Westfield High School Band Earns 2nd Place At NJMBDA Contest

WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield High School’s Marching Blue Devils took second place in the Class 4 division this past weekend at the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association contest at East Brunswick High School.

The band also finished second overall among 14 competing bands.

The ensemble is directed by Chris Vitale and Gabe Batiz. Its drum majors are Senior Drum Majors Marisa Villere-Reidy and Benjamin Macry and Junior Drum Major Piper Moscowitz.

The group includes 100 student musicians performing this season’s production, “In Shape.”

According to a release submitted by Katherine De Vito, “In Shape” brings shapes and colors to life, with sections centered on the triangle, circle or square.

The production uses movement, staging and color changes to create a visual program that transforms throughout the performance. The show also explores different meanings of being “in shape.”

Drum Major Marisa Villere-Reidy said, "In the competition at East Brunswick this weekend, we delivered our strongest performance of the season. This is a great show, and an even better group. I love being a part of this band and being able to see how each performer has grown throughout the season. The best part of Marching Band is the connections made between members which are getting stronger with each rehearsal and competition we have."

Batiz said the award result was meaningful, but he pointed to the students’ work and support for one another as the bigger takeaway late in the season.

"We are incredibly proud of these students and the work they’ve put into learning and developing this year’s show. While it’s rewarding to see their efforts recognized with awards at competitions, we are most excited by the way they continue to motivate and support one another as they work toward their full potential in the final two weeks of the season. This group has shown incredible character, and we are proud of their continued growth as performers and young people," said Batiz.

The band is now preparing for the NJMBDA’s new two-weekend State Championship format.

On Saturday, Oct. 24, bands will compete in class championships for titles in Classes 1 through 4, along with caption awards in Music, Visual and Effect.

Based on those results, bands will return the following weekend to compete in either the A-Class Championships or the Garden State Cup, which will determine the overall NJMBDA State Champion.

Students interested in joining the Westfield High School Marching Band for the Fall 2027 season are encouraged to attend an interest meeting in the spring.

More information is available at www.westfieldhsbands.org.