At the 68th Grammys, Mexican Composer Gabriela Ortiz Wins Three Awards for 'Yanga' and 'Dzonot'

Overview

• Ortiz won Best Contemporary Classical Composition for Dzonot and secured Best Classical Compendium and Best Choral Performance for Yanga.
• The awards were presented in Los Angeles on February 1, 2026, at the Recording Academy’s 68th Grammy ceremony.
• Ortiz accepted an award on stage in the absence of conductor Gustavo Dudamel, who led the LA Phil performances tied to Yanga.
• Yanga draws on the story of Gaspar Yanga and features African-derived percussion with the Los Angeles Master Chorale and Tambuco Percussion Ensemble.
• Dzonot, completed in 2024 and dedicated to cellist Alisa Weilerstein, evokes Yucatán cenotes and reflects ecological concerns, while fellow Mexicans Natalia Lafourcade and Carín León also won in Latin categories.