Grammy Award for Best Classical Contemporary Composition

The Grammy Award for Best Classical Contemporary Composition was first awarded in 1961. This award was not presented from 1967 to 1984.

The award has had several minor name changes:

• From 1961 to 1962 the award was known as Best Contemporary Classical Composition
• In 1963 it was awarded as Best Contemporary Composition
• In 1965 it was awarded as Best Composition by a Contemporary Composer
• In 1966 and 1964 it was awarded as Best Composition by a Contemporary Classical Composer
• In 1985 it was awarded as Best New Classical Composition
• From 1986 to 1994 it was again awarded as Best Contemporary Composition
• From 1995 to the present it has been again been awarded as Best Classical Contemporary Composition

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.

Table of contents

1 2000s 2 1990s 3 1980s 4 1960s

2000s

• Grammy Awards of 2003
  • Steve Barnett (producer), Preston Smith (engineer), John Tavener (composer), Joseph Jennings (conductor), Chanticleer & the Handel & Haydn Society of Boston for Tavener: Lamentations and Praises
• Grammy Awards of 2002
  • Christopher Rouse (composer), Muhai Tang (conductor), Sharon Isbin & the Gulbenkian Orchestra for Concert de Gaudí for Guitar and Orchestra
• Grammy Awards of 2001
  • George Crumb (composer) & Thomas Conlin for Crumb: Star-Child
• Grammy Awards of 2000
  • Pierre Boulez (composer) & the Ensemble Inter-Contemporain for Boulez: Répons

1990s

• Grammy Awards of 1999
  • Krzysztof Penderecki (composer & conductor), Anne-Sophie Mutter & the London Symphony Orchestra for Penderecki: Violin Concerto No. 2, Metamorphosen
• Grammy Awards of 1998
• Best Classical Contemporary Composition
  • John Adams (composer), Kent Nagano (conductor) & the Hallé Orchestra for "Adams: El Dorado"
• Grammy Awards of 1997
  • John Corigliano (composer) & the Cleveland Quartet for Corigliano: String Quartet
• Grammy Awards of 1996
  • Olivier Messiaen (composer) & Myung-Whun Chung (conductor) for Messiaen: Concert a Quatre
• Grammy Awards of 1995
  • Stephen Albert (composer), David Zinman (conductor) & Yo-Yo Ma for Albert: Cello Concerto
• Grammy Awards of 1994
  • Elliott Carter (composer), Oliver Knussen (conductor) & the London Symphony Orchestra for Carter: Violin Concerto
• Grammy Awards of 1993
  • Samuel Barber (composer), Andrew Schnenck (conductor) & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Barber: The Lovers
• Grammy Awards of 1992
  • John Corigliano (composer), Daniel Barenboim (conductor) & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Corigliano: Symphony No. 1
• Grammy Awards of 1991
  • Leonard Bernstein (composer), Judy Kaye & William Sharp for Bernstein: Arias & Barcarolles
• Grammy Awards of 1990
  • Steve Reich (composer) & the Kronos Quartet for Reich: Different Trains

1980s

• Grammy Awards of 1989
  • John Adams (composer), Edo De Waart (conductor) & the San Francisco Symphony for Adams: Nixon in China
• Grammy Awards of 1988
  • Krzysztof Penderecki (composer & conductor), Mstislav Rostropovich & the Philharmonia Orchestra for Penderecki: Cello Concerto No. 2
• Grammy Awards of 1987
  • Witold Lutoslawski (composer) & Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor) for Lutoslawski: Symphony No. 3
• Grammy Awards of 1986
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber (composer), Sarah Brightman & Placido Domingo for Lloyd Webber: Requiem
• Grammy Awards of 1985
  • Samuel Barber (composer) & Christian Badea (conductor) for Antony and Cleopatra

1960s

• Grammy Awards of 1966
  • Charles Ives (composer) for Ives: Symphony No. 4 conducted by Leopold Stokowski
• Grammy Awards of 1965
  • Samuel Barber (composer) for Concerto performed by John Browning
• Grammy Awards of 1964
  • Benjamin Britten (composer & conductor) & the London Symphony Orchestra for Britten: War Requiem
• Grammy Awards of 1963
  • Igor Stravinsky (composer and conductor) for Stravinsky: The Flood
• Grammy Awards of 1962
  • Laurindo Almeida (composer and artist) for Discantus
  • Igor Stravinsky (composer and artist) for Stravinsky: Movements for Piano and Orchestra
• Grammy Awards of 1961
  • Aaron Copland (composer & conductor) & the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Orchestral Suite From Tender Land Suite