UCLA Receives 2023 Grammy Awards Honors
In a memorable year for music, UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music made a significant impact at the 2023 Grammy Awards. The university's faculty and alumni were celebrated for their contributions to the industry, while strategic collaborations continue to foster future talent.
Opera superstar Angel Blue, a UCLA alum, was a principal soloist on the winning album for Best World Music Album, Fandango at the Wall. This documentary, traced the lineages of the fandango dance across Mexico to the border wall in Tijuana, serving as a powerful lesson in how music and dance can unite people across arbitrary lines and border walls.
Arturo O'Farrill, professor of Global Jazz Studies and associate dean for equity, diversity, and inclusion at the School of Music, led the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra to win the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Album for Fandango at the Wall. The concert featuring O'Farrill and the Congra Patria Son Jarocho Collective will take place at Schoenberg Hall on Monday, February 6. The evening will commence with a screening of Fandango at the Wall at 7:00 p.m.
Julia Bullock, a Grammy-winning classical singer and artist closely associated with UCLA, exemplifies the significance of the university in the music industry. Recognized for her commanding operatic voice across genres from Baroque to contemporary, Bullock's accolades highlight the high caliber of UCLA-affiliated musicians.
Seth Parker Woods, a UCLA student and three-time Grammy nominee, along with Bullock and pianist Conor Hanick, performed works from celebrated composers. Woods' Grammy nominations and accolades such as the 2022 Chamber Music America Michael Jaffee Visionary Award demonstrate the continued presence of UCLA alumni on prestigious musical platforms.
The prominence of UCLA's music department is also marked by partnerships like the Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship, launched by Universal Music Group in 2024 and continuing into 2025. This scholarship acknowledges the legacy of music industry pioneers and invests in UCLA students poised to shape the future of the music business, further connecting the university to the broader Grammy and music industry community.
Angel Blue recently returned to UCLA for an emotional homecoming, holding a public masterclass for budding opera talents in the School of Music. Her performance in Porgy and Bess won the best opera recording Grammy in 2021. Wayne Shorter, adjunct professor in the music department, also celebrated a significant milestone at the awards, winning the Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "Endangered Species."
As the 2023 Grammy Awards come to a close, UCLA's reputation in music education and professional influence continues to grow. The university's faculty and alumni have left an indelible mark on the music industry, while fostering future talent through strategic industry collaborations.
Engaging in both education and self-development, UCLA alumni such as Angel Blue and Seth Parker Woods have made significant strides in the music industry, earning Grammy awards and nominations. Meanwhile, the university's online education programs, like the Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship, continue to attract and cultivate future pioneers in the ever-evolving landscape of music entertainment.
