On Dec. 7, Forever Buffs Tia Fuller (MMus’00) and Wei Wu (MMus’13) each received a Grammy Award nomination.
Jazz saxophonist Tia Fuller’s new album, Diamond Cut, was nominated in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category. According to CU Boulder Today, Fuller spoke at College of Music commencement in 2018 as a Distinguished Alumni Award winner, and has fashioned a career as one of the top jazz artist-educators in the country. Fuller has been featured on the cover of Saxophone Today, Jazz Education Journal and JazzTimes Magazine among several awards and accolades. She has toured with Beyoncé and performed at the White House for former President Obama. She also teaches full time at Berklee School of Music. To read more about Tia, read our Coloradan profile.
Wei Wu was nominated in two categories for his work in the Mason Bates’ opera The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. Wu played Jobs' spiritual advisor Kôbun Chino Otogawa in the work, according to CU Boulder Today, which had its premiere run at Santa Fe Opera last year. Wu was named among the nominees in the Best Opera Recording and Best Contemporary Classical Composition categories. His upcoming appearances include Il barbiere di Siviglia with Washington National Opera and a performance of Verdi's Requiem with the West Virginia Symphony. Wei appeared in the Eklund Opera Program production of Sweeney Todd in March.
CU Boulder faculty member Donald McKinney, director of bands, also was nominated for an award as producer, along with conductor Jerry Junkin, for their recording of John Williams at the Movies with Dallas Winds.
The 61st Grammy Awards Ceremony airs Sunday, Feb. 10.
Photos courtesy of Tia Fuller and Wei Wu.
