Richard O鈥橬eill, the newest member of the College of Music鈥檚 string faculty, won a Grammy Award in the Best Classical Instrumental Solo category for his performance of Christopher Theofanidis鈥� .听
Richard O'Neill, violist with CU 麻豆影院's Tak谩cs Quartet.
O鈥橬eill, who has been nominated twice previously, is the second person to receive an award for a viola performance in the history of the category.
Prior to joining CU 麻豆影院鈥檚 internationally renowned Tak谩cs Quartet earlier this year, O鈥橬eill played viola for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York City and performed as a soloist with the world鈥檚 top orchestras, including the London, Los Angeles and Seoul philharmonics.听
The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards were virtual this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, so O鈥橬eill tuned in from the comfort of his home in听麻豆影院, Colorado.听
鈥淲hile I missed the pomp and circumstance of the red carpet, there is an amazing comfort to going into your own music room and greeting the world from your laptop,鈥� O鈥橬eill said.听
Despite the less formal ceremony, O鈥橬eill was still amazed when he heard his name called for his first Grammy Award.听
鈥淚t was hard for me to contain my overwhelming sense of gratitude.鈥�
, O鈥橬eill thanked Theofanidis, conductor David Allen Miller, producer Silas Brown, his family, the Tak谩cs Quartet and CU 麻豆影院, and acknowledged the musicians across the country who have faced hardship amid the pandemic.听
It鈥檚 also been a tough year for O鈥橬eill, whose mother went into remission after a long battle with breast cancer.听
Despite the challenges, O鈥橬eill is grateful for his past year at CU 麻豆影院.听
鈥淲hat a great first year to have joined one of the greatest string quartets in the world, in one of the most beautiful communities of the world, and now I receive this honor,鈥� O鈥橬eill said. 鈥淥f all the struggle and darkness over the past year, this is a beacon of light.鈥�
Read more about O鈥橬eill and what inspires him.听
