Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance has been awarded since 1961. There have been several minor changes to the name of the award over this time:
- In 1961 the award was known as Best Classical Performance - Choral
- From 1962 to 1964 it was awarded as Best Classical Performance - Choral
- In 1965, 1969, 1971, 1977 to 1978 and 1982 to 1991 it was awarded as Best Choral Performance
- From 1966 to 1968 it was awarded as Best Classical Choral Performance
- In 1970, 1973 to 1976 and 1979 to 1981 it was awarded as Best Choral Performance, Classical
- In 1972 it was awarded as Best Choral Performance - Classical
- From 1992 to 1994 it was awarded as Best Performance of a Choral Work
- 1995 to the present the award has been known as Best Choral Performance
Until 2016, awards were given to the choral conductor and to the orchestra conductor if an orchestra is on the recording, and to the choral director or chorus master if applicable. The choir and/or the orchestra did not receive an award. From 2017, the choir does receive a Grammy Award as an ensemble.
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year. Performers who were not eligible for an award are mentioned between brackets. From 2017, the choral organization/ensemble does receive an Award.
2020s
2020- Robert Simpson ; Ken Cowan ; Houston Chamber Choir - Duruflé: Complete Choral Works
- Donald Nally ; The Crossing - Boyle: Voyages
- Craig Hella Johnson ; Conspirare - The Hope of Loving
- Peter Jermihov ; Evan Bravos, Vadim Gan, Kevin Keys, Glenn Miller & Daniel Shirley ; PaTRAM Institute Singers - Sander: The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
- Donald Nally ; The Crossing - Smith, K.: The Arc in the Sky
2010s
- Donald Nally, The Crossing for McLoskey: Zealot Canticles
- Nominees
- *Vladimir Gorbik, PaTRAM Institute Male Choir for Chesnokov: Teach Me Thy Statutes
- *Steven Fox, The Clarion Choir for Kastalsky: Memory Eternal
- *Mariss Jansons, Peter Dijkstra, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks for Rachmaninov: The Bells
- *Matthew Guard, Skylark for Seven Words From The Cross
- Donald Nally, The Crossing for Bryars: The Fifth Century
- Nominees
- *Andrew Davis, Noel Edison and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir for Händel: Messiah
- *Alexander Liebreich ; Florian Helgath and the RIAS Kammerchor for Mansurian: Requiem
- *Nigel Short, Tenebrae for Music of the Spheres
- *Brian A. Schmidt and the South Dakota Chorale for Tyberg: Masses
- Krzysztof Penderecki ; Henryk Wojnarowski and the Warsaw Philharmonic Choir for Penderecki Conducts Penderecki, Volume 1 ; Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra )
- Elisabeth Holte for Himmelrand ; Inger-Lise Ulsrud ; Uranienborg Vokalensemble )
- Edward Gardner ; Hakon Matti Skrede ; Thomas Trotter ; Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra ; Bergen Cathedral Choir, Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Choir of Collegium Musicum, Evard Grieg Kor )
- Donald Nally for Lloyd: Bonhoeffer ; The Crossing )
- Steven Fox for Steinberg: Passion Week
- Charles Bruffy for Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil ; Kansas City Chorale & Phoenix Chorale )
- Bernard Haitink, Peter Dijkstra for Beethoven: Missa Solemnis ; Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks ; )
- Harry Christophers for Monteverdi: Vespers of 1610 ; The Sixteen )
- Craig Hella Johnson for Pablo Neruda - The Poet Sings ; Faith DeBow & Stephen Redfield; Conspirare )
- Eric Holtan for Paulus: Far in the Heavens ; True Concord Orchestra ; True Concord Voices )
- Craig Hella Johnson for The Sacred Spirit of Russia
- René Jacobs for Bach: Matthäus-Passion ; Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin ; Rias Kammerchor & Staats- und Domchor Berlin )
- Vivianne Sydness for Dyrud: Out of Darkness
- Andrew Davis and Stephen Jackson for Holst: First Choral Symphony; The Mystic Trumpeter
- John Butt for Mozart: Requiem ; Dunedin Consort )
- Tõnu Kaljuste for Pärt: Adam's Lament
- Colin Davis for Berlioz: Grande Messe de Morts
- Harry Christophers for Palestrina: Volume 3
- Neeme Järvi, Adrian Partington for Parry: Works for Chorus & Orchestra
- James Jordan for Whitbourn: Annelies
- Charles Bruffy for Life & Breath - Choral Works by René Clausen
- Julian Wachner for Handel: Israel in Egypt
- Peter Eötvös for Ligeti: Requiem; Apparitions; San Francisco Polyphony
- Stephen Layton for Prauliņš: The Nightingale
- Hervé Niquet for Striggio: Mass for 40 and 60 Voices
- Eric Whitacre for Light & Gold
- Stephen Layton for Beyond All Mortal Dreams - American A Cappella
- Patrick Dupré Quigley and James K. Bass for Brahms: Ein Deutsche Requiem, op. 45
- Kjetl Almenning for Kind
- Paul Hillier for The Natural World of Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen
- Riccardo Muti, conductor; Duain Wolfe, chorus master, for Verdi: Requiem
- Michael Tilson Thomas ; Ragnar Bohlin, Kevin Fox & Susan McMane, San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Pacific Boychoir & San Francisco Girls Chorus; Laura Claycomb, Anthony Dean Griffey, Elza van den Heever, Katarina Karnéus, Quinn Kelsey, James Morris, Yvonne Naef & Erin Wall ; San Francisco Symphony for Mahler: Symphony No. 8
2000s
- Grammy Awards of 2009
- *Simon Rattle ; Simon Halsey & Rundfunkchor Berlin; Berliner Philharmoniker for Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms
- Grammy Awards of 2008
- *Simon Rattle ; Simon Halsey & Rundfunkchor Berlin; Berliner Philharmoniker for Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem
- Grammy Awards of 2007
- *Paul Hillier & Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir for Pärt: Da Pacem
- Grammy Awards of 2006
- *Leonard Slatkin & Jerry Blackstone, William Hammer, Jason Harris, Christopher Kiver, Carole Ott & Mary Alice Stollak for Bolcom: Songs Of Innocence And Of Experience: Requiem performed by Christine Brewer, Measha Brueggergosman, Ilana Davidson, Nmon Ford, Linda Hohenfeld, Joan Morris, Carmen Pelton, Marietta Simpson & Thomas Young; Michigan State University Children's Choir, University Of Michigan Chamber Choir, University Of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University Of Michigan University Choir & University Musical Society Choral Union; University Of Michigan School Of Music Symphony Orchestra
- Grammy Awards of 2005
- *Robert Spano & Norman Mackenzie for Berlioz: Requiem performed by Frank Lopardo & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
- Grammy Awards of 2004
- *Paavo Järvi, Tiia-Ester Loitme & Ants Soots for Sibelius: Cantatas performed by the Ellerhein Girls' Choir, the Estonian National Male Choir & the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra
- Grammy Awards of 2003
- *Thomas Moore, Michael J. Bishop, Robert Spano, Norman Mackenzie, Christine Goerke, Brett Polegato & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony
- Grammy Awards of 2002
- *Martin Sauer, Michael Brammann, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Norbert Balatsch, Erwin Ortner, Bernarda Fink, Matthias Goerne, Dietrich Henschel, Elisabeth von Magnus, Christoph Prégardien, Dorothea Röschmann, Michael Schade, Christine Schäfer, Markus Schäfer, Oliver Widmer, the Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Wiener Sängerknaben & Concentus Musicus Wien for Bach: St Matthew Passion
- Grammy Awards of 2001
- *Karen Wilson, Don Harder, Helmuth Rilling & the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra & Chorus for Penderecki: Credo
- Grammy Awards of 2000
- *Robert Shafer, Betty Scott, Joan McFarland, the Maryland Boy Choir, the Shenandoah Conservatory Chorus & The Washington Chorus for Britten: War Requiem
1990s
- Grammy Awards of 1999
- *Robert Shaw & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Barber: Prayers of Kierkegaard/Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem/Bartók: Cantata Profana
- Grammy Awards of 1998
- *Robert Shaw & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Adams: Harmonium/Rachmaninoff: The Bells
- Grammy Awards of 1997
- *Andrew Litton, Neville Creed, David Hill & the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Walton: Belshazzar's Feast
- Grammy Awards of 1996
- *Herbert Blomstedt, Vance George & the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem
- Grammy Awards of 1995
- *John Eliot Gardiner, the Monteverdi Choir & the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique for Berlioz: Messe Solennelle
- Grammy Awards of 1994
- *Pierre Boulez, Margaret Hillis & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Bartók: Cantata Profana
- Grammy Awards of 1993
- *Georg Solti, Margaret Hillis & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Bach: Mass in B Minor
- Grammy Awards of 1992
- *Herbert Blomstedt, Vance George, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Boys Chorus & the San Francisco Girls Chorus for Orff: Carmina Burana
- Grammy Awards of 1991
- *Robert Shaw & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Walton: Belshazzar's Feast/Bernstein: Chichester Psalms; Missa Brevis
- Grammy Awards of 1990
- *Robert Shaw & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Britten: War Requiem
1980s
- Grammy Awards of 1989
- *Robert Shaw & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Verdi: Requiem & Operatic Choruses
- Grammy Awards of 1988
- *Robert Shaw & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Hindemith: When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd
- Grammy Awards of 1987
- *James Levine, Margaret Hillis & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Orff: Carmina Burana
- Grammy Awards of 1986
- *Robert Shaw & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Berlioz: Requiem
- Grammy Awards of 1985
- *James Levine, Margaret Hillis & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Brahms: A German Requiem
- Grammy Awards of 1984
- *Georg Solti, Margaret Hillis & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Haydn: The Creation
- Grammy Awards of 1983
- *Georg Solti, Margaret Hillis & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust
- Grammy Awards of 1982
- *Neville Marriner & the Academy of St Martin in the Fields & Chorus for Haydn: The Creation
- Grammy Awards of 1981
- *Carlo Maria Giulini, Norbert Balatsch & the Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus for Mozart: Requiem
- Grammy Awards of 1980
- *Georg Solti, Margaret Hillis, & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Brahms: A German Requiem
1970s
- Grammy Awards of 1979
- *Georg Solti, Margaret Hillis & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
- Grammy Awards of 1978
- *Georg Solti, Margaret Hillis & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Verdi: Requiem
- Grammy Awards of 1977
- *André Previn, Arthur Oldham & the London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Rachmaninoff: The Bells
- Grammy Awards of 1976
- *Michael Tilson Thomas, Robert Page the Cleveland Boys Choir & Cleveland Orchestra Chorus for Orff: Carmina Burana
- Grammy Awards of 1975
- *Colin Davis the Ambrosian Singers, the Wandsworth School Boys Choir & the London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust
- Grammy Awards of 1974
- *André Previn, Arthur Oldham & the London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Walton: Belshazzar's Feast
- Grammy Awards of 1973
- *Georg Solti, the Vienna Boys' Choir, the Vienna Singverein Chorus, the Vienna State Opera Chorus, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & various artists for Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E Flat
- Grammy Awards of 1972
- *Colin Davis, Russell Burgess, Arthur Oldham the Wandsworth School Boys Choir & the London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Berlioz: Requiem
- Grammy Awards of 1971
- *Gregg Smith, the Gregg Smith Singers & the Columbia Chamber Ensemble for Ives: New Music of Charles Ives
- Grammy Awards of 1970
- *Luciano Berio, Ward Swingle, The Swingle Singers & the New York Philharmonic for Berio: Sinfonia
1960s
- Grammy Awards of 1969
- *Vittorio Negri, George Bragg, Gregg Smith,, E. Power Biggs, the Edward Tarr Ensemble, the Gregg Smith Singers & the Texas Boys Choir for The Glory of Gabrieli
- Grammy Awards of 1968
- *Leonard Bernstein & the London Symphony Orchestra & Choir for Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E Flat Major
- *Eugene Ormandy, Robert Page, the Temple University Choir & the Philadelphia Orchestra for Orff: Catulli Carmina
- Grammy Awards of 1967
- *Robert Shaw & the Robert Shaw Orchestra & Chorale for Handel: Messiah
- Grammy Awards of 1966
- *Robert Shaw, the Robert Shaw Chorale & the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra for Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms/Poulenc: Gloria
- *Gregg Smith, Columbia Chamber Orchestra, Gregg Smith Singers and Ithaca College Concert Choir; George Bragg & Texas Boys Choir for Charles Ives, Music for Chorus
- Grammy Awards of 1965
- *Robert Shaw & the Robert Shaw Chorale for Britten: A Ceremony of Carols
- Grammy Awards of 1964
- *Benjamin Britten, Edward Chapman, David Willcocks, the Bach Choir, Highgate School Choir & the London Symphony Orchestra & Choir for Britten: War Requiem
- Grammy Awards of 1963
- *Otto Klemperer, Wilhelm Pitz & the Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus for Bach: St. Matthew Passion
- Grammy Awards of 1962
- *Robert Shaw & the Robert Shaw Orchestra & Chorale for Bach: B Minor Mass
- Grammy Awards of 1961
- *Thomas Beecham & the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus for Handel: Messiah