Several Rice Owl alumni up for honors at 66th annual Grammy Awards

Rice University said several alumni of the Shepherd School of Music were nominated and are up for awards at the 66th annual Grammy Awards Sunday.

The university said Tenor Karim Sulayman’s (MM ‘01) album “Broken Branches” was nominated for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album.

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The university also said James Gaffigan (MM ‘03) was recognized for his work as conductor with the Bergen Philharmonic on Missy Mazzoli’s album “Dark with Excessive Bright” nominated for Best Contemporary Classical Composition.

Caroline Shaw (BM ‘04) performed with vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth on its album “Rough Magic,” which was nominated for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance.

Three Shepherd School alumni performed with choral group Conspirare on its album “House of Belonging,” nominated for Best Choral Performance. Soprano Chelsea Helm (MM ‘17) is featured on the album. Melissa Givens (MM ‘92) and Sarah Brauer (MM ‘08) also perform on the record.

“The Shepherd School also has several alumni who are members of ensembles that played on nominated albums including the Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Buffalo and Omaha symphonies; the Los Angeles and Louisiana philharmonic orchestras; BBC Concert Orchestra; and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus,” the university said.


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