Norman A. Logan received a B.S. in Music Education degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1971 and began his distinguished career as an educator in the Taylor Public Schools. In 1973 he accepted the position of Director of the Instrumental Music Program at John Glenn High School in the Wayne/Westland Schools. As Director he lead the “Rocket” Marching Band, several concert bands, the Symphony Orchestra, and “Fourth Stage” Jazz Ensemble. Many of these groups repeatedly received First Division Ratings at MSBOA District and State Festivals. During this time he also conducted the pit orchestra for school musicals at John Glenn High School and at Plymouth Centennial Education Park, where his wife Gloria was the drama teacher. He also performed with the Dearborn Summer Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble and conducted the Dearborn Summer Orchestra (as assistant) and the Westland Symphony Orchestra (as conductor).
In 1989 he was invited to the Farmington Public Schools where he continued to serve Farmington High School as Director of Instrumental Music and Music Department chairmen until his retirement in 2005. At Farmington, he directed the Concert Band, The Symphony Band, The Concert Orchestra, The Symphony Orchestra, the Jazz Ensemble, Pit Orchestra for the musicals, the Folk Ensemble, taught Music Theory/History Class, and directed the award-winning “Falcon Marching Band. The Farmington Bands and Orchestras continued to receive First Division Ratings at MSBOA District and State Festivals. Mr. Logan’s groups were invited to perform in Gatlinburg, Washington DC., France (for the 1994 50th anniversary of D-Day), England, Scotland and Hawaii. The “Falcon” Marching Band, a member of the Michigan competing Band Association (MCBA), has been a finalist many times in the MCBA State Championship Contest.
Norm Logan has served his profession as an officer in District XII and District IV of the Michigan Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA), and – at the state level – on the Festival Improvement Committee, The Technology committee, and served as chair of the State Marching Band Committee. His involvement with the MCBA and the Marching Bands of America (MBA) has resulted in his being chosen as a facilitator for workshops in Michigan through Attitude Concepts for Today with Tim Lautzenheiser, he continues today as a clinician and instructor at the Summer Music Symposium sponsored by MUSIC FOR ALL as he has since 1975.
He has been recognized as an “Outstanding educator of the year” by the Wayne Jaycees 1983. In 1983 he was the 1st American Music Director / arranger of a Symphony Concert for Indian Popular Music – East/West Music. Inc. He was Guest Conductor for the METRO YOUTH BAND in 1987. He was Co-Director for the MICHIGAN ALL STAR MARCHING BAND from 1991-95. For his performance in France Mr. Logan was given the Military Order of the Purple Heart Citation in 1994.
He has been recognized as an outstanding educator by the Farmington Public Schools and received Honorable Mention on the USA TODAY ALL TEACHER TEAM 1999. In 2002 Mr. Logan was the EMU Alumni Honors Concert Conductor and was also given the EMU Symphony Orchestra Commendation. In 2006 Mr. Logan was invited to be a Director Emeritus for the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association. Norm was placed in the Farmington Education Association MEA-NEA Teacher Hall of Fame in 2007.
Norm has had many of his compositions and arrangements performed by area groups and he continues to teach and guest conduct for several area community bands and orchestras. Norm says, near the end of a long and illustrious career in music, that his “greatest satisfaction comes from teaching music and working with his students.”