Edward P. Norris III Named 2025 Educator of Note by Long Island Music Hall of Fame

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) recently announced Edward P. Norris III as its 2025 Educator of Note winner. He will accept the award at a special presentation ceremony on Friday, March 20th at LIMEHOF in Stony Brook (97 Main Street Stony Brook, NY) at 6:30pm. The event will feature music performances by students from the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, as well as Glen Cove High School former and present students. The public is invited to attend at regular admission ticket prices, which will include access to the exhibits.

"Gold medals, national conferences, and international tours tell part of the story, but Edward Norris' real legacy lives in the generations of students whose lives he's transformed through music," said LIMEHOF Vice Chairman Tom Needham, who manages LIMEHOF's Education programs.

Edward P. Norris III is currently the Director of Choral Music at Glen Cove High School, Conductor of the Nassau Chamber Chorale at the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, Director of Choirs at Long Island University. With an impressive career that spans 23 years, Norris is the 19th Long Island music teacher to be recognized by LIMEHOF since the Educator of Note Award was established in 2007. This award recognizes exceptional teachers who demonstrate a commitment to music education, play an active role in the community and have a significant impact on the lives of music students of all backgrounds and abilities.

"Being recognized as the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame 2025 Educator of Note is a profound honor and a deeply humbling moment," said Norris. "Long Island's rich musical legacy has shaped generations of artists, and to play a role in nurturing that tradition through education is incredibly meaningful to me. Being a teacher and conductor is not what I do, it is a huge part of who I am and this recognition belongs not to me, but to the thousands of students that have allowed me to make music with them over the course of my career, to my colleagues, and community who believe in the power of music to inspire, connect, and transform lives."

For ticket details, please visit https://www.limusichalloffame.org/tickets-and-gift-cards/

For more information about the LIMEHOF Educator of Note Award, visit https://www.limusichalloffame.org/educator-of-note/

Biography:

Edward P. Norris III serves as the director of Choral Music at Glen Cove HS, where he conducts the Mixed Chorus and Select Chorale. He also teaches courses in Music Theory and AP Music Theory. Mr. Norris has directed the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (MYO) Nassau Chamber Chorale for the past 20 years and is also an adjunct professor at the Aaron Copland School of Music, as well as Long Island University teaches classes on choral music education, conducting, and conducts the choir at LIU.

Mr. Norris is a graduate of the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, where he received both his Bachelor of Arts Degree and his Master's Degree in Music Education, where he studied under the baton of the great Dr. Lawrence Eisman. During Mr. Norris' tenure at Glen Cove High School, the Mixed Chorus and Select Chorale have only received Gold Medals and Gold Medals with Distinction at the NYSSMA Major Ensemble festivals.

In 2013, the Select Chorale was invited to perform at the White House for President and Mrs. Obama, as well as other invited guests. In January of 2016, Mr. Norris and the Select Chorale performed in a concert tour of Italy, which included performances at St. Peter's Basilica, the Church of San Lorenzo, and the Basilica of St. Francis. While on tour, the Chorale had the distinct honor to perform for His Holiness, Pope Francis at the Feast of the Epiphany at St. Peter's. In 2018, the Select Chorale was invited to perform at the prestigious Music For All National Choral Festival with Dr. Andre Thomas, Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand, Dr. Brandon Boyd, and Maestro Stacey Gibbs. In 2023, the Select Chorale performed at the ACDA National Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, where they were featured performers in an opening night concert with Robyn Llana, Dr. Henry Leck, and Dr. Joe Miller. In June of 2025, the Chorale went on a concert tour in the UK, which included the European premiere of Dr. Jeffrey Ames' Requiem for Colour as well as a performance of the Music of Ola Gjeilo with Ola Gjeilo at the piano. Both the Mixed Chorus and Select Chorale have performed at some of New York's most prestigious performance venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and even Citi Field.