Published: Mar 26, 2026 at TBR News Media

 

2024 LIMEHOF Educator of Note Craig Knapp, on left, presents 2025 LIMEHOF Educator of Note Award to Edward P. Norris III. Photo by Steve Leung

Smithtown resident and Glen Cove High School Director of Choral Music Edward P. Norris III was presented the 2025 Educator of Note Award at a special presentation ceremony at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) in Stony Brook on March 20.

Last year’s Educator of Note Craig Knapp made the presentation. The award ceremony also featured music performances by students from the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, as well as Glen Cove High School former and present students.

Edward P. Norris III speaks at the event. Photo by Steve Leung

“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 the organization’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.”

Nominations are open for the next Educator of Note Award through October 2, 2026. For nomination criteria and more information about the LIMEHOF Educator of Note Award, visit https://www.limusichalloffame.org/educator-of-note/