WISHING OUR MARCHING KNIGHTS A SUCCESSFUL 2019 SEASON!

“Tales From the East, The Music of Scheherazade” 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

The WEBB Executive Board hopes everyone is enjoying the summer! 

Mark your calendars – the Marching Band Information Session and General WEBB Membership Meeting will be held Friday August 9 at 8:00pm in the High School Cafeteria. All Band Parents are invited and encouraged to attend, as we kick-off a new school year and Band Season!

Click here to see our calendar of events for more information on upcoming activities.

We’re looking forward to a fantastic year!

THE 2018/2019 SCHOOL YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE WITH FINAL CONCERTS!

With the Spring Concert, held on May 29, followed by the High School & Middle School combined “Jazz Knight”, held on June 12, we once again come to the end of a year of award winning performances!  Congratulations to Mr. Fabrizio and the talented students in ALL the West Essex High School Band ensembles for your dedication, hard work and accomplishments throughout the school year! 

2019 West Essex Band Boosters Scholarship Recipients

The West Essex Band Boosters also congratulate this year’s recipients of the West Essex Band Boosters Scholarships. Your dedication, leadership example and contributions to the program are greatly appreciated!

WEBB wishes all graduating seniors and their parents the best of luck as you embark on the next chapter of your lives! We encourage you to come back to visit for concerts and performances throughout the school year!

For returning parents…remember that there are many ways for parents – new and current – to get involved in the West Essex Band Boosters.  Look for emails this summer for how you can help out as we kick off the 2019/2020 school year, and please click here to visit our Parents page for more information on volunteer opportunities.

Email us anytime at info@webandboosters.org if you have questions.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Marching Knights Open House & Show Reveal!

The 2019 Marching Knights Show Theme, “Tales from the East, the Music of Scheherazade”

At a well-attended Open House on Monday June 3, 2019 in the Middle School Auditorium, Mr. Fabrizio announced the 2019 Marching Knights theme, “Tales From the East, The Music of Scheherazade”.  Arranged by Frank Sullivan, Tales from the East features the Middle East and Indian inspired music of Russian composer Nicolay Rimsky-Korsakov.

The show’s reveal, which marks the start of the 2019 Marching Season, was energetically received by students and parents alike. Mr. Fabrizio also introduced the season’s Student Leaders and Instructors.

Anthony Fermo, West Essex Band Boosters President, and parent Andrew Marino provided a brief overview of the Boosters organization and welcomed parents to become active members during the 2019/2020 school year. (Click here for our Parent Resources – Downloads webpage for a copy of the WEBB Open House presentation and a description of volunteer opportunities).

The school year isn’t quite done yet, but we are already looking forward to the Fall!

Support Jack Cunningham’s Eagle Scout Project, Boy Scout Troop 3 – Caldwell

Jack Cunningham, a Junior at West Essex High School, and member of the West Essex High School Band & Orchestra, is coordinating a community collection of used musical instruments through Hungry for Music. Hungry for Music is a non-profit 501(3)(c) organization that will refurbish ANY used instruments they are provided with and donate them to children in schools who would otherwise not be able to afford to play.

To donate, bring your used instrument to any West Essex Spring Concert.

Click here for more information on how to donate and for concert dates and times.

Good luck Jack!

Gear up for Summer with Great New Items!

The West Essex Band Online Store is open from May 3 to 19 for our SPRING 2019 SALE!  Don’t miss this opportunity to purchase West Essex Band and Marching Knights summer clothes, including shorts, T’s, tanks and much more.  Stock up now for Band Camp!  Merchandise pick-up date & time to be announced.

Click here to access the store now!

Congratulations Gabe Ruszala on Achieving 1st Chair Trombone!

Sophomore Gabriel Ruszala

For the second year in a row, Sophomore Gabe Ruszala successfully auditioned for the All-State Jazz Ensemble, this year achieving 1st Chair Tenor Trombone from many who auditioned from across New Jersey.

Gabe will be performing with other top high school musicians under the direction of long-time Count Basie Big Band drummer, Mr. Dennis Mackrel. You can see Gabe perform with the All-State Jazz Band next fall, November 15, 2019, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Congratulations Gabe!

Ensemble Earns a Score of 81.6 to Place First in Chapter Championships

The West Essex Indoor Percussion Ensemble won first place at the Tournament Indoor Association (TIA) Chapter X Championship competition held at Fair Lawn High School on April 28, 2019.

Indoor Percussion Ensemble receives 1st Place Banner at TIA Indoor Championships

The group earned a score of 81.6 in Scholastic A Standstill Percussion to finish at their highest this season with their show entitled, “Dreams and Nightmares.”

Congratulations to all the musicians and instructors Ms McAloon and Mr. Gerbasi for a great season!

Click here to see more pictures on our Photos page!

Nine West Essex Musicians Among the Ninth Annual Ensemble

The Essex County Honor Band is a celebration and collaboration of the many outstanding High School Band programs throughout Essex County. West Essex once again hosted the Honor Band, which is comprised of nearly 100 musicians from 13 participating schools. The concert was held on Tuesday April 9, 2019.

Back, L to R: Eugene Rozental, Nicholas Petrarca, Nicholas Stampone, Mr. Fabrizio, Julia Gesell; Front, L to R: Madison Rombough, Isabella Bonvini, Liliana Patracuolla, Catherine Marino, Gillian Rogers

Nine West Essex musicians participated in the ensemble this year, which was directed by Dr. William Berz, the Director of the Department of Music at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Selections included Hosts of Freedom by Karl King, Festivo by Vaclav Nelhybel, Kentucky 1800 by Clare Grundman, and Foundry by John Mackey.

During the day-long rehearsal prior to the concert, the West Essex Band Boosters provided musicians with healthy snacks and refreshments.

Congratulations to all our talented musicians!

The West Essex Music Department Enjoys a Fun & Successful Trip to Disney!

From March 29 through April 2, the West Essex High School Band, Choir & Orchestra enjoyed an incredible Disney Experience with performances and workshops the students will remember for a lifetime!

Marching Knights on Main Street U.S.A.

Both the Choir and Orchestra impressed visitors with outstanding performances at Disney Springs, while the Marching Knights lit up Main Street USA with patriotic musical selections.  The full Concert Band & Symphonic Winds enjoyed a workshop with professional Disney musicians during which they rehearsed and performed familiar selections, including some from Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark.  Even the instructors had roles to play (although you’ll need to ask the students how that went).

Plenty of parents and extended families made the trek to Walt Disney World to support the ensembles and enjoyed a memorable time of their own.

The West Essex Band Boosters offers our congratulations to all of our students for representing West Essex High School so professionally and responsibly, and to Ms. Swanick, Mr. Fabrizio, Ms. Shroyer and Ms. Mateyka (and to all the chaperones and Nurse Rombough) for providing these students an incredible and enriching experience.

And a big thank you to Band Parents Ray Stampone and Frank Matarazzo for volunteering your truck-driving skills to ensure the equipment, uniforms and luggage made it to their destinations throughout the trip on time!

Click here for a few more photos!