LONG ISLAND MUSIC HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2009 MUSIC EDUCATOR OF NOTE

Joseph R. Sugar Named Music Educator of Note, Award to be Made Posthumously

Garden City, NY - (January 6, 2010) -- The Long Island Music Hall of Fame (LIMHoF) is proud to announce that Joseph R. Sugar will be the recipient of the 2009 Music Educator of Note. Professor Sugar, who passed away on November 1, 2009, was most recently an adjunct professor at Long Island University/C.W. Post Campus.

Professor Sugar is known to virtually every music teacher in New York State. His 56-year career as a music educator has spanned all levels of teaching, from elementary school through university. He served as president of the Nassau Music Educators Association (NMEA), the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), and the Music Educators National Conference Eastern Division (MENC) and the New York State Council of Music Teacher Education Program. He also was an honorary lifetime member of Suffolk County Music Educators Association (SCMEA) and recently concluded a long term appointment as NYSSMA Government Relations Coalition Chairperson, where he was a driving force in promoting advocacy for music education in schools.

“I was pleased, of course to hear of Joe’s award,” said Clara Sugar, Joe’s widow. “He dedicated much of his life to music education on Long Island. He would have been honored to be recognized for his work."

State Senate Minority leader Dean G. Skelos writes of Sugar, “Admired by music educators and students, he [Sugar] has been a driving source in the advancement of school music teaching.”

State Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg of the 20th District adds, “It is always a pleasure to witness Joe’s gift of contagious enthusiasm, his pride in his students, and his ability to instill in children and others, an appreciation of and a wonder at the beauty our world has to offer.”

"Although we are all saddened by loss of this legendary educator,” said LIMHoF Vice-Chair Tom Needham, “the Long Island Music Hall of Fame is happy to pay tribute to a man who inspired so many music students and teachers throughout his long and productive career."

Sponsored by the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, the award will be presented at LIMHoF’s upcoming induction ceremony. The award is open to any music educator (public or private) who demonstrates an exceptional and long-term commitment to music education in geographic Long Island (Queens, Brooklyn, Nassau or Suffolk counties). Any colleague, current or former student may nominate an educator for consideration.

The Music Educator of Note Award was created in 2007. The first recipient was Herbert A. Deutsch, Professor Emeritus of Hofstra University and a leading electronic music pioneer, teacher, composer and mentor for more than 40 years. The 2008 Music Educator of Note recipient was John McNeur, the Founder and Executive Director of the 500-member Long Island-based Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York and Director of Music for the GRAMMY Signature Gold School Award-winning Herricks Public Schools.