The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Source: Fox News
Posted: Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:25 PM
East Tennessee Classical Composer Jennifer Higdon Wins Grammy Sunday Night At 60th Annual Awards Celebration
Jennifer Higdon, one of America's most acclaimed contemporary Classical composers, took home her second Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition on Sunday for her composition "Viola Concerto."
While originally born in Brooklyn and
raised in Atlanta, Higdon's family eventually made their way to Seymour,
Tenn. where she played flute and percussion at Heritage High School. She
eventually graduated and pursued a music degree at Bowling Green State
University.
"Viola Concerto" was co-commissioned by the Library of Congress and the
Curtis Institute of Music where Higdon teaches at. The concerto was
performed by soloist Roberto Díaz with the Nashville Symphony and
conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero.
Higdon won her first Grammy at the 52nd Awards in 2009 in the same
category for her composition "Percussion Concerto." Including her first
nomination in 2004, she's been nominated for a Grammy a total of five
times.
Higdon wasn't the only person with East Tennessee ties up for a Grammy
this year. Bradley Reeves, the co-founder of the Tennessee Archive of
Moving Image and Sound (TAMIS), and WDVX host Wayne Bledsoe were both
nominated for the Best Album Notes for Arthur Q. Smith: The Trouble With
the Truth. Also in the running for the same category was ETSU professor
Ted Olson for his notes in Big Bend Killing: The Appalachian Ballad
Tradition.
Knoxville native Kenny Chesney's album Cosmic Hallelujah was up for a
Grammy for Best Country Album this year. Kentucky native Chris Stapleton
ultimately took home that award with his album From A Room: Volume 1.
