Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance

The Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance has been awarded since 1961. There have been several minor changes to the name of the award over this time:

  • In 1961 the award was known as Best Classical Performance - Choral (including oratorio)
  • From 1962 to 1964 it was awarded as Best Classical Performance - Choral (other than opera)
  • In 1965, 1969, 1971, 1977 to 1978 and 1982 to 1991 it was awarded as Best Choral Performance (other than opera)
  • From 1966 to 1968 it was awarded as Best Classical Choral Performance (other than opera)
  • In 1970, 1973 to 1976 and 1979 to 1981 it was awarded as Best Choral Performance, Classical (other than opera)
  • In 1972 it was awarded as Best Choral Performance - Classical
  • From 1992 to 1994 it was awarded as Best Performance of a Choral Work
  • 1995 to the present the award has been known as Best Choral Performance
Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance
Awarded forquality choral performances
CountryUnited States
Presented byNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
First awarded1961
Currently held byUusinta Ensemble
Saariaho: Reconnaissance (2024)
Websitegrammy.com

Prior to 1961 the awards for opera and choral performances were combined into a single award for Best Classical Performance, Operatic or Choral.

The award goes to the Conductor, and to the Choral Director and/or Chorus Master where applicable and to the Choral Organization/Ensemble.

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year. Performers who were not eligible for an award (such as orchestras, soloists or choirs) are mentioned between brackets. From 2017, the choral organization/ensemble does receive an Award.

Recipients edit

Year[I]Recipient(s)WorkPerforming artist(s)Nominees
Performing artist(s) in parentheses
Ref.
1961Thomas Beecham (conductor)Handel: MessiahRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus
[1]
1962Robert Shaw (choir director)Bach: B Minor MassRobert Shaw Orchestra & Chorale
[2]
1963Otto Klemperer (conductor); Wilhelm Pitz (choir director)Bach: St. Matthew PassionPhilharmonia Orchestra & Chorus
[3]
1964Benjamin Britten (conductor); Edward Chapman, David Willcocks (choir directors)Britten: War RequiemBach Choir, Highgate School Choir & the London Symphony Orchestra & Choir
[4]
1965Robert Shaw (choir director)Britten: A Ceremony of CarolsRobert Shaw Chorale
[5]
1966Robert Shaw (conductor)Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms/Poulenc: GloriaRobert Shaw Chorale & the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
[6]
1967Robert Shaw (conductor)Handel: MessiahRobert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra
[7]
Gregg Smith (conductor); George Bragg (choir director) [a]Ives: Music for ChorusIthaca College Concert Choir, Gregg Smith Singers & Texas Boys Choir; Columbia Chamber Orchestra
1968Leonard Bernstein (conductor)Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E Flat Major (Symphony of a Thousand)London Symphony Orchestra & Choir
[11]
Eugene Ormandy (conductor), Robert Page (choir director)Orff: Catulli CarminaTemple University Choir & the Philadelphia Orchestra
1969Vittorio Negri (conductor), George Bragg, Gregg Smith, (choir directors)The Glory of GabrieliGregg Smith Singers & Texas Boys Choir
[12]
1970Luciano Berio (conductor), Ward Swingle (choir director)Berio: SinfoniaThe Swingle Singers & the New York Philharmonic
[13]
1971Gregg Smith (choir director),Ives: New Music of Charles IvesGregg Smith Singers & Columbia Chamber Ensemble
[14]
1972Colin Davis (conductor); Russell Burgess, Arthur Oldham (choir directors)Berlioz: RequiemWandsworth School Boys Choir & London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[15]
1973Georg Solti (conductor)Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E Flat (Symphony of a Thousand)Vienna Boys Choir, Vienna Singverein Chorus & Vienna State Opera Chorus; Chicago Symphony Orchestra
[16]
1974André Previn (conductor), Arthur Oldham (choir director)Walton: Belshazzar's FeastLondon Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[17]
1975Colin Davis (conductor)Berlioz: The Damnation of FaustAmbrosian Singers, Wandsworth School Boys Choir & London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[18]
1976Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor), Robert Page (choir director)Orff: Carmina BuranaCleveland Boys Choir & Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
[19]
1977André Previn (conductor), Arthur Oldham (choir director)Rachmaninoff: The BellsLondon Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[20]
1978Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director)Verdi: RequiemChicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[21]
1979Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director)Beethoven: Missa SolemnisChicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[22]
1980Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director)Brahms: A German RequiemChicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[23]
1981Carlo Maria Giulini (conductor), Norbert Balatsch (chorus master)Mozart: RequiemPhilharmonia Orchestra & Chorus
[24]
1982Neville Marriner (conductor)Haydn: The CreationAcademy of St Martin in the Fields & Chorus
[25]
1983Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director)Berlioz: La Damnation de FaustChicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[26]
1984Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director)Haydn: The CreationChicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[27]
1985James Levine (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director)Brahms: A German RequiemChicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[28]
1986Robert Shaw (conductor)Berlioz: RequiemAtlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[29]
1987James Levine (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director)Orff: Carmina BuranaChicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[30]
1988Robert Shaw (conductor)Hindemith: When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'dAtlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[31]
1989Robert Shaw (conductor)Verdi: Requiem & Operatic ChorusesAtlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[32]
1990Robert Shaw (conductor)Britten: War RequiemAtlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus and the Atlanta Boy Choir
[33]
1991Robert Shaw (conductor)Walton: Belshazzar's Feast/Bernstein: Chichester Psalms; Missa BrevisAtlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[34]
1992Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director)Bach: Mass in B MinorChicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[35]
1993Herbert Blomstedt (conductor), Vance George (choir director)Orff: Carmina BuranaSan Francisco Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Boys Chorus & the San Francisco Girls Chorus
[36]
1994Pierre Boulez (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director)Bartók: Cantata ProfanaChicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[37]
1995John Eliot Gardiner (choir director)Berlioz: Messe SolennelleMonteverdi Choir & the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique
[38]
1996Herbert Blomstedt (conductor), Vance George (choir director)Brahms: Ein deutsches RequiemSan Francisco Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[39]
1997Andrew Litton (conductor), Neville Creed, David Hill (chorus masters)Walton: Belshazzar's FeastBournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[40]
1998Robert Shaw (conductor)Adams: Harmonium/Rachmaninoff: The BellsAtlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[41]
1999Robert Shaw (conductor)Barber: Prayers of Kierkegaard/Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem/Bartók: Cantata ProfanaAtlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[42]
2000Robert Shafer (conductor), Betty Scott, Joan McFarland (choir directors)Britten: War RequiemMaryland Boy Choir, the Shenandoah Conservatory Chorus & The Washington Chorus
[43]
2001Karen Wilson (producer), Don Harder (engineer), Helmuth Rilling (conductor)Penderecki: CredoOregon Bach Festival Orchestra & Chorus
[44]
2002Martin Sauer (producer), Michael Brammann (engineer), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor), Norbert Balatsch, Erwin Ortner (chorus masters)Bach: St Matthew PassionArnold Schoenberg Chor, Wiener Sängerknaben & Concentus Musicus Wien
[45]
2003Thomas Moore (producer), Michael J. Bishop (engineer), Robert Spano (conductor), Norman Mackenzie (chorus director)Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony (Sym. No. 1)Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[46]
2004Paavo Järvi (conductor), Tiia-Ester Loitme & Ants Soots (chorus masters)Sibelius: CantatasEllerhein Girls' Choir, Estonian National Male Choir & Estonian National Symphony Orchestra
[47]
2005Robert Spano (conductor) & Norman Mackenzie (choir director)Berlioz: RequiemFrank Lopardo & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[48]
2006Leonard Slatkin (conductor) & Jerry Blackstone, William Hammer, Jason Harris, Christopher Kiver, Carole Ott & Mary Alice Stollak (choir directors)Bolcom: Songs Of Innocence And Of Experience: RequiemChristine Brewer, Measha Brueggergosman, Ilana Davidson, Nmon Ford, Linda Hohenfeld, Joan Morris, Carmen Pelton, Marietta Simpson & Thomas Young; Michigan State University Children's Choir, University Of Michigan Chamber Choir, University Of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir & University Musical Society Choral Union; University of Michigan School of Music Symphony Orchestra
[49]
2007Paul Hillier (conductor)Pärt: Da PacemEstonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
[50]
2008Simon Rattle (conductor); Simon Halsey (chorus master)Brahms: Ein Deutsches RequiemRundfunkchor Berlin; Berliner Philharmoniker
[51]
2009Simon Rattle (conductor); Simon Halsey (chorus master)Stravinsky: Symphony of PsalmsRundfunkchor Berlin; Berliner Philharmoniker
[52]
2010Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor); Ragnar Bohlin, Kevin Fox & Susan McMane (choir directors); Peter Laenger & Andreas Neubronner, engineers/mixersMahler: Symphony No. 8San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Pacific Boychoir & San Francisco Girls Chorus; Laura Claycomb, Anthony Dean Griffey, Elza van den Heever, Katarina Karnéus, Quinn Kelsey, James Morris, Yvonne Naef & Erin Wall; San Francisco Symphony
[53]
2011Riccardo Muti, conductor; Duain Wolfe, chorus masterVerdi: RequiemChicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[54]
2012Eric Whitacre (conductor)Light & GoldChristopher Glynn & Hila Plitmann; The King's Singers, Laudibus, Pavao Quartet & The Eric Whitacre Singers
[55]
2013Charles Bruffy (conductor); Blanton Alspaugh, producer; Tom Caulfield & John Newton, engineers/mixersLife & Breath - Choral Works by René ClausenMatthew Gladden, Lindsey Lang, Rebecca Lloyd, Sarah Tannehill & Pamela Williamson and the Kansas City Chorale
[56]
2014Tõnu Kaljuste (conductor); Manfred Eicher, producer; Peter Laenger & Stephan Schellmann, engineers Pärt: Adam's LamentTui Hirv & Rainer Vilu; Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir; Sinfonietta Riga & Tallinn Chamber Orchestra; Latvian Radio Choir & Vox Clamantis[57]
2015Craig Hella Johnson (conductor); Robina G. Young (producer); Brad Michel (engineer/mixer)The Sacred Spirit of RussiaConspirare
[58]
2016Charles Bruffy (conductor); Blanton Alspaugh (producer); Byeong Joon Hwang & John Newton (engineers)Rachmaninoff: All-Night VigilPaul Davidson, Frank Fleschner, Toby Vaughn Kidd, Bryan Pinkall, Julia Scozzafava, Bryan Taylor & Joseph Warner (soloists); Kansas City Chorale & Phoenix Chorale (choruses)
[59]
2017Krzysztof Penderecki (conductor); Henryk Wojnarowski (choir director)Penderecki Conducts Penderecki, Volume 1Nikolay Didenko, Agnieszka Rehlis & Johanna Rusanen (soloists); Warsaw Philharmonic Choir (chorus); Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra (orchestra)
[60]
2018Donald Nally (conductor); Andreas K. Meyer & Paul Vazquez (engineers)Bryars: The Fifth CenturyThe Crossing, PRISM Quartet
[61]
2019Donald Nally (conductor); Paul Vazquez (producer)McLoskey: Zealot CanticlesThe Crossing
[62]
2020Robert Simpson (conductor); Blanton Alspaugh (producer); John Newton (engineer)Duruflé: Complete Choral WorksKen Cowan (soloist); Houston Chamber Choir
[63]
2021JoAnn Falletta (conductor); James K. Bass & Adam Luebke (chorus masters); Bernd Gottinger (engineer/mixer)Danielpour: The Passion of YeshuaJames K. Bass, J'Nai Bridges, Timothy Fallon, Kenneth Overton, Hila Plitmann & Matthew Worth (soloists); Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus & UCLA Chamber Singers
[64]
2022Gustavo Dudamel (conductor); Grant Gershon, Robert Istad, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz & Luke McEndarfer (chorus masters)Mahler: Symphony No. 8 (Symphony of a Thousand)Leah Crocetto, Mihoko Fujimura, Ryan McKinny, Erin Morley, Tamara Mumford, Simon O'Neill, Morris Robinson & Tamara Wilson (soloists); Los Angeles Philharmonic; Los Angeles Children's Chorus, Los Angeles Master Chorale, National Children's Chorus & Pacific Chorale (ensembles)
  • Matthew Guard (conductor); Jonas Budris, Carrie Cheron, Fiona Gillespie, Nathan Hodgson, Helen Karloski, Enrico Lagasca, Megan Roth, Alissa Ruth Suver & Dana Whiteside (soloists); Skylark Vocal Ensem – It's A Long Way
  • Donald Nally (conductor); The Crossing (ensemble) – Rising (With The Crossing)
  • Kaspars Putniņš, conductor; Heli Jürgenson, chorus master (Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir) – Schnittke: Choir Concerto; Three Sacred Hymns; Pärt: Seven Magnificat Antiphons
  • Benedict Sheehan (conductor), Michael Hawes, Timothy Parsons & Jason Thoms (soloists); The Saint Tikhon Choir (ensemble) – Sheehan: Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom
  • Craig Hella Johnson (conductor); Estelí Gomez (soloist); Austin Guitar Quartet, Douglas Harvey, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet & Texas Guitar Quartet; Conspirare (ensembles) – The Singing Guitar
[65]
2023Donald Nally (conductor)BornDominic German, Maren Montalbano, Rebecca Myers & James Reese (soloists); The Crossing (ensemble)[66]
2024Nils Schweckendiek (conductor); Uusinita Ensemble (ensemble); Helsinki Chamber Choir (ensemble)Saariaho: Reconnaissance

Notes edit

  1. ^ In the page for the winners and nominees of the 9th Grammy Awards, Gregg Smith and George Bragg appear as the winners of the award – Ives: Music for Chorus, but according to the source linked in the table, Robert Shaw was the recipient of the award that year. Upon checking the artists page for each at the Grammys official site, all three appear with the award.[8][9][10]

References edit

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  4. ^ "Grammy Awards 1964". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  5. ^ "Grammy Awards 1965". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  6. ^ "Grammy Awards 1966". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  7. ^ "Grammy Awards 1967". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "Gregg Smith". Grammy.com. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  9. ^ "Robert Shaw". Grammy.com. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  10. ^ "George Bragg". Grammy.com. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  11. ^ "Grammy Awards 1968". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  12. ^ "Grammy Awards 1969". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  13. ^ "Grammy Awards 1970". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  14. ^ "Grammy Awards 1971". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  15. ^ "Grammy Awards 1972". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  16. ^ "Grammy Awards 1973". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  17. ^ "Grammy Awards 1974". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
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  64. ^ "2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominees List". Grammy.com. November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
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