# 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)".
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."
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

| Year | Recipient(s) | Work | Nominees |
| 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 |
| 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.) |
| 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.) |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| 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.) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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! |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |