WESTFIELD – Westfield High School’s Marching Blue Devils concluded their 2024 competitive season Sunday night performing in the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association State Championships (NJMBDA) held at The College of New Jersey. Westfield placed 3rd in class AAAA and 4th overall, regardless of class, of the 32 competing bands. You can view their performance, entitled ‘Chasing Dreams’ here.
Earlier in the season the band took top prize in their division at two local events held at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School and Piscataway High School. At both events, they also received the honor of being named Grand Champion obtaining the highest score of all attending bands.
In addition to NJMBDA’s local contests, the band also traveled to the Bands of America Mid-Atlantic Regional Contest held at the University of Delaware where they placed 15th narrowly missing finals. At home in Westfield, the Marching Blue Devils support the Westfield Community by attending all home football games, performing at the Optimist Club’s Halloween Parade, and performing in the town’s annual Memorial Day Parade.
Consisting of about 120 members, the 2024 Marching Blue Devils are led by drum majors Nickolas Regas (senior), Sloan Dossin ( senior), and Joseph Michaeli (junior).
The Marching Blue Devils are directed by Westfield High School Band Directors Chris Vitale and Gabe Batiz. Vitale and Batiz cite the support of the Westfield Band Parents Association as well an army of parent volunteers who support the band members in a multitude of ways, from fundraisers to serving meals, as a key part to the band’s success.
Interested in joining the band in 2025? Stay tuned for more info in the coming months. You can also join The WHS Indoor Color Guard now, for the 2025 Winter Season. Visit the band’s homepage at https:/ /www.westfieldhsbands.org/.
