Norman Zogaib
Long Island native, Norman Zogaib is currently director of the vocal music department at Hamburg High School, where he has taught since 1998. Previously he taught at the Silver Creek, North Collins and Cattaraugus Central Schools. He has also served on the faculty of the SUNY Fredonia Summer Choral Music Program in 1997 and 1999.
Under Mr. Zogaib’s direction, The Hamburg High School Concert Chorale has performed throughout New York State and in Pennsylvania. Highlights have included performances by invitation, at the 2000 NYSSMA Winter Conference in Rochester, the 2003 Statewide Choral Festival sponsored by Carnegie Hall, and a second appearance at Carnegie Hall in 2004 sponsored by America’s Youth in Concert.
Mr. Zogaib’s chorale has earned Level 6-Gold with Distinction ratings (the highest possible rating) annually at NYSSMA Major Organization Rating Festivals. After their performance at Riverside Church in the 2004 Heritage Choral Festival in New York City, the Chorale was awarded a gold rating, the Adjudicators Award and the Overall Outstanding Choir award. Over the last several years, they have had the honor of performing in concert with distinguished ensembles and conductors such as the Eastman Chorale, William Weinert, Director, the SUNY Fredonia Chamber Singers, Donald P. Lang, Director, the Buffalo Choral Arts Society, Marcia Giambrone, Director and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Susan Medley, conductor.
Mr. Zogaib holds a BM in Piano Performance from SUNY Buffalo and a MM in Music Education with a concentration in Piano Performance from SUNY Fredonia. He has pursued additional graduate studies at the Manhattan School of Music and Queens College, CUNY. During his undergraduate and graduate study in piano, Mr. Zogaib studied piano with Stephen Manes (SUNY Buffalo) Phyllis East (SUNY Fredonia) Donn-Alexander Feder and Solomon Mikowsky (Manhattan School of Music). He has studied conducting at SUNY Buffalo with Harriett Simons and at the Eastman School of Music Conducting Institute with William Wienert and Robert Page. During his pre-college years, he studied piano at the Germaine Pinault School of Music with Ana Maria Trenchi Bottazzi.
His solo piano highlights have included two solo appearances at Weil Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and as guest soloist with the SUNY Buffalo Symphony in Brahms Piano Concerto no. 1. An accomplished and much sought after accompanist, he has collaborated with renowned choral conductors such as Charlene Archibeque, Anton Armstrong, Hillary Apfelstadt, Tamara Brooks, Rodney Eichenberger, Francisco Nunez and Moses Hogan.
In addition to directing his own choir in Hamburg, Mr. Zogaib has been very active as a guest conductor throughout New York State. In addition to conducting honors choirs throughout New York, he has conducted the SUNY Fredonia Chamber Singers and College Choir and has served as interim director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus. Mr. Zogaib has served as workshop chair on the Executive Board of the NY Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, and is currently the Western New York representative for that organization. He is an active member of MENC, NYSSMA, ECMEA and ACDA. He lives in Gowanda, NY with his wife Renee, and their five beautiful children.