United States Air Force Band
Al Chez - Former trumpeter for Late Show Band with David Letterman
Sean Nelson - Staff Arranger and Trombonist, United States Coast Guard Band
Todd Groves - Saxophone, University of Delaware and Broadway's Aladdin
Scott Neumann - Drums Set, Lehigh University and Broadway
John Fedchock - Professional Trombonist
Jaleel Shaw - Professional Saxophonist and Manhattan School of Music faculty
Andrew Hitz, Tuba - Shenandoah Conservatory
Travis Cross - UCLA
Thomas McCauley - Montclair State University
David Vickerman - The College of New Jersey
Darryl Bott - Rutgers University
Todd Nichols - Eastern Winds and Rutgers University
Robert Streckfuss - The University of Delaware
Denny Stokes - Retired, Fairfax County Virginia
Stanley Schoonover - Retired, Fairfax County Virginia
Lauren Reynolds - University of Delaware
Timothy Mahr - St. Olaf College
Adam Warshafsky - Eastern Winds and Montgomery High School
Bruce Yurko - Rowan University/Composer
Joseph Higgins - Rowan University
The Westfield High School Band program serves over 220 students in 10 performing ensembles. The Concert Bands serve as the foundation of our band program. Although we provide many different opportunities for musical performance, these ensembles provide the fundamentals from which other opportunities stem. In order to participate in extra musical ensembles (jazz, etc) students must be enrolled in a curricular performing ensemble. Extra ensembles available to students include three jazz bands, an indoor color guard, two percussion ensembles, and the 135-member Marching Blue Devils!
Program Highlights
TRAVEL
2015 Performance Tour of Austria and Czech Republic
2018 Performance Tour of Italy
Anticipated 2021 Performance Tour of Germany
CONCERT ENSEMBLES
2014 performance at Avery Fischer Hall, NYC
2016 Performance at Kimmel Center, Philadelphia
2017 & 2019 Invitation to Perform at NJ State Band Gala
2018 Invitation and Performance at New Jersey Music Educators Conference
2019 Music for All National Concert Band Festival Invited Ensemble
Wind Ensemble has received Gold ratings at State Concert Band Festival for 9 straight years
MARCHING BAND
2015 Class A Music In Motion Northeast Regional Champions
2015 USBands Group 5A National Champions
2018 Bands of America Mid-Atlantic Regional Finalist - 10th place
2019 Bands of America Mid-Atlantic Regional Finalist - 7th place and Class AAA Bronze Medalist
JAZZ ENSEMBLES
Performances with guest artists:
Saxophone: Todd Groves and Jaleel Shaw
Trombone: Sean Nelson, John Fedchock
Trumpet: Al Chez
Drums: Scott Neumann
Recent Guest Clinicians & Guest Artists
Colonel Arnold Gabrial - Conductor Ermeritus, United States Air Force Band
Al Chez - Former trumpeter for Late Show Band with David Letterman
Sean Nelson - Staff Arranger and Trombonist, United States Coast Guard Band
Todd Groves - Saxophone, University of Delaware and Broadway's Aladdin
Scott Neumann - Drums Set, Lehigh University and Broadway
John Fedchock - Professional Trombonist
Jaleel Shaw - Professional Saxophonist and Manhattan School of Music faculty
Andrew Hitz, Tuba - Shenandoah Conservatory
Travis Cross - UCLA
Thomas McCauley - Montclair State University
David Vickerman - The College of New Jersey
Darryl Bott - Rutgers University
Todd Nichols - Eastern Winds and Rutgers University
Robert Streckfuss - The University of Delaware
Denny Stokes - Retired, Fairfax County Virginia
Stanley Schoonover - Retired, Fairfax County Virginia
Lauren Reynolds - University of Delaware
Timothy Mahr - St. Olaf College
Adam Warshafsky - Eastern Winds and Montgomery High School
Bruce Yurko - Rowan University/Composer
Joseph Higgins - Rowan University