Eastman School of Music Faculty and Alumni Win in the 68th GRAMMY Awards
Sara Gazarek, Paul O’Dette, and numerous alums were honored on Sunday evening.
Two faculty members and numerous graduates of the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music were named winners in the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc.’s 68th GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, February 1, 2026. This occasion marks the third GRAMMY win for both Sara Gazarek, associate professor of jazz voice, and Paul O’Dette, professor of lute. Eastman congratulates all of this year’s winners, as well as alumni who played on and contributed to nominated performances.
Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
Telemann: Ino – Opera Arias for Soprano | Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra with conductor Paul O’Dette, professor of lute
Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals
Big Fish | Nate Smith & säje including vocalist and arranger Sara Gazarek, associate professor of jazz voice
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
Dennehy: Land Of Winter | Alarm Will Sound including Alan Pierson ’06E (DMA), artistic director and conductor; Gavin Chuck ’96E (MA), ’04E (PhD), executive director; Peter Ferry ’13E, assistant director of artistic planning; Uday Singh ’20E, ’25E (DMA), operations manager; Michael Clayville ’00E, trombone; Elisabeth Stimpert ’99E (MM), ’01E (MM), clarinet; Bill Kalinkos ’03E, clarinet; Courtney Orlando ’01E (MM), ’03E (DMA), violin; Christa Robinson ’00E, oboe; Michael Harley ’11E (DMA), bassoon; John Orfe ’99E, ’99, piano; Stefan Freund ’99E (MM), ’02E (DMA), cello; Miles Brown ’00E, ’12E (DMA), bass
Best Engineered Album, Classical
Cerrone: Don’t Look Down | Sandbox Percussion including Jonathan Allen ’11E, percussion
Best Opera Recording
Heggie: Intelligence (world premiere recording) | Houston Grand Opera including Elizabeth Priestly Siffert ’02E, principal oboe; Libretto by Gene Scheer ’81E, ’82E (MM)
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
Super Mario Praise Break | Performed by The 8-Bit Big Band including Jared Schonig ’05E, drums
Best Orchestral Performance
Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie | Boston Symphony Orchestra including Christine Lee ’15E (MM), cello; Thomas Martin ’83E, clarinet
See the full list of GRAMMY Winners here.
As the world’s leading society of music professionals, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. is dedicated to celebrating, honoring and sustaining music’s past, present and future.
Media only: Lauren Sageer, Associate Director of Public Relations & Digital Content,
(585) 451-8492, lsageer@esm.rochester.edu
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About Eastman School of Music:
The Eastman School of Music was founded in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman (1854-1932), founder of Eastman Kodak Company. It was the first professional school of the University of Rochester. Mr. Eastman’s dream was that his school would provide a broad education in the liberal arts as well as superb musical training.
More than 900 students are enrolled in the Collegiate Division of the Eastman School of Music—about 500 undergraduates and 400 graduate students. They come from almost every state, and approximately 23 percent are from other countries. They are taught by a faculty comprising more than 170 highly regarded performers, composers, conductors, scholars and educators. They are Pulitzer Prize winners, GRAMMY winners, Emmy winners, Guggenheim fellows, ASCAP Award recipients, published authors, recording artists and acclaimed musicians who have performed in the world’s greatest concert halls. Each year, Eastman’s students, faculty members and guest artists present more than 1,000 concerts to the Rochester community. Additionally, over 1,700 members of the Rochester community, from young children through senior citizens, are enrolled in the Eastman Community Music School.
About the University of Rochester:
The University of Rochester is one of the nation’s leading private research universities, one of only 62-member institutions in the Association of American Universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University gives undergraduates exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College, School of Arts and Sciences, and Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are complemented by the Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and the Memorial Art Gallery.