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Grammys In Classical And Jazz Go To UConn Musicians

UConn was a double winner at the Grammys on Sunday, in classical music and jazz.

The work of Kenneth Fuchs, a professor of music composition at UConn, has been nominated in the past, but this time he won. Fuchs's collection of piecesperformed by the London Symphony Orchestra took home the prize for Best Classical Compendium.

Fuchs was up against some big names at the 61st Grammy Awards, including John Williams, best known for his "Star Wars" and "E.T." compositions. 

Last year, Fuchs told NEPR's John Nowackithat while he's in his element now, at the beginning of his career, his pieces seemed counter to a trend of more dissonant compositions.

“In the face of [composers] Babbitt and Carter and Sessions especially, to come in [to Julliard] with music that was distinctly tonal — it was quite a journey for me to compose in the voice that I compose in now," Fuchs said.

UConn can also boast about its connections to a second 2019 Grammy.

Music professor Louis Hanzlik plays trumpet on "Emanon" from the Wayne Shorter Quartet. The album won for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.

Trumpet player Louis Hanzik, a professor at UConn, played horn on the album "Emanon," from the Wayne Shorter Quartet. It won the 2019 Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.
Sean Flynn / UConn file photo
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UConn file photo
Trumpet player Louis Hanzik, a professor at UConn, played horn on the album "Emanon," from the Wayne Shorter Quartet. It won the 2019 Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.

Copyright 2019 New England Public Media

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Jill has been reporting, producing features and commentaries, and hosting shows at NEPR since 2005. Before that she spent almost 10 years at WBUR in Boston, five of them producing PRI’s “The Connection” with Christopher Lydon. In the months leading up to the 2000 primary in New Hampshire, Jill hosted NHPR’s daily talk show, and subsequently hosted NPR’s All Things Considered during the South Carolina Primary weekend. Right before coming to NEPR, Jill was an editor at PRI's The World, working with station based reporters on the international stories in their own domestic backyards. Getting people to tell her their stories, she says, never gets old.

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