ECHOES OF NATURE
ARTIST: LAETITIA GRIMALDI, BRUCE O'NEIL, ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN
Echoes of Nature features two world premiere symphonic song cycles by Lucia Caruso & Pedro H. da Silva recorded live from Shakespeare’s church in Stratford-upon-Avon. The music draws on classical techniques, improvisation, and elements from various cultures and eras. Echoes from the Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic opera, and Impressionism pervade the two cycles, as well as new sonorities created by celesta and Portuguese guitar with choir and orchestra.
Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Caruso & da Silva: Nine Shakespeare Songs
Best Choral Performance
Caruso & da Silva: Nine Shakespeare Songs - Choir of the Swan, Bruce O’Neil
Best Engineered Album, Classical
Pedro H. da Silva, Mike Tierney, Terry Carter
Best Classical Compendium
ÉROS
ARTIST: JOSEPH REBMAN
Joseph Rebman’s debut album, Éros, is an exploration of emotion and memory by eight living composers through the lens of solo harp: Carly Sage, Nailah Nombeko, Kyle Wernke, Joseph Rebman, Daniel Perttu, Mackenzie Jacob LaMont, Seolhee (Snow) Kim, and Catherine Neville. Love and romance are common threads throughout the album led by the titular track which is one of the many Greek words for love. These eight works explore the sonic landscape and intrinsic character of the classical harp
Best Engineered Album, Classical
Jake "Kricket" Richter
Best Classical Instrumental Solo
Joseph Rebman, Éros
Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Joseph Rebman, Éros
HOMAGE
ARTIST: MARCUS ELEY
HOMAGE is a tribute to the rich legacy of African American composers, meticulously curated by clarinetist Marcus Eley. Featuring world premiere recordings of works by Alvin Batiste, Earl Louis Stewart, and John Duncan, alongside selections from Trevor Weston's Griot Legacies, this album offers a glimpse into the vibrant tapestry of American music. HOMAGE features the Music Alive Ensemble and Lyris Quartet alongside Eley's soul-stirring renditions, bringing to life the diverse array of musical styles, and inviting listeners on a journey through the heart and soul of American music.
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
Music Alive Ensemble, Batiste: Tune Suite No. 1
Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Lyris Quartet, Stewart: Rhythm Sonata
Best Classical Compendium
Music Alive Ensemble & Lyris Quartet, HOMAGE
Best Immersive Audio Album
HUMAN COCOON
ARTIST: BEYZA YAZGAN
Turkish pianist Beyza Yazgan's debut album, Human Cocoon, is a collection of solo piano works unfurling from a series of meditative improvisations. Embracing simplicity in form and sound, the album is a tapestry shaped out of Beyza’s background as a Western classical pianist, her Turkish musical roots, contemporary jazz, and minimalism. The amalgamation is a personal portrait reflecting on existential themes of what it is to be alive at this moment in time.
Contemporary Classical Composition
Haiku Tune, Beyza Yazgan
Classical Instrumental Solo
Beyza Yazgan, Human Cocoon