Shawn E. Okpebholo and Third Coast Percussion earn Grammy Nominations

Cedille Records is delighted to share that two of our recordings have just been recognized with a total of three 2026 Grammy Award nominations, including an especially meaningful honor for composer Shawn E. Okpebholo, whose Songs in Flight is nominated for Best Contemporary Classical Composition. This recording — Shawn’s first full-album release on Cedille, which he also produced — is a landmark recording of his complete song cycle alongside four additional art songs performed by an extraordinary roster of Grammy-winning and nominated vocalists dedicated to culturally resonant storytelling.

We also celebrate Third Coast Percussion, whose Standard Stoppages received nominations for both Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance and Best Engineered Album, Classical. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, TCP continues to create “borderless music” (NPR) with an adventurous spirit that has long earned them national acclaim. These nominations honor not only the ensemble but also the engineering team — Bill Maylone, Judith Sherman, the members of TCP, and mastering engineer Joe Lambert — whose sonic craftsmanship brings the recording to life at the highest level.

Both recordings exemplify an important tenet of Cedille’s work: they are both deeply meaningful and personal projects. Jim Ginsburg, Cedille President and producer of most of our albums, readily notes, “When artists play the music they’re passionate about, you get the best performances.” That’s certainly true with these special albums, and The Recording Academy, which conducts the Grammy Awards, agrees. We are deeply grateful for your support that makes projects like these possible, and look forward to celebrating these outstanding musicians together as the Grammy Award ceremonies approach.