Grammy Award For Best Classical Contemporary Composition

Grammy Award For Best Classical Contemporary Composition

The Grammy Award for Best Classical Contemporary Composition was first awarded in 1961. This award was not presented from 1967 to 1984.

The award has had several minor name changes:

  • From 1961 to 1962 the award was known as Best Contemporary Classical Composition
  • In 1963 it was awarded as Best Contemporary Composition
  • In 1965 it was awarded as Best Composition by a Contemporary Composer
  • In 1966 and 1964 it was awarded as Best Composition by a Contemporary Classical Composer
  • In 1985 it was awarded as Best New Classical Composition
  • From 1986 to 1994 it was again awarded as Best Contemporary Composition
  • From 1995 to 2011 it was again awarded as Best Classical Contemporary Composition
  • From 2012 the category will be renamed into Best Contemporary Classical Composition


Rule change beginning with 2009 awards: if awarded to an opera, award will go to both composer and librettist (to include librettist for the first time).

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.

Read more about Grammy Award For Best Classical Contemporary Composition:  2010s, 2000s, 1990s, 1980s, 1960s

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