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

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

Awards are given to the choral conductor and to the orchestra conductor if an orchestra is on the recording, and to the choral director or chorus master if applicable. The choir and/or the orchestra do not receive an award. (Note: the press releases for the list of nominees in 2011 and 2012 did not mention award eligibility for engineers, mixers and/or producers, while the official Grammy Winners Database does mention these as official Grammy recipients. During the Grammy award ceremony in February 2012 no engineers, mixers and/or producers were mentioned as winners.^[1]

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.

2010s

Performers who were not eligible for an award (such as orchestras, soloists or choirs) are mentioned between brackets

Grammy Awards of 2017

• Krzysztof Penderecki (conductor); Henryk Wojnarowski (choir director) for Penderecki Conducts Penderecki, Volume 1 (Nikolay Didenko, Agnieszka Rehlis & Johanna Rusanen (soloists); Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra (orchestra); Warsaw Philharmonic Choir (choir))

Nominees

• Elisabeth Holte (conductor) for Himmelrand (Marianne Reidarsdatter Eriksen, Ragnfried Lie & Matilda Sterby (solists); Inger-Lise Ulsrud (accompanist); Uranienborg Vokalensemble (choir))
• Edward Gardner (conductor); Hakon Matti Skrede (chorus master) (Susan Bickley, Gábor Bretz, Sara Jakubiak & Stuart Skelton (soloists); Thomas Trotter (accompanist); Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (orchestra); Bergen Cathedral Choir, Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Choir of Collegium Musicum, Evard Grieg Kor (choirs))
• Donald Nally (conductor) for Lloyd: Bonhoeffer (Malavika Godbole, John Grecia, Rebecca Harris & Thomas Mesa (soloists); The Crossing (ensemble))
• Steven Fox (conductor) for Steinberg: Passion Week (The Clarion Choir)

Grammy Awards of 2016

• Charles Bruffy (conductor) for Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil (with Paul Davidson, Frank Fleschner, Toby Vaughn Kidd, Bryan Pinkall, Julia Scozzafava, Bryan Taylor & Joseph Warner (soloists); Kansas City Chorale & Phoenix Chorale (choruses))

Nominees

• Bernard Haitink (conductor), Peter Dijkstra (chorus master) for Beethoven: Missa Solemnis (with Anton Barachovsky, Genia Kühmeier, Elisabeth Kulman, Hanno Müller-Brachmann & Mark Padmore (soloists); Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (orchestra); Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks de:Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks (chorus))
• Harry Christophers (conductor) for Monteverdi: Vespers of 1610 (with Jeremy Budd, Grace Davidson, Ben Davies, Mark Dobell, Eamonn Dougan & Charlotte Mobbs (soloists); The Sixteen (chorus))
• Craig Hella Johnson (conductor) for Pablo Neruda - The Poet Sings (with James K. Bass, Laura Mercado-Wright, Eric Neuville & Lauren Snouffer (soloists); Faith DeBow & Stephen Redfield; Conspirare (chorus))
• Eric Holtan (conductor) for Paulus: Far in the Heavens (with Sara Fraker, Matthew Goinz, Thea Lobo, Owen McIntosh, Kathryn Mueller & Christine Vivona (soloists); True Concord Orchestra (orchestra); True Concord Voices (chorus))

Grammy Awards of 2015

• Craig Hella Johnson (conductor) for The Sacred Spirit of Russia (with Conspirare, choir)

Nominees

• René Jacobs (conductor) for Bach: Matthäus-Passion (with Werner Güra & Johannes Weisser (soloists); Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin (orchestra); Rias Kammerchor & Staats- und Domchor Berlin (choirs))
• Vivianne Sydness (conductor) for Dyrud: Out of Darkness (with Erland Aagaard Nilsen & Geir Morten Oien (soloists); Sarah Head & Lars Sitter; Nidaros Cathedral Choir)
• Andrew Davis (conductor) and Stephen Jackson (chorus master) for Holst: First Choral Symphony; The Mystic Trumpeter (with Susan Gritton (soloist); BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Symphony Chorus)
• John Butt (conductor) for Mozart: Requiem (with Matthew Brook, Rowan Hellier, Thomas Hobbs & Joanne Lunn (soloists); Dunedin Consort (choir))

Grammy Awards of 2014

• Tõnu Kaljuste (conductor) for Pärt: Adam's Lament (with Tui Hirv & Rainer Vilu; Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir; Sinfonietta Riga & Tallinn Chamber Orchestra; Latvian Radio Choir & Vox Clamantis)

Nominees

• Colin Davis (conductor) for Berlioz: Grande Messe de Morts (with Barry Banks, London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir and London Symphony Chorus)
• Harry Christophers (conductor) for Palestrina: Volume 3 (with The Sixteen)
• Neeme Järvi (conductor), Adrian Partington (chorus master) for Parry: Works for Chorus & Orchestra (with Amanda Roocroft, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and BBC National Chorus of Wales)
• James Jordan (conductor) (conductor) for Whitbourn: Annelies (with Arianna Zukerman, The Lincoln Trio and the Westminster Williamson Voices)

Grammy Awards of 2013

• Charles Bruffy (conductor) for Life & Breath - Choral Works by René Clausen (with Matthew Gladden, Lindsey Lang, Rebecca Lloyd, Sarah Tannehill & Pamela Williamson and the Kansas City Chorale)

Nominees

• Julian Wachner (conductor) for Handel: Israel in Egypt (with the Trinity Baroque Orchestra and the Trinity Choir Wall Street)
• Peter Eötvös (conductor) for Ligeti: Requiem; Apparitions; San Francisco Polyphony (with Barbara Hannigan & Susan Parry, the WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart and WDR Rundfunkchor Köln)
• Stephen Layton (conductor) for Prauliņš: The Nightingale (with Michala Petri and the Danish National Vocal Ensemble)
• Hervé Niquet (conductor) for Striggio: Mass for 40 and 60 Voices (with Le Concert Spirituel)

Grammy Awards of 2012

• Eric Whitacre (conductor) for Light & Gold (Christopher Glynn & Hila Plitmann; The King's Singers, Laudibus, Pavao Quartet & The Eric Whitacre Singers)

Nominees

• Stephen Layton (conductor) for Beyond All Mortal Dreams - American A Cappella (Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge)
• Patrick Dupré Quigley (conductor) and James K. Bass (chorus master) for Brahms: Ein Deutsche Requiem, op. 45 (Justin Blackwell, Scott Allen Jarrett, Paul Max Tipton & Teresa Wakim; the Professional Choral Institute & Seraphic Fire)
• Kjetl Almenning (conductor) for Kind (Nidaros String Quartet; Ensemble 96)
• Paul Hillier (conductor) for The Natural World of Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen (Ars Nova Copenhagen)

Grammy Awards of 2011

• Riccardo Muti, conductor; Duain Wolfe, chorus master, for Verdi: Requiem (with Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Chorus)

Grammy Awards of 2010

• Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor); Ragnar Bohlin, Kevin Fox & Susan McMane (choir directors), 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 (soloists); San Francisco Symphony (orchestra) for Mahler: Symphony No. 8

2000s

• Grammy Awards of 2009
  • Simon Rattle (conductor); Simon Halsey (chorus master) & Rundfunkchor Berlin; Berliner Philharmoniker (orchestra) for Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms
• Grammy Awards of 2008
  • Simon Rattle (conductor); Simon Halsey (chorus master) & Rundfunkchor Berlin; Berliner Philharmoniker (orchestra) for Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem
• Grammy Awards of 2007
  • Paul Hillier (conductor) & Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir for Pärt: Da Pacem
• Grammy Awards of 2006
  • Leonard Slatkin (conductor) & Jerry Blackstone, William Hammer, Jason Harris, Christopher Kiver, Carole Ott & Mary Alice Stollak (choir directors) for Bolcom: Songs Of Innocence And Of Experience: Requiem performed by 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
• Grammy Awards of 2005
  • Robert Spano (conductor) & Norman Mackenzie (choir director) for Berlioz: Requiem performed by Frank Lopardo & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
• Grammy Awards of 2004
  • Paavo Järvi (conductor), Tiia-Ester Loitme & Ants Soots (chorus masters) for Sibelius: Cantatas performed by the Ellerhein Girls' Choir, the Estonian National Male Choir & the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra
• Grammy Awards of 2003
  • Thomas Moore (producer), Michael J. Bishop (engineer), Robert Spano (conductor), Norman Mackenzie (chorus director), Christine Goerke, Brett Polegato & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony (Sym. No. 1)
• Grammy Awards of 2002
  • Martin Sauer (producer), Michael Brammann (engineer), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor), Norbert Balatsch, Erwin Ortner (chorus masters), Bernarda Fink, Matthias Goerne, Dietrich Henschel, Elisabeth von Magnus, Christoph Prégardien, Dorothea Röschmann, Michael Schade, Christine Schäfer, Markus Schäfer, Oliver Widmer, the Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Wiener Sängerknaben & Concentus Musicus Wien for Bach: St Matthew Passion
• Grammy Awards of 2001
  • Karen Wilson (producer), Don Harder (engineer), Helmuth Rilling (conductor) & the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra & Chorus for Penderecki: Credo
• Grammy Awards of 2000
  • Robert Shafer (conductor), Betty Scott, Joan McFarland (choir directors), the Maryland Boy Choir, the Shenandoah Conservatory Chorus & The Washington Chorus for Britten: War Requiem

1990s

• Grammy Awards of 1999
  • Robert Shaw (conductor) & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Barber: Prayers of Kierkegaard/Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem/Bartók: Cantata Profana
• Grammy Awards of 1998
  • Robert Shaw (conductor) & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Adams: Harmonium/Rachmaninoff: The Bells
• Grammy Awards of 1997
  • Andrew Litton (conductor), Neville Creed, David Hill (chorus masters) & the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Walton: Belshazzar's Feast
• Grammy Awards of 1996
  • Herbert Blomstedt (conductor), Vance George (choir director) & the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem
• Grammy Awards of 1995
  • John Eliot Gardiner (choir director), the Monteverdi Choir & the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique for Berlioz: Messe Solennelle
• Grammy Awards of 1994
  • Pierre Boulez (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Bartók: Cantata Profana
• Grammy Awards of 1993
  • Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Bach: Mass in B Minor
• Grammy Awards of 1992
  • Herbert Blomstedt (conductor), Vance George (choir director), the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Boys Chorus & the San Francisco Girls Chorus for Orff: Carmina Burana
• Grammy Awards of 1991
  • Robert Shaw (conductor) & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Walton: Belshazzar's Feast/Bernstein: Chichester Psalms; Missa Brevis
• Grammy Awards of 1990
  • Robert Shaw (conductor) & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Britten: War Requiem

1980s

• Grammy Awards of 1989
  • Robert Shaw (conductor) & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Verdi: Requiem & Operatic Choruses
• Grammy Awards of 1988
  • Robert Shaw (conductor) & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Hindemith: When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd
• Grammy Awards of 1987
  • James Levine (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Orff: Carmina Burana
• Grammy Awards of 1986
  • Robert Shaw (conductor) & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Berlioz: Requiem
• Grammy Awards of 1985
  • James Levine (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Brahms: A German Requiem
• Grammy Awards of 1984
  • Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Haydn: The Creation
• Grammy Awards of 1983
  • Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust
• Grammy Awards of 1982
  • Neville Marriner (conductor) & the Academy of St Martin in the Fields & Chorus for Haydn: The Creation
• Grammy Awards of 1981
  • Carlo Maria Giulini (conductor), Norbert Balatsch (chorus master) & the Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus for Mozart: Requiem
• Grammy Awards of 1980
  • Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director), & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Brahms: A German Requiem

1970s

• Grammy Awards of 1979
  • Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
• Grammy Awards of 1978
  • Georg Solti (conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Verdi: Requiem
• Grammy Awards of 1977
  • André Previn (conductor), Arthur Oldham (choir director) & the London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Rachmaninoff: The Bells
• Grammy Awards of 1976
  • Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor), Robert Page (choir director) the Cleveland Boys Choir & Cleveland Orchestra Chorus for Orff: Carmina Burana
• Grammy Awards of 1975
  • Colin Davis (conductor) the Ambrosian Singers, the Wandsworth School Boys Choir & the London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust
• Grammy Awards of 1974
  • André Previn (conductor), Arthur Oldham (choir director) & the London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Walton: Belshazzar's Feast
• Grammy Awards of 1973
  • Georg Solti (conductor), the Vienna Boys' Choir, the Vienna Singverein Chorus, the Vienna State Opera Chorus, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & various artists for Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E Flat (Symphony of a Thousand)
• Grammy Awards of 1972
  • Colin Davis (conductor), Russell Burgess, Arthur Oldham (choir directors) the Wandsworth School Boys Choir & the London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Berlioz: Requiem
• Grammy Awards of 1971
  • Gregg Smith (choir director), the Gregg Smith Singers & the Columbia Chamber Ensemble for Ives: New Music of Charles Ives
• Grammy Awards of 1970
  • Luciano Berio (conductor), Ward Swingle (choir director), The Swingle Singers & the New York Philharmonic for Berio: Sinfonia

1960s

• Grammy Awards of 1969
  • Vittorio Negri (conductor), George Bragg, Gregg Smith, (choir directors), E. Power Biggs, the Edward Tarr Ensemble, the Gregg Smith Singers & the Texas Boys Choir for The Glory of Gabrieli
• Grammy Awards of 1968
  • Leonard Bernstein (conductor) & the London Symphony Orchestra & Choir for Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E Flat Major (Symphony of a Thousand)
  • Eugene Ormandy (conductor), Robert Page (choir director), the Temple University Choir & the Philadelphia Orchestra for Orff: Catulli Carmina
• Grammy Awards of 1967
  • Robert Shaw (conductor) & the Robert Shaw Orchestra & Chorale for Handel: Messiah
• Grammy Awards of 1966
  • Robert Shaw (conductor), the Robert Shaw Chorale & the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra for Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms/Poulenc: Gloria
  • Gregg Smith (conductor), Columbia Chamber Orchestra, Gregg Smith Singers and Ithaca College Concert Choir; George Bragg & Texas Boys Choir for Charles Ives, Music for Chorus
• Grammy Awards of 1965
  • Robert Shaw (choir director) & the Robert Shaw Chorale for Britten: A Ceremony of Carols
• Grammy Awards of 1964
  • Benjamin Britten (conductor), Edward Chapman, David Willcocks (choir directors), the Bach Choir, Highgate School Choir & the London Symphony Orchestra & Choir for Britten: War Requiem
• Grammy Awards of 1963
  • Otto Klemperer (conductor), Wilhelm Pitz (choir director) & the Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus for Bach: St. Matthew Passion
• Grammy Awards of 1962
  • Robert Shaw (choir director) & the Robert Shaw Orchestra & Chorale for Bach: B Minor Mass
• Grammy Awards of 1961
  • Thomas Beecham (conductor) & the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus for Handel: Messiah

References