Alumnus Wei Wu wins Grammy Award
The night of the 61st Grammy Awards was one to remember for College of Music alumnus Wei Wu (MM, PC '13). The bass took home his first Grammy as part of the cast of Mason Bates' opera "The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs."
"It's like a dream come true," Wu told CBS4 news in Denver after receiving the award.
Wu played Jobs' spiritual advisor Kôbun Chino Otogawa in the work, which took home the award in the Best Opera Recording caregory. The opera was also nominated for Best Contemporary Classical Composition.
As he and colleagues took the stage, Wu says he couldn't think about anything else. “As a musician ... it means everything you’ve done, the hard work, and all the things from every moment ... it is all paid back,” he told CBS4.
In a post on his personal Facebook page, Wu shared two photos of himself, trophy in hand, with the simple message "Yeah, we made it!"
Wu wasn't the only College of Music family member at the Grammy Awards: Director of Bands Donald McKinney was nominated in the Best Classical Compendium category for his work producing "John Williams at the Movies" with Dallas Winds, and alumna Tia Fuller was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Album for her latest recording, "Diamond Cut." Alumna Erica Brenner also took home the award for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album as a producer of "Songs of Orpheus" featuring Karim Sulayman and ensemble Apollo's Fire. Congratulations to everyone!