About Mr. Westlake
Mr. Westlake is the main instrumental music instructor for Brooke, Limerick, Oaks and Upper Providence Elementary Schools in the Spring-Ford Area School District. He is also the Director of the district wide Elementary Band. The Elementary Band consists of all elementary instrumental students in the district and meets once a week at Upper Providence Elementary School for rehearsals. This ends with a district wide concert in April.
Mr. Westlake graduated from the Marple Newtown School District where he learned how to play the trombone. In high school he held first chair trombone in concert, marching, jazz bands and orchestra. He studied privately with Al Leopold (Jan Savit Orchestra).
Mr. Westlake is a graduate of Penn State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. While at Penn State he was a member of the Penn State Symphonic (bass trombone) and Marching Blue Bands (trombone and manager). He also played in the University and Phi Mu Alpha Jazz bands (bass trombone). He has studied with David Gatts and Robert Hamrcik (Pittsburgh Symphony) at Penn State. Mr. Westlake has kept current with classes from West Chester University, Kent State, Immaculata University, Villanova University, and the New School of Music.
Mr. Westlake has taught instrumental and classroom music at all levels in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. He has been guest host for the 1986 Huntingdon County Honors Band, 1988 PMEA District 4 Band, Southern Maryland County Honors Band and Guest Conductor for the St. Mary’s County Elementary Band. He has also been the Curriculum and Instruction Representative for PMEA District 4. His Leonardtown High School Jazz Band has played at the Music Educator’s National Conference Headquarters (MENC) in Reston, Virginia.
Mr. Westlake has a long playing career on trombone as well as teaching instrumental music. In addition to his school playing he has played with the Chester City Band, Jimmy Palo Big Band, Independence Fife and Drum Corp, Burkholder Big Band, Southern Maryland Concert Band (trombone and percussion), Chester County Concert Band (trombone, french horn, and percussion), Immaculata Orchestra, New Holland Band (trombone, euphonium, and tuba) New Holland Dance Band and currently plays bass trombone with the 22 Park Ave. Big Band.