WMU alumni triumph at the 67th annual Grammy Awards
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University and the Irving S. Gilmore School of Music are celebrating a remarkable achievement as nine alumni were honored at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 2. This year's awards highlighted the exceptional talent and dedication of WMU graduates, who received both nominations and wins across various categories.
Johnaye Kendrick, a vocalist and WMU Jazz alumna, secured her second Grammy Award with her vocal group säje, winning in the Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals category for their song "Alma." Sam Weber, another WMU graduate, won in the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album category for his work with the Dan Pugach Big Band on the album "Reimagined: Music for Paws and Persistence."
Drummer and WMU Jazz alum, Christian Euman, who regularly tours with the renowned Jacob Collier, achieved a significant milestone by winning his first Grammy Award as an artist in the Best Instrumental Composition category for "Strands," a piece he performed with the Akropolis Reed Quintet and Pascal Le Boeuf.
Additionally, WMU Jazz alumni Evan Hyde and Jay Sawyer were nominated in the Best Children's Music Album and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album categories, respectively. Bryan Farina was also recognized with a nomination in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category as a producer for "Wildflowers Vol.1" by Kurt Elling & Sullivan Fortner.
The unprecedented number of winners and nominees from the WMU Irving S. Gilmore School of Music underscores the institution's commitment to nurturing top-tier talent. These artists represent some of the best in the music industry from New York and Los Angeles and are well deserving of these accolades.
Complete list of nominees and winners
- Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
- Reimagined: Music for Paws and Persistence — Dan Pugach Big Band - WINNER
- WMU graduate: Sam Weber - Bass
- Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals
- "Alma" — Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick & Amanda Taylor, arrangers (säje Featuring Regina Carter) - WINNER
- WMU graduate: Johnaye Kendrick - Vocals
- Best Instrumental Composition
- "Strands" — Pascal Le Boeuf, composer (Akropolis Reed Quintet, Pascal Le Boeuf & Christian Euman) - WINNER
- WMU graduate: Christian Euman - Drums
- Best Choral Performance
- "A Dream So Bright - Choral Music Of Jake Runestad" (Jeffrey Biegel; True Concord Orchestra; True Concord Voices) - Nominated
- WMU graduates: Chelsea Helm - Soprano, Patrick Muehleise - Tenor
- Best Children's Music Album
- Creciendo — Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats - Nominated
- WMU graduate: Evan Hyde - Drums
- Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
- Impossible Dream - Aaron Lazar - Nominated
- WMU graduate: Jay Sawyer - Drums
- Best Jazz Vocal Album
- "Wildflowers Vol.1" – Kurt Elling & Sullivan Fortner - Nominated
- WMU graduate: Bryan Farina - Producer
- Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum Music Educator Award
- Stephen Blanco - Nominated
WMU is immensely proud of all its graduates and their outstanding achievements in the music industry. Their success at the Grammy Awards is a testament to the high-quality education and training they received at WMU.
For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.