University alum and professor of music at Princeton, Donnacha Dennehy won his first Grammy in “Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance” for his composition “Land Of Winter.” The piece was also nominated for Best Contemporary Classical Composition.
University alum and professor of music at Princeton, Donnacha Dennehy (MM ’94, DMA ’14) won his first Grammy in “Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance” for his composition “Land Of Winter.” The piece was also nominated for Best Contemporary Classical Composition.
In an interview with The Daily Illini, Dennehy said he spent the morning of the nominations composing and avoided following them until his wife revealed the news.
“My wife was jumping up and down outside the window, and I thought, ‘Oh no! Is everything OK?’” Dennehy said. “She said we got nominated for the Grammys, and that felt surreal.”
Dennehy said the nomination itself held special meaning, even before the award ceremony, because it affirmed that audiences continue to engage with his work even after years of composing.
Read the full article by Bryana Perez over on The Daily Illini.
Additional interviews with and articles about Dennehy and his GRAMMY win can be found on The Daily Princetonian and Princeton University’s Department of Music website.
Related links
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The Daily Illini: Light and Winter carry UI Alum Donnacha Dennehy to Grammy
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YouTube: Dennehy - Land of WInter
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School of Music Alum Donnacha Dennehy Wins Grammy
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Composition Alum Donnacha Dennehy (MM '94, DMA '14) Nominated for Two Grammy Awards
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New Music Festival: The Music of Donnacha Dennehy
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Multiple University of Illinois Alumni nominated for Grammy Awards
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Faculty member Josh Graham receives Library of Congress grant to commission alumni composer Donnacha Dennehy
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New Music Festival: F-PLUS
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2026 Grammy Nominees & Winners
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Personal Website: Donnacha Dennehy
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The Daily Princetonian: First nomination, first win — Dennehy wins Grammy for Irish musical epic ‘Land of Winter’
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Princeton University School of Music: Donnacha Dennehy and Todd Bashore Honored at the 2026 GRAMMY Awards
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Wise Music Classical: Donnacha Dennehy