norman lebrecht
February 03, 2026
This is producer of the year Elaine Lee Martonne, wnning her 7th award.
She says: Dear friends, thank you for the outpouring of love and support. The Grammys are overwhelming in so many ways. And because there are so many awards to be handed out in our part of the ceremony, called the Premiere Ceremony, we have 40 seconds to speak. And you saw I had a long way to travel “down the aisle” almost knocking a gent (so sorry!) over in my haste… oops. Here’s what I also needed to say: without my artists, I am nothing. This Grammy goes to all of my artists, past, present and to our future! And for this year, it’s these supreme humans: to The Cleveland Orchestra, Franz Welser-Möst; to William Brian Thornton and Spencer Myer; to Ryan Townsend Strand, tenor, and Karina Kontorovitch; to Lauren Spaulding and Aria Cheregosha (Talla Rouge); to Debra Nagy and Mark Edwards; to Karen LeFrak and Sharon Isbin; and to Kelley O’Connor and Robert Spano. For your trust, love and friendship and for creating music that lives beyond us and gives us hope. THANK YOU. (Photo credit: Leon Bennett). LOVE YOU