University of Richmond ensemble-in-residence eighth blackbird nominated for three Grammy Awards

December 13, 2007

"strange imaginary animals," a CD by University of Richmond ensemble-in-residence eighth blackbird, has generated Grammy Award nominations for best chamber music performance, classical contemporary composition and producer of the year, classical.

Winners will be announced at the 2008 Grammy Awards ceremony Feb. 10 in Los Angeles.

eighth blackbird earned one of five nominations for best chamber music performance for the entire CD. Composer Jennifer Higdon received the classical contemporary composition nomination for "Zaka," one of the CD's six tracks. Judith Sherman was nominated for producer of the year, classical, for "strange imaginary animals" and four other CDs.

A critically acclaimed sextet, eighth blackbird has established a reputation for provocative and engaging performances. The group began as ensemble-in-residence at the university in 2005 and will present its second performance on March 26, 2008 at the Modlin Center for the Arts. The program, co-commissioned by the Modlin Center, will feature new works by Steve Reich, Michael Gordon, David Lang and Julia Wolfe.

Taking its name from the eighth stanza of Wallace Stevens' poem "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird," the group organized in 1996 while students at Oberlin Conservatory.