Westfield Marching Blue Devils Finish Season Strong

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Westfield High School Marching Band wrapped up its 2023 season with impressive performances in back-to-back weekend competitions.

The WHS Marching Blue Devils competed on Oct. 29 in the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association (NJMBDA) State Championships at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), placing 2nd in Class AAAA for the 3rd consecutive year.

"The band won best music and had the 2nd highest score of the 35 bands attending state championships this year," noted band directors Christopher Vitale and Gabriel Batiz.

The WHS marching band also finished as one of only 2 high schools in New Jersey to be named a Bands of America Regional Finalist for the 6th time.

On Oct. 28, in the Bands of America regional competition of top bands from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, and North Carolina, the WHS Marching Blue Devils placed 9th in the preliminary competition, before placing 7th in the evening finals performance at Rutgers University.

The previous weekend, the Marching Blue Devils earned several 1st place recognitions at an NJMBDA competition at East Brunswick High School.

"The band won Class 4A, received awards for best overall music and best overall effect, and was named Grand Champion of the event, with the highest score of 14 attending bands with a score of 90.7," Vitale said.

— Submitted by Westfield Public Schools