CLASSICAL WINNERS: 2021 GRAMMYS
The Grammys, an award presented by the Recording Academy to recognize musical greatness, were held this past Sunday at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This year's award show looked a bit different from previous years, but was still special for a lot of musicians.
Musicians of all musical backgrounds and genres are represented and celebrated, from Hip-Hop and R&B, to Pop and Folk. Today we'll take a look at the 2021 Classical Music winners.
Best Orchestral Performance
Given to recognize both the conductor and orchestra, this year's winner is Gustavo Dudamel (conductor) and the Los Angeles Philharmonic for Ives: Complete Symphonies.
Dudamel has been the Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for twelve seasons now, and he's only getting better as time passes. The video above showcases his incredible strengths not only as a conductor and teacher, but as a music lover. It's no wonder that the Grammy went to a conductor and orchestra filled with so much passion.
Frost, a Juilliard graduate, has 19 Grammy Awards to his name. In fact, three of those came this past Sunday. Frost received a Grammy for Best Opera Recording (Gershwin: Porgy and Bess), Best Engineered Album, Classical (Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13 in B-Flat minor, Op. 113 (Babi Yar)), and Classical Produce of the Year. And 7 of 19 Grammys have been for Classical Producer of the Year; talk about killing your passion and profession!
Members Simin Ganatra (violin), Austin Hartman (violin), Mark Holloway (viola), and Brandon Vamos (cello) released their latest album with the help of Otis Murphy on saxophone.
Take a listen to Glitter, Doom, Shards, Memory below, written for the Quartet in memory of painter Felix Nussbaum, a tragic Auschwitz victim.
Producer of the Year, Classical
The winner of this year's award is David Frost for his works on Beethoven, Gershwin, Gluck, Holst, Muhly, Schubert, and Shostakovich.Frost, a Juilliard graduate, has 19 Grammy Awards to his name. In fact, three of those came this past Sunday. Frost received a Grammy for Best Opera Recording (Gershwin: Porgy and Bess), Best Engineered Album, Classical (Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13 in B-Flat minor, Op. 113 (Babi Yar)), and Classical Produce of the Year. And 7 of 19 Grammys have been for Classical Producer of the Year; talk about killing your passion and profession!
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
This award is for new recording works that consist of 24 or fewer members (25 including the conductor). Pacifica Quartet takes home the award this year for their Contemporary Voices. The Quartet hasn't received a Grammy since their win in 2009.
Members Simin Ganatra (violin), Austin Hartman (violin), Mark Holloway (viola), and Brandon Vamos (cello) released their latest album with the help of Otis Murphy on saxophone.
Take a listen to Glitter, Doom, Shards, Memory below, written for the Quartet in memory of painter Felix Nussbaum, a tragic Auschwitz victim.
Best Classical Instrumental Solo
The winners of this year's classical solo are Richard O'Neill (Soloist) and David Alan Miller (Conductor) of the Albany Symphony for Theofanidis: Concerto for viola and chamber orchestra.
O'Neill has been a soloist is endless Philharmonics, orchestras, and symphonies; landing him performances in some of the most prestigious halls in the world; and finally, a Grammy. Working with David Alan Miller, a Grammy award winner himself, the pair is a force to be reckoned with.
Take a listen to suspenseful, drama ridden Black Dancer, Black Thunder off of the album the Grammy winners are featured in.
Take a listen to suspenseful, drama ridden Black Dancer, Black Thunder off of the album the Grammy winners are featured in.
Best Contemporary Classical Composition
This award is given to the composer, and to be considered contemporary, the piece has to be composed within the last 25 years, and released for the first time in the past year to be considered.
The winner this year is Christopher Rouse (composer) of the Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony for Rouse: Symphony No. 5.
On top of his first Grammy this year, Rouse has a Pulitzer Prize for Music to his name. The American composer has written various ensembles, but is most well known for his orchestral pieces.
Take a listen to the Grammy winning Rouse composition to get the full experience.
The winner this year is Christopher Rouse (composer) of the Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony for Rouse: Symphony No. 5.
On top of his first Grammy this year, Rouse has a Pulitzer Prize for Music to his name. The American composer has written various ensembles, but is most well known for his orchestral pieces.
Take a listen to the Grammy winning Rouse composition to get the full experience.
I highly recommend visiting this playlist on Spotify (thank you mann.david.k) for an in depth list of the songs, pieces, and compositions that were nominated (or won) in their respective Classical categories.
For the complete list Grammy winners and nominees, visit the Grammys post here.
For the complete list Grammy winners and nominees, visit the Grammys post here.