The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is proud to share that faculty and alumni were well represented at this year’s GRAMMY Awards. In all, twelve faculty and four alums were nominated (or were recognized in nominations) across eleven categories.
UCLA alumnus Alexander Lloyd Blake was nominated in the category of Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella for Rose without Thorns.
In the category of Best Arrangement, Instrument and Vocals, the album Alma, featuring säje and Regina Carter, professor of music performance at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, was nominated.
The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s recording of Gabriela Ortiz’s Revolución Diamantina has been nominated in four categories: Best Orchestral Performance, Best Contemporary Classical Composition, Best Classical Compendium and Best Engineered Classical Album. Several of The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music’s faculty play with the LA Philharmonic, including Boris Allakhverdyan (principal clarinet), Chris Hanulik (principal bass), Ben Hong (associate principal cello), Varty Manouelian (violin), James Miller (associate principal trombone), Jan Berry Baker (alto saxophone for the recording) and school of music alumnus David Riccobono (assistant principal timpanist and section percussionist).
In the category of Best Contemporary Classical Composition, Valerie Coleman’s “Revelry,” recorded on Decoda’s self-titled debut album received a nomination. Performing with Decoda are UCLA faculty members Catherine Gregory on flute and David Kaplan on piano.
Catherine Gregory is also principal flute in the Experiential Orchestra, which has earned two GRAMMY nominations. Perry: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra is nominated for Best Classical Instrumental Solo and American Counterpoints is up for Best Classical Compendium.
Alum Nicole Cohen (KOLE) is recognized in the nomination of Lalah Hathaway’s VANTABLACK in the category of Best R&B Album. Nicole co-wrote the songs “Energy,” “Myth of Being,” and “I AM” and sang background vocals on “The Energy.”
Alum Ryan Svendsen performed trumpet on Beyoncé’s “16 Carriages” from Cowboy Carter, nominated for Best Country Solo Performance. Beyoncé’s album was nominated for 11 GRAMMYS, making it second only to Michael Jackson’s Thriller, which garnered 12 nominations in 1984.
Faculty member Amy Kuney co-wrote the song “Red Wine Supernova” on Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, nominated for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album.
Congratulations to the outstanding UCLA musicians on this well-deserved recognition.