Monday, February 9, 2026...The sounds of brass instruments and joyful laughter filled the Edison Intermediate School theater as Kindergarten students experienced an extraordinary music collaboration between Lincoln School music teacher, Ms. Christina Toulios and the Westfield High School Band Director, Mr. Christopher Vitale. This cross-level partnership brought together the district's youngest learners and high school musicians for an immersive exploration of brass instruments, storytelling through music, and a live performance that captivated students from start to finish.
The collaboration began a few weeks ago with lessons introducing brass instruments, supported by short, engaging videos recorded by Westfield High School students. These videos allowed our Kindergarteners to meet their high school peers virtually and learn about the different instruments before seeing them in action.
The program reached its peak today with a live performance of Peter and the Wolf by the high school musicians. Lincoln students watched in awe as the story came to life, with each character represented by a different brass instrument. Their excitement and focus made it clear that music had sparked both imagination and understanding.
After the performance, student volunteers had the chance to learn the basics of conducting, leading the ensemble with energy and confidence. The excitement continued with surprise performances of “Soda Pop” and “Golden” from the pop culture hit K-Pop Demon Hunters. The EIS theater quickly transformed into a lively disco, as students sang, danced, and celebrated the music together.
The day concluded with an interactive instrument show-and-tell, where students explored the brass instruments up close and asked thoughtful questions of their high school counterparts.
It was truly a memorable day for all involved. We are grateful to the Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts, Ms. Shawna Longo, for her support in making this innovative, joyful collaboration possible.