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

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:

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

Year[I] Recipient(s) Work Performing artist(s) Nominees
Performing artist(s) in parentheses 		Ref.
1961 Thomas Beecham (conductor) Handel: Messiah Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus
[1]
1962 Robert Shaw (choir director) Bach: B Minor Mass Robert Shaw Orchestra & Chorale
[2]
1963 Otto Klemperer (conductor); Wilhelm Pitz (choir director) Bach: St. Matthew Passion Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus
[3]
1964 Benjamin Britten (conductor); Edward Chapman, David Willcocks (choir directors) Britten: War Requiem Bach Choir, Highgate School Choir & the London Symphony Orchestra & Choir
[4]
1965 Robert Shaw (choir director) Britten: A Ceremony of Carols Robert Shaw Chorale
[5]
1966 Robert Shaw (conductor) Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms/Poulenc: Gloria Robert Shaw Chorale & the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
[6]
1967 Robert Shaw (conductor) Handel: Messiah Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra
[7]
Gregg Smith (conductor); George Bragg (choir director) [a] Ives: Music for Chorus Ithaca College Concert Choir, Gregg Smith Singers & Texas Boys Choir; Columbia Chamber Orchestra
1968 Leonard 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 Carmina Temple University Choir & the Philadelphia Orchestra
1969 Vittorio Negri (conductor), George Bragg, Gregg Smith, (choir directors) The Glory of Gabrieli Gregg Smith Singers & Texas Boys Choir
[12]
1970 Luciano Berio (conductor), Ward Swingle (choir director) Berio: Sinfonia The Swingle Singers & the New York Philharmonic
[13]
1971 Gregg Smith (choir director), Ives: New Music of Charles Ives Gregg Smith Singers & Columbia Chamber Ensemble
[14]
1972 Colin Davis (conductor); Russell Burgess, Arthur Oldham (choir directors) Berlioz: Requiem Wandsworth School Boys Choir & London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[15]
1973 Georg 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]
1974 André Previn (conductor), Arthur Oldham (choir director) Walton: Belshazzar's Feast London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[17]
1975 Colin Davis (conductor) Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust Ambrosian Singers, Wandsworth School Boys Choir & London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[18]
1976 Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor), Robert Page (choir director) Orff: Carmina Burana Cleveland Boys Choir & Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
[19]
1977 André Previn (conductor), Arthur Oldham (choir director) Rachmaninoff: The Bells London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[20]
1978 Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) Verdi: Requiem Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[21]
1979 Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) Beethoven: Missa Solemnis Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[22]
1980 Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) Brahms: A German Requiem Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[23]
1981 Carlo Maria Giulini (conductor), Norbert Balatsch (chorus master) Mozart: Requiem Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus
[24]
1982 Neville Marriner (conductor) Haydn: The Creation Academy of St Martin in the Fields & Chorus
[25]
1983 Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[26]
1984 Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) Haydn: The Creation Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[27]
1985 James Levine (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) Brahms: A German Requiem Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[28]
1986 Robert Shaw (conductor) Berlioz: Requiem Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[29]
1987 James Levine (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) Orff: Carmina Burana Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[30]
1988 Robert Shaw (conductor) Hindemith: When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[31]
1989 Robert Shaw (conductor) Verdi: Requiem & Operatic Choruses Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[32]
1990 Robert Shaw (conductor) Britten: War Requiem Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus and the Atlanta Boy Choir
[33]
1991 Robert Shaw (conductor) Walton: Belshazzar's Feast/Bernstein: Chichester Psalms; Missa Brevis Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[34]
1992 Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) Bach: Mass in B Minor Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[35]
1993 Herbert Blomstedt (conductor), Vance George (choir director) Orff: Carmina Burana San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Boys Chorus & the San Francisco Girls Chorus
[36]
1994 Pierre Boulez (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) Bartók: Cantata Profana Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[37]
1995 John Eliot Gardiner (choir director) Berlioz: Messe Solennelle Monteverdi Choir & the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique
[38]
1996 Herbert Blomstedt (conductor), Vance George (choir director) Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem San Francisco Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[39]
1997 Andrew Litton (conductor), Neville Creed, David Hill (chorus masters) Walton: Belshazzar's Feast Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[40]
1998 Robert Shaw (conductor) Adams: Harmonium/Rachmaninoff: The Bells Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[41]
1999 Robert Shaw (conductor) Barber: Prayers of Kierkegaard/Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem/Bartók: Cantata Profana Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[42]
2000 Robert Shafer (conductor), Betty Scott, Joan McFarland (choir directors) Britten: War Requiem Maryland Boy Choir, the Shenandoah Conservatory Chorus & The Washington Chorus
[43]
2001 Karen Wilson (producer), Don Harder (engineer), Helmuth Rilling (conductor) Penderecki: Credo Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra & Chorus
[44]
2002 Martin Sauer (producer), Michael Brammann (engineer), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor), Norbert Balatsch, Erwin Ortner (chorus masters) Bach: St Matthew Passion Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Wiener Sängerknaben & Concentus Musicus Wien
[45]
2003 Thomas 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]
2004 Paavo Järvi (conductor), Tiia-Ester Loitme & Ants Soots (chorus masters) Sibelius: Cantatas Ellerhein Girls' Choir, Estonian National Male Choir & Estonian National Symphony Orchestra
[47]
2005 Robert Spano (conductor) & Norman Mackenzie (choir director) Berlioz: Requiem Frank Lopardo & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[48]
2006 Leonard Slatkin (conductor) & Jerry Blackstone, William Hammer, Jason Harris, Christopher Kiver, Carole Ott & Mary Alice Stollak (choir directors) Bolcom: Songs Of Innocence And Of Experience: Requiem Christine 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]
2007 Paul Hillier (conductor) Pärt: Da Pacem Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
[50]
2008 Simon Rattle (conductor); Simon Halsey (chorus master) Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem Rundfunkchor Berlin; Berliner Philharmoniker
[51]
2009 Simon Rattle (conductor); Simon Halsey (chorus master) Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms Rundfunkchor Berlin; Berliner Philharmoniker
[52]
2010 Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor); Ragnar Bohlin, Kevin Fox & Susan McMane (choir directors); Peter Laenger & Andreas Neubronner, engineers/mixers Mahler: Symphony No. 8 San 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]
2011 Riccardo Muti, conductor; Duain Wolfe, chorus master Verdi: Requiem Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
[54]
2012 Eric Whitacre (conductor) Light & Gold Christopher Glynn & Hila Plitmann; The King's Singers, Laudibus, Pavao Quartet & The Eric Whitacre Singers
[55]
2013 Charles Bruffy (conductor); Blanton Alspaugh, producer; Tom Caulfield & John Newton, engineers/mixers Life & Breath - Choral Works by René Clausen Matthew Gladden, Lindsey Lang, Rebecca Lloyd, Sarah Tannehill & Pamela Williamson and the Kansas City Chorale
[56]
2014 Tõnu Kaljuste (conductor); Manfred Eicher, producer; Peter Laenger & Stephan Schellmann, engineers Pärt: Adam's Lament Tui Hirv & Rainer Vilu; Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir; Sinfonietta Riga & Tallinn Chamber Orchestra; Latvian Radio Choir & Vox Clamantis [57]
2015 Craig Hella Johnson (conductor); Robina G. Young (producer); Brad Michel (engineer/mixer) The Sacred Spirit of Russia Conspirare
[58]
2016 Charles Bruffy (conductor); Blanton Alspaugh (producer); Byeong Joon Hwang & John Newton (engineers) Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil Paul Davidson, Frank Fleschner, Toby Vaughn Kidd, Bryan Pinkall, Julia Scozzafava, Bryan Taylor & Joseph Warner (soloists); Kansas City Chorale & Phoenix Chorale (choruses)
[59]
2017 Krzysztof Penderecki (conductor); Henryk Wojnarowski (choir director) Penderecki Conducts Penderecki, Volume 1 Nikolay Didenko, Agnieszka Rehlis & Johanna Rusanen (soloists); Warsaw Philharmonic Choir (chorus); Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra (orchestra)
[60]
2018 Donald Nally (conductor); Andreas K. Meyer & Paul Vazquez (engineers) Bryars: The Fifth Century The Crossing, PRISM Quartet
[61]
2019 Donald Nally (conductor); Paul Vazquez (producer) McLoskey: Zealot Canticles The Crossing
[62]
2020 Robert Simpson (conductor); Blanton Alspaugh (producer); John Newton (engineer) Duruflé: Complete Choral Works Ken Cowan (soloist); Houston Chamber Choir
[63]
2021 JoAnn Falletta (conductor); James K. Bass & Adam Luebke (chorus masters); Bernd Gottinger (engineer/mixer) Danielpour: The Passion of Yeshua James K. Bass, J'Nai Bridges, Timothy Fallon, Kenneth Overton, Hila Plitmann & Matthew Worth (soloists); Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus & UCLA Chamber Singers
[64]
2022 Gustavo 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]
2023 Donald Nally (conductor) Born Dominic German, Maren Montalbano, Rebecca Myers & James Reese (soloists); The Crossing (ensemble) [66]
2024 Nils Schweckendiek (conductor); Uusinita Ensemble (ensemble); Helsinki Chamber Choir (ensemble) Saariaho: Reconnaissance

Notes

  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

  1. ^ "Grammy Awards 1961". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "Grammy Awards 1962". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "Grammy Awards 1963". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  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.
  18. ^ "Grammy Awards 1975". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  19. ^ "Grammy Awards 1976". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  20. ^ "Grammy Awards 1977". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  21. ^ "Grammy Awards 1978". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  22. ^ "Grammy Awards 1979". AwardsandShows. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  23. ^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1980 – Grammy Award Winners 1980". www.awardsandshows.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  24. ^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1981 – Grammy Award Winners 1981". www.awardsandshows.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  25. ^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1982 – Grammy Award Winners 1982". www.awardsandshows.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  26. ^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1983 – Grammy Award Winners 1983". www.awardsandshows.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
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  28. ^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1985 – Grammy Award Winners 1985". www.awardsandshows.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  29. ^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1986 – Grammy Award Winners 1986". www.awardsandshows.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
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  38. ^ "1995 Grammy Awards". www.infoplease.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  39. ^ "1996 Grammy Awards". www.infoplease.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  40. ^ "1997 Grammy Awards". www.infoplease.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  41. ^ "1998 Grammy Awards". www.infoplease.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  42. ^ "1999 Grammy Awards". www.infoplease.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  43. ^ "2000 Grammy Awards". www.infoplease.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
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  53. ^ Bruno, Mike (January 31, 2010). "Grammy Awards 2010: The winners list". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  54. ^ "Grammy Awards 2011: Winners and nominees for 53rd Grammy Awards". Los Angeles Times. March 12, 2014. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  55. ^ THR Staff (February 12, 2012). "Grammy Awards 2012: Complete Winners And Nominees List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  56. ^ Billboard Staff (February 10, 2013). "Grammys 2013: Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  57. ^ Billboard Staff (January 26, 2014). "56th GRAMMY Awards: Full Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  58. ^ Billboard Staff (February 8, 2015). "Grammys 2015: And the Winners Are ..." Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  59. ^ Billboard Staff (February 15, 2016). "Grammy Awards 2016: See the Full Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  60. ^ "2016 GRAMMY WINNERS". Grammy.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  61. ^ "2018 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Winners List". Grammy.com. November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  62. ^ "2018 GRAMMY WINNERS". Grammy.com. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  63. ^ "2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Winners & Nominations List". Grammy.com. November 20, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  64. ^ "2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominees List". Grammy.com. November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  65. ^ "2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Nominations List". Grammy.com. November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
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