February 5, 2025

This year, 14 members of our MSM Community were part of Grammy Award-winning projects (out of our nearly 50 nominations).

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony honored winning and nominated recordings, compositions, and artists for work that was released between September 16, 2023, and August 30, 2024, as chosen by the members of the Recording Academy.

The prestigious industry event was aired live on CBS on February 2, 2025.

Discover below the winners and nominees from the MSM Community, including MSM faculty members and alumni. See the full list of 2025 Grammy Award recipients and nominees here.

JAZZ WINNERS

BEST JAZZ PERFORMANCE

Twinkle Twinkle Little Me by Samara Joy featuring Sullivan Fortner (MM ’10), primary artist, piano

BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM

Bianca Reimagined: Music for Paws and Persistence by Dan Pugach Big Band, includes MSM alumni:

• Andrew Gould (MM ’10), Reed 1
• Patrick Cornelius (MM ’06), Reed 2
• Eitan Gofman (MM ’16), Reed 3
• Sam Hoyt (PC ’95), Trumpet 1
• Stuart Mack (MM ’18), Trumpet 4
• Alex Pope Norris (MM ’94), Trumpet 4
• Mike Fahie (MM ’02), Trombone 1

Visual Media & Music Video/Film Winners

BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA

Maestro: Music By Leonard Bernstein

The Philadelphia Symphonic Choir: Katharine Burns (MM ’20), soprano; Sophia Santiago (MM ’21), soprano

Production, Engineering, Composition, and Arrangement Winner

BEST INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION

Strands by Pascal Le Boeuf (BM ’07, MM ’10), composer

CLASSICAL WINNERS

BEST OPERA RECORDING

Saariaho: Adriana Mater—Fleur Barron (MM ’07), mezzo-soprano, as “Adriana Mater;” Nicholas Phan ( ’02), tenor, as “Yonas”

BEST CLASSICAL SOLO VOCAL ALBUM

Beyond the Years—Unpublished Songs of Florence Price—Karen Slack, soloist; Michelle Cann (current MSM College Faculty), pianist

NOMINEES (JAZZ)

BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM

Journey In Black by Christie Dashiell (MM ’13), primary artist, voice, composer

Wildflowers Vol. 1 by Kurt Elling & Sullivan Fortner (MM ’10), primary artist, piano

BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM

Owl Song by Ambrose Akinmusire (BM ’05), primary artist, trumpet, composer

Solo Game by Sullivan Fortner (MM ’10), primary artist, piano, keyboards, composer

BEST LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE ALBUM 

Returning To Forever by John Beasley & Frankfurt Radio Big Band, includes MSM alumni:

• Felix Fromm (MM ’09), trombone
• Hans Glawischnig (MM ’94), bass

And So It Goes by The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, includes MSM alumni:

• Keith Fiddmont (MM ’87), saxophone

Golden City by Miguel Zenón (MM ’01), primary artist, alto saxophone, composer, includes MSM alumni:

• Jacob Garchik (BM ’98), tuba and trombone
• Miles Okazaki (MM ’99), guitar
• Dan Weiss (BM ’99), drums

BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM

As I Travel by Donald Vega (MM ’07), primary artist, piano, composer-arranger

NOMINEES (CLASSICAL)

BEST ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE 

Kodály: Háry János Suite; Summer Evening & Symphony In C Major—JoAnn Falletta (HonDMA ’09), conductor (Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)

BEST OPERA RECORDING 

Puts: The Hours—Kelli O’Hara (HonDMA ’20), soprano, as “Laura Brown”

BEST CHORAL PERFORMANCE 

Sheehan: Akathist—Aine Hakamatsuka (MM ’14), soprano; Timothy Parsons (BM ’12, MM ’14), countertenor

BEST CHAMBER MUSIC/ SMALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE

Cerrone: Beaufort Scales—Beth Willer, Artistic Director and Conductor; Christopher Cerrone (BM ’07), composer and producer; Lorelei Ensemble (feat. Corrine Byrne [MM ’12], soprano)

BEST CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL SOLO 

Akiho: Longing by Andy Akiho (MM ’09), percussion

BEST CLASSICAL SOLO VOCAL ALBUM

A Change Is Gonna Come by Nicholas Phan (’02) and Palaver Strings, includes MSM alumni:

• Teagan Faran (MM ’22), violin
• Brianna Fischler (PC ’10), viola
• Jesse MacDonald (MM ’16), violin

BEST CLASSICAL COMPENDIUM

Akiho: BeLonging by Andy Akiho (MM ’09) and Imani Winds (both primary artists); Andy Akiho (MM ’09), Sean Dixon & Mark Dover (MM ’12), producers

Imani Winds includes MSM alumni:

• Mark Dover (MM ’12), clarinet
• Monica Ellis (PS ’98, MSM faculty), bassoon
• Brandon Patrick George (MM ’10), flute
• Kevin Newton (MM ’20, MSM faculty), French horn
• Toyin Spellman-Diaz (MM ’97, PS ’98), oboe

Foss: Symphony No. 1; Renaissance Concerto; Three American Pieces; Ode—JoAnn Falletta (HonDMA ’09), conductor; Bernd Gottinger, producer

BEST CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL COMPOSITION 

Coleman: Revelry by Valerie Coleman (MSM faculty), composer (Decoda)

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album Nominee

Orchestras (Live) by Bill Frisell, featuring Alexander Hanson, Brussels Philharmonic, Rudy Royston & Thomas Morgan: Thomas Morgan (BM ’03), bass (primary artist)

Best Musical Theatre Album Nominee

The Wiz—Joseph Joubert (BM ’79, MM ’81), producer (primary artist), music director

Package, Notes & Historical Nominee

BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, CLASSICAL

Andres: The Blind Banister—Silas Brown, Doron Schachter, and Michael Schwartz, engineers; Matt Colton, mastering engineer: Doron Schachter (PC ’92, ’93), engineer

Production, Engineering, Composition, and Arrangement Nominees

BEST INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION

Communion by Christopher Zuar Orchestra: Christopher Zuar (MM ’13, MSM faculty), composer

BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTS AND VOCALS

Last Surprise (from “Persona 5”)—Charlie Rosen & Jake Silverman (MM ’16), arrangers