Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

The Grammy Award for Best Small Ensemble Performance (from 2013: Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance) has been awarded since 1997. In its early years, its title included the addition "(with or without a conductor)".

Grammy Award for Best Small Ensemble Performance
Awarded for	quality performances by a small ensemble
Country	United States
Presented by	National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
First award	1997
Currently held by	Caroline Shaw & So Percussion – Rectangles and Circumstance (2025)
Website	grammy.com

In 1991 the Grammy for Best Chamber Music Performance also included small ensemble performances.

2012 overhaul and 2013 renaming

In 2012 the category was combined with the Best Chamber Music Performance category.

The restructuring of these categories was a result of the Recording Academy's wish to decrease the list of categories and awards. According to the Academy, "the Chamber category was folded into the Small Ensemble category, the only distinction having been the number of players in the group (Chamber being smaller), and the fact that Small Ensemble recording could, though not necessarily, employ a conductor." ^[1] In the new structure, recordings are eligible if the ensemble contains 24 or fewer members, not including the conductor.

In 2013, the category was renamed as Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance.

The award goes to the winning ensemble and its conductor (if applicable). The producer(s) and engineer(s) also receive an award if they have worked on over 50% of playing time on the album.

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

Winners and nominees

Two-time winner Pierre Boulez.

Claudio Abbado won in 1998 with the Berliner Philharmonic.

1999 winners Steve Reich and Musicians.

Two-time winners, the vocal ensemble Chanticleer.

Conductor Jeff von der Schmidt has won twice, both times alongside the Southwest Chamber Music.

Russian conductor Yuri Bashmet won in 2008.

Charles Bruffy won the award in 2009 with the Phoenix Chorale.

Spanish conductor Jordi Savall won in 2011 alongside Hespèrion XXI and La Capella Reial de Catalunya.

American violinist Hilary Hahn won in 2015 with Cory Smythe.

Violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja won in 2018 alongside the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

2019 winners Kronos Quartet.

Year	Recipient(s)	Work	Nominees	Ref.
1997	Pierre Boulez (conductor) and the Ensemble Inter-Contemporain	Boulez: ...Explosante-Fixe...	Gidon Kremer – Hommage a Piazzola Oliver Knussen – Matthews: Suns Dance New Century Chamber Orchestra – Shostakovish: Written with the Heart's Blood Federico Maria Sardelli – Vivaldi: Concerti Per Molti Istromenti	[2]
1998	Claudio Abbado (conductor), Berliner Philharmonic	"Hindemith: Kammermusik No. 1 With Finale 1921, Op. 24, No. 1"	Sian Edwards, conductor; Ensemble Modern – Adams: Chamber Symphony; Shaker Loops; Phrygian Gates for Solo Piano Reinhard Goebel, conductor; Musica Antiqua Koln – Chaconne (Works of Blow, Corelli, Muffat, Etc.) Peter Phillips, conductor; The Tallis Scholars – Ockeghem: Missa De Plus En Plus, Etc./Binchois: Missa Au Travail Suis, Etc.) Philippe Herreweghe, conductor; Ensemble Vocal Europeen – Schein: The Fountains of Israel - Sacred Madrigals (O Herr, Ich Bin Dein Knecht; Ich Lasse Dich Nicht, Etc.) Philip Pickett, conductor; Musicians of the Globe – Shakespeare's Musick - Songs and Dances from Shakespeare's Plays (Works Of Byrd, Dowland, Holborne, Etc.)	[3]
1999	Steve Reich (conductor), Steve Reich and Musicians	Reich: Music for 18 Musicians	Alexander Blachly, conductor; Pomerium – Creator of the Stars - Christmas Music for Earlier Times (Works of De Lassus, Du Fay, Byrd, Etc.) Michael Riesman, conductor; Gyuto Monks; Monks of the Drukpa Order – Glass: Kundun - Music from the Original Soundtrack Andrew Manze, conductor; Academy of Ancient Music – Handel: Concerti Grossi, Op. 6 (Nos. 1 - 12) Steve Reich and Musicians – Reich: Music for 18 Musicians James Rives-Jones, conductor; Voices of Change – Voces Americanas (Works of Rodriguez, Lavista, Sierra, Etc.)	[4]
2000	Joseph Jennings (conductor) and Chanticleer	Colors of Love - Works of Thomas, Stucky, Tavener & Rands	Moscow Soloists – Brahms: Quintet in B Minor for Viola & Strings Arr. By Bashmet/Shostakovich: Thirteenth String Quartet in B Flat Minor Arr. By A. Tchaikovsky Joseph Jennings, conductor; Chanticleer – Colors of Love (Works of Thomas, Stucky, Tavener, Rands, Etc.) Federico Maria Sardelli, conductor; Modo Antiquo – Corelli: Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, Nos. 7 - 12 René Jacobs, conductor; Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin – Scarlatti: Il Primo Omicidio Pierre Boulez, conductor; Ensemble intercontemporain – "Schoenberg: Pierrot Lunaire, Op. 21; Herzegewächse, Op. 20; Ode To Napoleon Buonaparte, Op. 41	[5]
2001	Christian Gausch (producer), Wolf-Dieter Karwatky (engineer) and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra	Shadow Dances (Stravinsky Miniatures - Tango; Suite No. 1; Octet, etc.)	Reinhard Goebel, conductor; Musica Antiqua Köln – Telemann: String Concertos (Con. Polonais In G Maj.; Divertimento In B Flat Maj., Etc.) The 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic – South American Getaway (Works of Villa-Lobos, Piazzolla, Salgan, Etc.) Claudio Abbado, conductor – Hindemith: Kammermusik Nr. 2, 3, 6 & 7 Jordi Savall, conductor; Hespèrion XXI – Diáspora Sefardí (Por que llorax blanca niña; Las Estrellas de los cielos)	[6]
2002	Helmut Mühle (producer), Philipp Nedel (engineer), Gidon Kremer (producer & artist) and Kremerata Baltica	After Mozart	Jordi Savall, conductor; La Capella Reial de Catalunya, Alia Vox – Alfons V El Magnànim - El Cancionero De Montecassino Peter Phillips, conductor; The Tallis Scholars – Morales: Missa Si Bona Suscepimus Hervé Niquet, conductor; Le Concert Spirituel – Boismortier: Sérénades Françaises (Daphnis Et Chloé: Chaconne; Fragments Mélodiques; Concerto Pour Basson, etc.) Kristjan Järvi, conductor; Absolute Ensemble – Absolution (Mahoney: Dance Machine/Schnyder: Zoom Out/Sumera: Play for 10, Etc.)	[7]
2003	Steve Barnett (producer), Preston Smith (engineer), Joseph Jennings (conductor), Chanticleer & Handel & Haydn Society of Boston	Tavener: Lamentations and Praises	Martyn Brabbins, conductor; Claron McFadden, soprano; Nash Ensemble & Julia Watson, narrator – Birtwistle: The Woman and the Hare Dufay Collective – Cancionero: Music for the Spanish Court 1470-1520 Kremerata Baltica & Gidon Kremer, violin/conductor – Enescu: Octet, Op. 7; Quintet, Op. 29 Steven Richman, conductor; Harmonie Ensemble New York – Stravinsky: Histoire Du Soldat Suite Joseph Jennings, conductor; Chanticleer – Tavener: Lamentations and Praises	[8]
2004	Jeff von der Schmidt (conductor) and Southwest Chamber Music	"Chávez: Suite for Double Quartet"	Europa Galante – Vivaldi: Mandolin Concertos New London Consort – Songs of Angels René Jacobs, conductor; Concerto Vocale – Monteverdi: Madrigali Guerrieri Ed Amorosi Ensemble Modern – Goebbels: Eislermaterial	[9]
2005	Jeff von der Schmidt (conductor) and Southwest Chamber Music	Chávez - Complete Chamber Music, Vol. 2	Yehudi Wyner, conductor – Wyner: The Mirror; Passover Offering, Etc. Jeanne Lamon, conductor; Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra – Rameau: Dardanus; Le Temple De La Gloire Bill Ives, conductor; Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford – Gibbons: with a Merrie Noyse (This is the Record of John; Almighty and Everlasting God, Etc.) Musica Antiqua Köln – Biber: Harmonia Artificiosa	[10]
2006	Pierre Boulez (conductor), Hilary Summers (performer), and Ensemble Intercontemporain	Boulez: Le Marteau Sans Maître, Dérive 1 & 2	Jeff von der Schmidt, conductor; Southwest Chamber Music & Tambuco Percussion Ensemble – Chávez: Complete Chamber Music, Vol. 3 Nicholas White, conductor; The Tiffany Consort – O Magnum Mysterium David Hoose, conductor; Collage New Music – Harbison: Mottetti Di Montale David Colson, conductor – Ancient Voices of Children	[11]
2007	Peter Rutenberg (conductor) and Los Angeles Chamber Singers' Cappella	Padilla: Sun of Justice	12 Cellists of Berliner Philharmoniker – Angel Dances Harry Christophers, conductor; The Sixteen – Ikon Jordi Savall, conductor; Hespèrion XXI & La Capella Reial de Catalunya – Miguel de Cervantes — Don Quijote De La Mancha — Romances y Músicas Yuri Bashmet, conductor; Moscow Soloists – Shostakovich/Sviridov/Vainberg: Chamber Symphonies	[12]
2008	Yuri Bashmet (conductor) and Moscow Soloists; Michael Brammann, engineer; Philipp Nedel, producer	Stravinsky: Apollo, Concerto In D; Prokofiev: 20 Visions Fugitives	Stile Antico – Music for Compline Kenneth Slowik, conductor; Santa Fe Pro Musica – Mahler: Das Lied Von Der Erde Frank Proto, conductor; Ensemble Sans Frontiere – Bridges - Eddie Daniels Plays the Music of Frank Proto Swiss Baroque Soloists – Bach: Brandenburg Concertos	[13]
2009	Charles Bruffy (conductor) and Phoenix Chorale	Spotless Rose: Hymns To The Virgin Mary	Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble – Monk: Impermanence Reinbert de Leeuw, conductor; Schoenberg Ensemble – Im Wunderschoenen Monat Mai Roman Balashov, conductor; Moscow Soloists – Tan Dun: Pipa Concerto; Hayashi: Viola Concerto; Takemitsu: Nostalgia Oyvind Gimse, conductor; TrondheimSolistene – Divertimenti	[14]
2010	Paul Hillier (conductor); Robina G. Young, producer; Brad Michel, engineer/mixer and Ars Nova Copenhagen & Theatre of Voices	Lang, David: The Little Match Girl Passion	Chamber Orchestra of Europe (Simon Fletcher) – Vivaldi: Concertos Stile Antico – Song of Songs Peter Phillips, conductor; The Tallis Scholars – Josquin: Missa Malheur Me Bat Monica Huggett, conductor; Ensemble Sonnerie – Bach: Orchestral Suites for a Young Prince	[15]
2011	Jordi Savall, conductor; Hespèrion XXI & La Capella Reial de Catalunya	Dinastia Borja	Noel Edison, conductor; Elora Festival Singers – Whitacre, Eric: Choral Music Peter Phillips, conductor; The Tallis Scholars – Victoria: Lamentations of Jeremiah Oyvind Gimse & Geir Inge Lotsberg, conductors; TrondheimSolistene – Trondheimsolistene - In Folk Style Harry Christophers, conductor; The Sixteen – Ceremony And Devotion - Music for The Tudors	[16]
2012	Rinde Eckert (librettist/performer); Steven Mackey (composer/performer); David Frost, producer; Eighth Blackbird	Mackey: Lonely Motel - Music from Slide	Gabriela Frank (composer and performer) and Alias Chamber Ensemble – Frank: Hilos Richard Savino (conductor) and El Mundo – The Kingdoms of Castille Patrick Dupré Quigley (conductor) and Seraphic Fire – A Seraphic Fire Christmas The Bay Brass – Sound The Bells!	[17]
2013	Eighth Blackbird	Meanwhile	Modern Mandolin Quartet – Americana ZOFO Duet – Mind Meld Boston Symphony Chamber Players – Profanes et Sacrées Los Angeles Percussion Quartet – Rupa-Khandha	[18]
2014	Brad Wells & Roomful of Teeth	Roomful of Teeth	Leonidas Kavakos & Enrico Pace – Beethoven: Violin Sonatas Vicki Ray, William Winant, Aron Kallay & Tom Peters – Cage: The 10,000 Things Hélène Grimaud & Sol Gabetta – Duo New York Polyphony – Times Go By Turns	[19]
2015	Hilary Hahn & Cory Smythe	In 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores	A Far Cry, David Krakauer (conductor) – Dreams & Prayers Steven Isserlis & Olli Mustonen – Martinu': Cello Sonatas Nos. 1-3 Partch – Partch: Castor & Pollux New York Polyphony – Sing Thee Nowell	[20]
2016	Eighth Blackbird	Filament	Tanja Tetzlaff, Christian Tetzlaff & Lars Vogt – Brahms: The Piano Trios Nadia Shpachenko & Genevieve Feiwen Lee – Flaherty: Airdancing For Toy Piano, Piano & Electronics Brad Wells & Roomful of Teeth – Render Takács Quartet & Marc-André Hamelin – Shostakovich: Piano Quintet & String Quartet No. 2	[21]
2017	Third Coast Percussion	Steve Reich	ARC Ensemble – Fitelberg: Chamber Works Øyvind Gimse, Geir Inge Lotsberg & TrondheimSolistene – Reflections Spektral Quartet – Serious Business Lincoln Trio – Trios From our Homelands	[22]
2018	Patricia Kopatchinskaja & the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra	Death & the Maiden	Arcangelo – Buxtehude: Trio Sonatas Op. 1 Stile Antico – Divine Theatre - Sacred Motets by Giaches de Wert Joyce Yang & Augustin Hadelich – Franck, Kurtág, Previn & Schumann Martha Argerich & Various Artists – Martha Argerich & Friends - Live From Lugano 2016	[23]
2019	Laurie Anderson & the Kronos Quartet	Landfall	The Danish String Quartet – Beethoven, Shostakovich & Bach The Aizuri Quartet – Blueprinting Leif Ove Andsnes & Marc-André Hamelin – Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring Concerto for Two Pianos A Far Cry – Visions and Variations	[24]
2020	Attacca Quartet (ensemble); Antonio Oliart & Caroline Shaw (producers); Antonio Oliart (engineer)	Shaw: Orange	Christopher Rountree & wild Up – Cerrone: The Pieces that Fall to Earth PUBLIQuartet – Freedom & Faith Third Coast Percussion – Perpetulum Hermitage Piano Trio – Rachmaninoff - Hermitage Piano Trio	[25]
2021	Pacifica Quartet; James Ginsburg (producer); Bill Maylone (engineer/mixer)	Contemporary Voices	Brooklyn Rider – Healing Modes Ted Hearne (conductor); Steven Bradshaw, Sophia Byrd, Josephine Lee, Isaiah Robinson, Sol Ruiz, Ayanna Woods & the Place Orchestra – Hearne: Place Devonté Hynes & Third Coast Percussion – Hynes: Fields Dover Quartet – The Schumann Quartets	[26]
2022	Yo-Yo Ma & Emanuel Ax	Beethoven: Cello Sonatas - Hope and Tears	JACK Quartet – John Luther Adams: Lines Made By Walking Sandbox Percussion – Akiho: Seven Pillars Sérgio Assad, Clarice Assad & Third Coast Percussion – Archetypes Imani Winds – Bruits	[27]
2023	Attacca Quartet	Shaw: Evergreen	The Dover Quartet – Beethoven: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 2 – The Middle Quartets Neave Trio – Musical Remembrances Third Coast Percussion – Perspectives PUBLIQuartet – What is American	[28]
2024	Roomful of Teeth	Rough Magic	Anthony McGill & The Pacifica Quartet – American Stories Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax & Leonidas Kavakos – Beethoven For Three: Symphony No. 6 "Pastorale" and Op 1. No. 3 Third Coast Percussion – Between Breaths Catalyst Quartet – Uncovered, Vol. 3: Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, William Grant Still & George Walker
2025	Caroline Shaw & So Percussion	Rectangles and Circumstance	JACK Quartet – J.L. Adams: Waves & Particles Yo-Yo Ma, Leonidas Kavakos & Emanuel Ax – Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 4 and Op. 97, 'Archduke' Beth Willer, Christopher Cerrone & Lorelei Ensemble – Cerrone: Beaufort Scales Miró Quartet – Home	[29]