Westfield Students Honored On National Stage, Ready For Next Performance

WESTFIELD, NJ — The voices of students in town are being heard throughout the country as a model for success.

The Westfield Children's Concert series was honored with a 2026 Advocacy In Action Award in the category of "Elementary Excellence" from the Music for All organization for its "Wild Symphony" production last year.

Music programs across the United States are recognized annually in multiple categories for their impact on supporting the arts and music education.

The Town of Westfield was chosen for its ongoing commitment to sharing music with young audiences, supporting arts education, and strengthening community engagement through performance.

"For our group, it affirms that what we're doing matters, not just musically, but educationally and socially," said Christopher Vitale, Director of the Westfield High School Band Program, who works with the children each year.

Older students connect with the kids to demonstrate the power of music and what the arts bring to a community and a complete education.

"The most satisfying part is seeing our students recognize the impact they can have on others," Vitale said. "It's about older students inspiring younger ones, bringing stories to life through music, and helping children make a personal connection to the arts."

The Westfield Wind Ensemble is currently preparing for its annual Children's Concert on Feb. 9 at Edison Intermediate School. This year's event features Sergei Prokofiev's, "Peter and the Wolf" narrated by Westfield elementary music teacher Trevor Sindorf.

The family-friendly program is free to attend, but requires reserved tickets that can be secured here.

"I think the band serves as a point of connection," Vitale added. "It brings people together across schools, ages, and backgrounds. For students...it's a place where they belong, where they're challenged, supported, and taught how to work toward something bigger than themselves.

"For families, it becomes a community within a community."

The Music for All organization is a nonprofit educational outreach program that runs more than 30 annual events and serves 500,000 attendees each year. The group operates with the goals to provide opportunities in music to students through events, hands-on learning, and teacher professional development.

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