Countdown to the 2026 GRAMMYS: Meet Our Nominees!
A big shout-out to our amazingly talented performers, producers, and faculty from our Conservatory of Music.
Samara Joy ’21
Jazz Studies
Samara Joy is nominated for two GRAMMY awards, including Best Jazz Vocal Album for Portrait and Best Jazz Performance for the song, “Peace of Mind/Dreams Come True.”
At 27, Samara is already a prolific, powerhouse performer and a four-time GRAMMY Award-winning jazz vocalist. Winner of Best New Jazz Artist in 2024, and Best Jazz Performance and Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2025, Samara is critically acclaimed for her dynamic range and a style evocative of jazz greats Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday.
She has performed at venues and festivals worldwide with appearances on The Today Show and NPR. Her concert dates in 2026 include Miami, Austin, Los Angeles, and New York City’s Lincoln Center.
Jon Faddis
Professor of Music
A respected jazz musician and musicianship mentor, Professor of Music Jon Faddis, was nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2026 for his trumpet performance on the 2024 jazz anthology: The Original Influencers: Dizzy, Chano & Chico, Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra Featuring Pedrito Martinez, Daymé Arocena, Jon Faddis, Donald Harrison & Melvis Santa.
A multi-award-winning trumpeter, Faddis is a conductor, composer, and dedicated educator with a rich history of playing alongside famed jazz icon and mentor Dizzy Gillespie, as well as Lionel Hampton, George Benson, Charles Mingus, Oscar Peterson, and Lalo Schifrin.
At the Conservatory of Music, Faddis is committed to the education of young jazz musicians, paying forward his expertise through clinics, master classes, and The Jon Faddis Award for Musical Excellence, presented to promising jazz trumpet players in the New York area.
Extra credit: Joining Faddis on The Original Influencers album is trombonist Ben Barnett ’16.
Silas Brown ’10
Studio Production/Associate Professor of Music
Studio producer and Associate Professor Silas Brown received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Opera Recording of Huang Ruo: An American Soldier, based on the tragic true story of Chinese-American soldier Danny Chen, and was praised for its haunting, dissonant score.
Silas is a six-time GRAMMY-winning producer and audio engineer specializing in classical and jazz recordings. His credits include the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s recording of Verdi Requiem (Best Classical Album) and productions with the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra with Maestro Leonard Slatkin, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, musicians from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and the legendary soprano, Renee Fleming.
Brown brings a wealth of expertise from his 15 years as a faculty member in the Studio Production program and his New Rochelle-based company, Legacy Sound.
The 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards ceremony will take place on February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
