West Milford Township Public Schools Arts Department You Matter. We Matter. The Arts Matter
December 2017 “M usic is a world within itself, with a language we all understand” .
-Stevie Wonder
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Welcome to our December Arts Newsle er! We are s ll celebra ng from an amazing Marching Band season, and eagerly an cipa ng our concert season this December. The arts have been busy this Fall, and a big part of what we are sharing in this newsle er is a celebra on of those efforts by both students and our staff! We have had students perform in the NJ All-State Jazz Choir, have won a State Championship in US Band Class VA Marching Band Compe on, hosted a former graduate who is currently touring with a big name Rock Band, as well as students preparing for an Art Show in Wallkill Valley, and our Preschool program, up and running to capacity of both student teachers, and pre-schoolers.
The Arts are alive and well in West Milford! But we never take that for granted. We appreciate the wonderful support of our school and community, and we invite you to come and see for yourself during our concert season this December! It is listed on page 4.
Wishing you have a peaceful and wonderful Holiday Season!
John Boronow, K-12 Supervisor of Music, Art & Family & Consumer Sciences in West Milford
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West Milford High School: Marching Band
In case you haven’t heard, our Highlander Marching Band had an incredible season! Their 2017 Field Show, U nder My Umbrella, won award a er award during this competition season. One of the key features of the show was the eclectic arrangement of music including,
❖ “Here Comes the Rain Again”- The Eurythmics ❖ “1000 Airplanes on the Roof”- Phillip Glass ❖ “Remember When it Rained”- Josh Groban ❖ “Umbrella”- Rihanna ❖ “Finale from The Firebird Suite”- Igor Stravinsky
This season was one of their most award winning to date! Their many awards are listed below. AWARDS AND HONORS FROM THE 2017 MARCHING SEASON Wayne Valley Competition: First Place Group 5A, Best Music, Best Visual, Best Overall Effect, Best Percussion, Best Color guard Vernon Competition: First Place Group 5A, Best Music, Best Visual, Best Overall Effect, Best Percussion, Best Color guard Pequannock Competition: First Place Group 5A, Best Music, Best Overall Effect, Best Percussion, Best Color guard Randolph Competition: F irst Place! All awards in group; Best Percussion Overall, Best Music Overall, Best Effect Overall, Best Overall Band Yamaha Cup: F irst Place Group 5A, Best Music, Best Visual, Best Overall Effect, Best Percussion Mount Olive Competition: F irst Place Group 5A, Best Music, Best Visual, Best Overall Effect, Best Percussion, Best Color guard NJ State Championship: First Place Group 5A, Best Music, Best Visual, Best Overall Effect, Best Percussion National Championships: T hird Place, Best Percussion, Best Color Guard, Best Overall Effect
The Highlander Band finished up their season with their 18th Annual Ta oo! The evening was filled with the tradi onal pipe and drum sounds, as well as a pipe band with a rock and roll edge! They also
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included another performance from the Cli on Mustang Band as well as a final performance from our award winning musicians!
Holiday Concert Season: With December here that means one thing--- it is concert season in West Milford! Our students and staff are hard at work preparing for their winter concerts. Please come out and support our wonderful students during this winter concert season. ● Apshawa Elementary School: W ednesday, December 6th at 7pm ● Westbrook Elementary School: W ednesday, December 6th at 7pm ● West Milford High School Choral: Thursday, D ecember 7th at 7:30pm ● Marshall Hill Elementary School: M onday, December 11th at 7pm at Macopin ● Paradise Knoll Elementary School: M onday, December 11th at 7pm ● Maple Road Elementary School: W ednesday, December 13th at 7pm ● Upper Greenwood Lake Elementary School: W ednesday, December 13th at 7pm ● Macopin Middle School Choral: T hursday, December 14th at 7pm at WMHS ● Macopin Middle School Band: T uesday, December 19th at 7pm at WMHS ● West Milford High School Band: T hursday, December 21st at 7:30pm
Our elementary art students are gearing up for concert season too! Some of their decorations this year include poinsettias, stained candles in windows, Nutcrackers and other winter fun!
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Spotlight: Macopin Music
Thursday, November 16th was Parent Visita on Day at Macopin. Parents were invited to bring their instruments and join the 8th grade band rehearsal with their children. The following parents joined us for rehearsal: Mr. Principato on flute, Mrs. Butcher on clarinet, Mr. Albar on Alto Saxophone and Mr. Jones on Drumset.
On Friday, December 1st, the 7th and 8th Grade Band members will be ska ng at Ice Jam Night at Skylands Ice World in Hardyston, NJ from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
We’re excited for our 8th grade musicians who will be audi oning for sea ng in for the 2018 North Jersey Area Band on Saturday, December 9th at Wayne Hills High School. Students are Gianna Edmonds (Flute), Kade McDaniel (French Horn), Shane Duffy (Trombone) and Corran Vaughn (Baritone). Concert will be held at Mount Olive High School on Sunday, January 14th at 3 p.m.
They’re at it again! On Wednesday, December 13th, the 8th Grade Band will be performing LIVE on 102.3 WSUS in Franklin, NJ at 8 a.m., it will also stream on the iHeart Radio app.
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The 8th Grade Band had a "Face Off Rehearsal" on Tuesday, November 28th, with Mr. Gramata and his award winning Highlander Jazz Ensemble. The purpose of the rehearsal was to help the 8th grade prepare their jazz piece for their upcoming holiday performances. The HS Jazz Ensemble sight sang and sight read the 8th grade piece "The Good King Swings". It was an amazing performance, the 8th grade band was in awe. The 8th grade band then performed the same piece for the High
School. The high school students then cri qued the 8th grade on specific music elements that they had heard and observed during the performance. Mr. Gramata then took over the rehearsal and worked with the 8th grade band using the HS Jazz Ensemble to help with proper execu on of ar cula ons, dynamics and rhythms. It was a very produc ve rehearsal. The HS Jazz Ensemble closed the rehearsal with a final performance from their repertoire. Thank you to all the High School musicians and Mr. Gramata for working with the 8th Grade Band! It was a memorable musical experience!
Our Macopin Choral members were excited to par cipate in the S ussex County Honors Choir. The group met several mes during October and November and had a wonderful performance on Thursday, November 16th. Congratula ons to 8th graders Georgie Barre and Jenna Hodgson and 7th graders Joelle Geisel, Lexi O’Flaherty, Ma hew Lombardo, Angelo Fernandez, Adam Berge, Cassidy Kunz, Maxine Kunz, Ma hew Landoline, Eddie Gruber, Ty Rockey, Rhys Huber, and Julia Gerst.
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Spotlight: West Milford High School
Our Art Department in the High School has been busy this Fall! West Milford held its first ‘Spooktacular’--- a trunk or treat in combina on with Macopin’s Haunted Hallway! The night was a big success and the Art Club came in second place for their Art History inspired ‘trunk’.
On November 2nd, AP Art History, AP Studio Art Drawing, AP Studio Art 3D Design and Advanced Art Students took a trip into NYC to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
WM Highlander Indoor Color Guard Show, "Preview in the Highlands", will be on Sunday, January 14th at 2:30 in the WMHS Gymnasium. Tickets are $10.
The Highlander Indoor Color Guard will present their 2018 show tled "Nothing is Impossible" as they kick-off the 2018 Mid-Atlan c-Indoor-Network Color Guard Compe on Season. This event will showcase many scholas c and independent color guard performances, the Highlander Indoor Guard, the Highlander Pipes and Drums, the Indoor Percussion group, and for the second year the “Join in” Club Color Guard.
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1988 West Milford graduate and A Perfect Circle guitarist Billy Howerdel returned to WMHS on an off day of his band's tour to speak to our TV Communica ons, Theater, and Audio/Ligh ng club students about his career path from West Milford High School. Mr. Howerdel credits his interest in the school's TV Communica ons program and audio/ligh ng club that led him to become a guitar tech for many prominent ar sts including the likes of David Bowie and Guns N Roses and later becoming the lead guitarist for A Perfect Circle, which has sold over 4 million albums. Mr. Howerdel took ques ons from students and encouraged them to experience the many different skill sets and areas that the Arts combine.
Several of our High School Choral Students had the honor of performing with the N ew Jersey All State Jazz Choir in November. S arah D’Urbano, Audrey Leibig, Elisabeth Lynn, Maighdlin Lagonegro-Coar, Madeleine Leahy, Peter Oselador performed at NJPAC on Friday, November 17th under the direc on of Dr. Timothy Brent from Rider College. West Milford students comprised nearly 25% of this pres gious state honor ensemble.
On January 18 T he Westminster Choir College Jazz Vocal Ensemble will be coming to our school to perform and clinic with our Highland Jazz Vocal Group. We have invited groups from Northern Highlands High School, Pompton Lakes High School, and Butler High School to join us. Each group will have a clinic by the visi ng professor of popular music from Rider College, Dr. Timothy Brent. Dr. Brent was the guest conductor for the 2017 New Jersey honors jazz choir.
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