January 28, 2020

Nadia Shpachenko Honors Fellow Artists During Grammy Acceptance Speech

GRAMMY WINNER: Music Department faculty member Nadia Shpachenko thanked the Recording Academy for honoring contemporary classical music. Pictured behind her are her new album's producers Victor and Marina Ledin.

For her collection of contemporary classical pieces, The Poetry of Places, Nadia Shpachenko has won a 2020 Grammy Award in the category of Best Classical Compendium.

She received her award at this year’s ceremony held Sunday in Downtown Los Angeles. (See link to video of awards ceremony below.)

A CGU Music Department studio professor and faculty member at nearby Cal Poly Pomona, pianist Shpachenko’s album brings together classical pieces that were inspired by a particular building or architectural structure.

The album was also nominated in the Producer of the Year, Classical category for its two producers, Victor and Marina Ledin. Previously Shpachenko was nominated for three Grammys in 2015.

Other nominees in the category included the albums American Originals 1918; Leshnoff: Symphony No. 4 ‘Heichalos,’ Guitar Concerto, Starburst; Meltzer: Songs and Structures; and Saariaho: True Fire, Trans, Ciel d’hiver.

TWO NOMINATIONS: Shpachenko’s album was nominated for two Grammys.

Critics have praised Shpachenko for her sensitive and evocative interpretations on her latest album of works by composers including Hannah Lash and Amy Beth Kirsten, among others. Shpachenko’s “supporting cast of composers and performers,” writes music critic Anne Goldberg-Baldwin on the new classical music site, I Care If You Listen, “enrich The Poetry of Places’ diversity and nuance, creating a focused, coherent narrative through which to travel.”

Shpachenko is a vocal supporter and advocate on behalf of contemporary classical music, and she thanked the Recording Academy for recognizing the genre’s importance during her acceptance speech.

“I want to thank the Academy for being so appreciative of classical new music that is being written now,” she said. “I’m so honored to be in this community. I believe in this passionately. Classical new music is thriving right now and I’m so grateful to be representing our community. … This Grammy is for all new music creators.”