Those tuning into the 2026 GRAMMYs will see SFCM and its alliance partners up for some exciting accolades during music's biggest night. 

New composition faculty Jake Heggie was nominated for Best Opera Recording for his work Intelligence. The work also featured Kwamé Ryan conducting, Jamie Barton, J'Nai Bridges, and Janai Brugger in the cast, and was produced by Blanton Alspaugh for Houston Grand Opera with a libretto by Gene Scheer. 

“It is incredibly moving and rewarding to see our stunning cast, orchestra and conductor recognized this way,” Heggie said. “This nomination really means the world to all of us who poured our hearts into making “Intelligence” a powerful, dynamic, surprising and beautiful opera!"

Jake Heggie inside SFCM's Bowes Center.

In 2023, before he became a full time faculty member, Heggie came to SFCM where singers and musicians also performed a run-through of Intelligence in front of an audience of SFCM students ahead of its premiere with the Houston Grand Opera. Heggie called this experience a “critical workshop that helped to finalize the structure and flow of the opera,” and added that "This nomination celebrates the entire journey, including SFCM! I couldn't be more grateful.”

SFCM’s alliance partners are also celebrating several exciting nominations including Askonas Holt and Opus 3 Artists, where congratulations are in order for Yuja Wang, Yo-Yo Ma, Béla Fleck, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Alisa Weilerstein, Ben Bliss, Julia Bullock, Kyle Miller, Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Gene Scheer. 

Yo-Yo Ma, Yuja Wang, and Alisa Weilerstein have all visited SFCM in recent years to work with students, give masterclasses and perform. 

SFCM’s lauded alliance partner, record label PENTATONE, is proud to be recognized for its role in Chris Cerrone: Don’t Look Down, performed by Sandbox Percussion, which has been nominated in three categories: Best Classical Composition, Best Classical Compendium, and Best Engineered, Classical. This nomination celebrates the artistry and collaboration that brought this remarkable recording to life. PENTATONE’s Managing Director, Sean Hickey, shares his thoughts about the recording:

“We congratulate the brilliant composer Christopher Cerrone and the incredible Sandbox Percussion for their GRAMMY nominations in Compendium, for Chris’ in Composition and for the engineering team in the Engineering category. All of us at PENTATONE were taken with this wonderful recording from the outset, and for the fruitful collaboration we have enjoyed with both composer and ensemble."

SFCM has a long relationship with the Recording Academy. Recent winners include faculty Awadagin Pratt and Mason Bates. In 2021 members of the Recording Academy visited SFCM to utilize its state-of-the-art sound and studio equipment to help judge the awards.

Congratulations to all! 

The 2026 GRAMMYS take place Sunday, Feb. 1, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

See the full list of GRAMMY nominations.