Grammy Winner John Daversa Triumphs in his Categories at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards
In the world of music, the 61st GRAMMY Awards was a night of celebration, and several UCLA affiliates made their mark.
John Daversa, a UCLA Music Performance graduate, was one of the stars of the night, taking home three awards for his album, American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom. The album, which features 53 musicians enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, won in the categories of Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, Best Improvised Jazz Solo, and Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella.
Daversa, a longtime Angeleno, currently serves as chair of Studio Music and Jazz at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. His win at the 61st GRAMMY Awards is a testament to his talent and dedication to music.
Another UCLA affiliate who made a significant impact was conductor JoAnn Falletta. She won the Best Classical Compendium category for Fuchs: Piano Concerto 'Spiritualist'; Poems Of Life; Glacier; Rush. Falletta, who invited the UCLA Chamber Singers to record and perform with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in April 2019, is the first woman to be named artistic director for a major American orchestral ensemble.
The UCLA Chamber Singers' involvement in Fuchs: Piano Concerto 'Spiritualist'; Poems Of Life; Glacier; Rush is not specified, but the winning work undoubtedly showcases the choir's exceptional talent.
While John Williams, a legendary composer with multiple Grammy Awards, is a highly distinguished figure in music, there is no direct mention of his involvement at the 61st GRAMMYs specifically or of his UCLA connection. Similarly, no UCLA alumni or faculty members were explicitly listed as winners or nominees at the 61st GRAMMY Awards.
The Wayne Shorter Quartet, which includes UCLA affiliate Wayne Shorter, won in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category for Emanon. The winning solo was on the song "Don't Fence Me In." However, the specific songs or pieces within Emanon that won the award are not specified.
Jake Heggie, another UCLA alumnus, was nominated in the Contemporary Classical Composition category for Great Scott. Terrence McNally was the librettist for the work. Although Great Scott did not win an award, it represents another example of UCLA's influence in the music industry.
In conclusion, the 61st GRAMMY Awards was a night of success for several UCLA affiliates. John Daversa's wins, JoAnn Falletta's victory, and the Wayne Shorter Quartet's award are just a few examples of the university's impact on the music world. As always, UCLA continues to foster talent and innovation in various fields, including music.
The 61st GRAMMY Awards not only celebrated music, but also showcased the talent of UCLA affiliates such as John Daversa, whose album 'American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom' won in multiple categories, including Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo. Furthermore, the excitement of music extended to the UCLA Chamber Singers, who, though not explicitly mentioned about their involvement, were part of the winning work 'Fuchs: Piano Concerto 'Spiritualist'; Poems Of Life; Glacier; Rush'.
