The Long Island Music Hall of Fame has announced its first annual holiday concert at the brand new facility in Stony Brook on Dec. 23 from 12:30-4 p.m.
The Long Island Music Hall of Fame recently moved into its brand new Stony Brook location that is dedicated to the recognition, honor, and preservation of Long Island’s music and entertainment heritage. Since 2004, the museum has inducted over 120 music artists and related professionals, and now they are put on display.
The museum features displays of original musical instruments, famous awards, apparel, and other memorabilia from many of Long Island’s favorite artists. People represented here include Billy Joel, Blue Oyster Cult, KISS, LL Cool J, and more. Since the opening of the new facility, LIMEHOF has featured live performances from Stanton Anderson Acoustic Trio, the Smithtown High School East Chamber Choir, Quarter Horse, Jack’s Waterfall American Roots, Richie Cannata and Mark Newman, and Kerry Kearney.
On Dec. 23, there will be the first annual holiday concert put on by the museum, with music from 12:30-4 p.m. The artists featured on the bill include Gene Casey, a Long Island native whose songs have been used in A Prairie Home Companion and on the soundtracks to television and feature films, including Justified and Sons of Anarchy. Other artists on the bill include Pete Mancini & The Hillside Airmen from NYC. Mancini has released two records that have earned praise from NPR, and also landed him an appearance on the AMA radio charts.
Finally, Rorie Kelly performs, an award-winning singer/songwriter from Long Island. Her music has been featured in film and TV shows and received radio airplay around the world which led her to perform at the Obama White House in 2016. The Long Island Music Hall of Fame’s first annual holiday concert will be held on Dec. 23, and tickets are free when purchasing admission to the museum. For more information about the museum and the event, go here.
The organization was formed in 2004, by educators and musicians who really, really have a passion for music. And they created it to preserve and celebrate Long Island’s musical heritage
Ernie Canadeo
Grand Opening
Joan Jett
The Hall of Fame will feature world-class displays and unique memorabilia that showcases Long Island’s rich and diverse musical and entertainment history. This past week Joan Jett’s classic Jaguar will be on display along with other donated memorabilia from Billy Joel, Twisted Sister, The Good Rats, Debbie Gibson, Blue Oyster Cult, and from the families and estates of Harry Chapin, Guy Lombardo, John Coltrand and so many more.
The Hall of Fame and Museum is open Wednesdays-Sundays from noon to 5pm. The first exhibit, created by world-renowned designer Kevin O’Callaghan, is titled “Long Island’s Legendary Club Scene – 1960’s-1980’s and is designed to be “a club crawl” through Long Island’s legendary 60’s, 70’s and 80’s club scene.
The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) is dedicated to preserve Long Island’s musical heritage for future generations. To date the organization has inducted more than 100 musicians and music industry executives and also offers educational programs, scholarships, and awards to Long Island Students and educators.
Besides supporting future musicians, Chairman Canadeo spoke to the healing power of music and how LIMEHOF will be partnering with one of their sponsors, Catholic Health Services:
We will be partnering on a program called Health and harmony next year, where we will be sending musicians and comedians and bold types of entertainers into senior centers into hospitals.
Ernie Canadeo
During the interview on The Long Island Sound podcast Erne and I both recognized the pent up need to reconnect with the community after the quarantine and Covid. There is great pride in being a Long Islander, and recognizing the wellspring of talent in the region. I invite you to review the List of over one hundred LIMEHOF Inductees over the past years, it’s quite remarkable.
Grand Opening in Stony Brook
Simon and Garfunkel (inducted 2008) and their song Homeward bound is so appropriate for the emotions surrounding this Grand Opening:
Home, where my thought’s escaping. Home, where my music’s playing. Home, where my love’s lie waiting, silently for me, silently for me.
Simon & Garfunkel
Everyone needs a place to call home. Now the musician and entertainment community with roots on Long Island have a place to call home in Stony Brook. With the rotation of new exhibits, the Hall of Fame is sure to attract musicians, students, educators and those headed homeward bound.
During this holiday season, let’s be generous with our joy, and let the music take us on a journey.
After nearly 18 years without a physical place to call their own, the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame announced they will finally have their first building location in Stony Brook. The grand opening for the space will be held in November.
Photo Credit: Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame
The non-profit signed a long-term lease with the Ward Melville Heritage Organization and will move into the educational and cultural center located in Stony Brook Village. With 8,800 square feet and two stories, the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame has ample space to make the building their own.
The Hall of Fame has existed since 2004 with no permanent building. With over 100 inductees including Billy Joel, Joan Jett, Lou Reed, LL Cool J, Twisted Sister, and more, the building will allow for a permanent “Hall of Fame” with plaques and exhibits to recognize these talents.
We’re looking forward to creating world-class displays that showcase Long Island’s rich and diverse musical and entertainment history in new and exciting ways. We will feature different and exciting exhibits, displays, videos, and education offerings that will make our center a dynamic place for people of all ages to visit on a regular basis.
LIMEHOF Chairman Ernie Canadeo
Photo Credit: Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame
The space will allow areas for a library, classrooms for educational programs and master classes, and even a theater. The main exhibit space will rotate through different themes to celebrate Long Island’s long musical history.
Designed by world-renowned visual designer Kevin O’Callaghan, the music hall’s first theme will be “Long Island’s Legendary Club Scene: 1960s-1980s.” According to the president of The Ward Melville Heritage Organization, Gloria D. Rocchio, the center was specifically constructed with performances and exhibits in mind.
Photo Credit: Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame
Our organization has grown and our wish has always been to have a physical facility to showcase our mission of celebrating Long Island’s musical history and supporting education … we can now achieve our dream.
LIMEHOF Co-founder Norm Prusslin
The official ribbon-cutting and public opening of the completed space is scheduled to take place this November. For more information and to see artist renderings of the exhibits, visit limehof.org
The Long Island Music Hall of Fame has announced its 2022 Music Scholarship Winners: four Long Island high school graduating seniors from Dix Hills, Manhasset, and Woodbury. These distinction in Music Award Scholarships were awarded to graduating high school seniors who has college plan in music study and further career pursuing.
This year’s winners are Gioianna DiGiorgio and Andrew Arloro, both from Half Hollow Hills High School; Emily Wei from Great Neck North High School; and Stephanie Massimo from Syosset High School.
The Long Island Music Hall of Fame is honored to have the opportunity to support and acknowledge accomplished high school seniors who are pursuing a future in music. The talent that exists on Long Island is something we at LIMHoF want to celebrate. In addition to following their own dreams, we believe these students will encourage and inspire others.
Tom Needham, LIMHoF Education Chairman
Gioianna DiGiorgio from Dix Hills (Half Hollow Hills High School West)
Gioianna DiGiorgio (credit to Long Island Music Hall of Fame)
Gioianna found her passion in music since a young age. She believes that music is a connection to nature and other people and a beautiful way to tell a story and to express yourself and your emotions.
“As soon as I was old enough to understand the concept of theater, I was enamored with the idea of being on stage, and wanted to be a part of that world. My life-long passion for theater inspires me to push through the challenges so that I can pursue my passion.
– Gioianna DiGiorgio
Gioianna raised her career aspiration from her perform experience in local community theater productions. She became interested in being a soprano singer in musical theater and later a performer for the stage and screen.
As for the further plan, Gioianna DiGiorgio will be attending Baldwin Wallace University. She is intend to gain the BFA in their Acting program and a music minor. She is expecting to learn music theory and strong skillset to aid her professional life after college with the scholarship from LIMHoF.
Andrew Arloro from Dix Hills (Half Hollow Hills High School East)
Andrew Arloro (credit to Long Island Music Hall of Fame)
Andrew Arloro is a 17-year-old musician who lives on Long Island, New York. He is a recent graduate of Juilliard Pre-College and a current student at Half Hollow Hills High School East.
He has studied the French Horn under fanmous French Horn musicians such as Jen Montone and Jeff Lang, Principal Horn and Associate Principal Horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra; and currently studies with Erik Ralske and Brad Gemeinhardt, Principal Horn and Acting Principal Horn of the Metropolitan Opera.
Andrew is recognized by the Discovery Competition for Children’s Orchestra Society. He also has extensive performing experience from a dozen times’ solos at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and tours in China, Spain, and Italy. He has been awarded the title of Principal Horn in various ensembles, including Juilliard Pre-College, All-State, SCMEA, Children’s Orchestra Society, Gemini Youth Orchestras’ Festival Winds and Symphony, and Cross Campus Wind Ensemble.
Next year, he will continue his studies with Erik Ralske at The Juilliard School, pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Performance on the French Horn.
I would like to thank the Long Island Music Hall of Fame for the amazing opportunity to work with them, create with them, and share with the world the Joy of Music.
Andrew
Tiantian “Emily” Wei from Manhasset (Great Neck North High School)
Tiantian “Emily” Wei (credit to Long Island Music Hall of Fame)
Emily Wei, also called Tiantian Wei, is a graduating Senior at Great Neck North High School. She has been playing both the piano and violin since age 5. In 2021 she went to the Fete De L’ Alto LaSalle Summer Festival (France) and had master classes with Christophe Giovaninetti.
As the German poet E.T.A. Hoffmann said: ‘Where the language stops, the music begins.’ Music has no boundaries. It has unlimited possibilities and tremendous potential to be created and performed to express one’s unique understanding of music and sentiments, and to be shared with other people who may relate and empathize. I think that is the soul, and one of the missions of music is that it inspires and attracts people. It is an honor to be a LIMHoF recipient, I appreciate the recognition from Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
Emily Wei
Emily has won numerous awards for her music talents and has participated in a wide range of performances with various music organizations, including the New Jersey Youth Symphony Orchestra, NYSSMA, All County and All State Symphony Orchestras and more. Her most recent performances are with Great Neck North High School Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall and also violin recitals at Oprea America Music Hall and Episcopal Church.
In this fall, Emily will attend Mannes School of Music. She explained her expectation of future that entering the New York Symphony Orchestra or forming her own chamber music group, performing in concert halls all over the world to show the beauty of music and expressing my unique understanding of music.
Stephanie Massimo from Woodbury (Syosset High School)
Stephanie Massimo (credit to Long Island Music Hall of Fame)
Stephanie Massimo, a Trombonist graduating from Syosset High School. She started playing the Trombone in second grade. She also plays the bass trombone and baritone horn. Throughout the years, she gained rich ensemble experience in Syosset, Nassau Suffolk, All-County, All-State, All National, and various summer camps.
I genuinely loved performing with these groups and meeting new people. Music has always been an important part of my life. It wasn’t until recently, though, that I decided to study music in college.
– Stephanie Massimo
In the fall, Stephanie plans to attend the Trombone major in University of Tampa (UT) to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Music. She hopes to further advance her skills in both music and performance with the scholarship from the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. Her plans in college is to participate in some UT bands/ensembles then eventually return to NY. She hope to work in a Broadway pit orchestra which allows her to use everything she learn in college while enjoying the music she likes best.
Robert Posner has been elected to be on the Board Of Trustees for the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes Long Island’s musical heritage and supports local artists by hiring them and other executives.
Posner has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and is an audit partner at Grassi, and he helps contractors, subcontractors, and architecture and engineering firms grow and become successful. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Advancement for Commerce, Industry & Technology (ACIT).
Robert Posner.
Posner is a music fan, and his favorite artists are the Dave Matthews Band and Billy Joel. He has taken up playing the guitar, and his son Andrew played clarinet for the Northport Marching Band.
Speaking of his election, Posner had a lot to say.
I am very excited to join the Long Island Music Hall of Fame’s board of trustees. I have followed this wonderful organization for many years and have enjoyed attending their world-class Induction Ceremonies. I am looking forward to contributing to its continued growth, promoting music education and Long Island’s diverse musical history.
The Long Island Music Hall of Fame announced the 2021 Music Educator of Note Award recipient, Kim Löwenborg-Coyne. The LIMHOF gives the award to those who do outstanding work in Long Island music education.
The Long Island Music Hall Music Educator of Note Award recipient- Kim Löwenborg-Coyne.
Dr. Löwenborg-Coyne was born in Lynbrook, NY. She earned a B.A. in Music Performance and also a B.A. in Philosophy from Molloy College. She also has a M.A. in Musicology and a Ph.D. in Higher Level Music Education from NYU.
In 1996, she started teaching in Rockville Centre Schools and became the Director of Art and Music Programs for North Babylon. She has also performed at Carnegie Hall as an accompanist for the NBHS Choir.
In 2008, Dr. Löwenborg-Coyne raised grant funds to bring Pierre Dulaine’s Ballroom Dance program to Long Island. She has been trying to bring culturally diverse residency programs to North Babylon as well. She has made sure the all kids get quality instruments, amazing technology, and world music education.
Dr. Kim never takes no for an answer when it comes to the children of North Babylon!
Superintendent of Schools Kim Skillen
Dr. Löwenborg-Coyne deeply honored to receive the award, alongside her husband and two children.
