July 4th Capitol Concert to Honor TeamUSA Ahead Of London Games

This July 4th, America's biggest Independence Day celebration kicks off our country's 236th birthday with a special salute to our Olympians and Paralympians as they prepare for the London 2012 games.  Eight-time Olympic medalist Apolo Anton Ohno will host the tribute to Team USA, honoring present and past athletes of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, and featuring five-time Academy Award-winner John Williams conducting his "Olympic Fanfare and Theme."  Acclaimed British tenor Russell Watson will perform "Because We Believe" (written and performed by Andre Bocelli for the closing ceremony of the 2006 Olympic games in Turin, Italy) in celebration of the Olympic spirit and to welcome the athletes to his native England.  With the U.S. Capitol as a backdrop, more than a dozen competing Olympians will be cheered on by a crowd of hundreds of thousands, including:
Khatuna Lorig - Archery (and most recently credited as Jennifer Lawrence's teacher for the recurve bow for HUNGER GAMES);
Jennifer Gillom - Basketball (Olympic Gold medal winner and assistant coach to the U.S. Women's Team);
Sarah Robles - Weightlifting (and top ranked U.S. women's weightlifter in ALL weight classes and top U.S. finisher in men and women in 2011 World Championships);
Daryl Homer - Fencing (ranked #1 in the U.S.);
Rachel Dawson – Women's Field Hockey (Captain of the U.S. team);
Bobby Lea - Cycling (competing in his second Olympics);
Marti Malloy - Judo (Gold winner in the USO Judo National Championships);
Arielle Martin - BMX Cycling (and whose husband is currently serving in the Army);
Amanda Clark - Sailing (competing in her second Olympics);
David Wagner and Nick Taylor - Wheelchair Tennis (doubles partners who won gold medals at the 2004 Summer Paralympics and the 2008 games);
Corey Cogdell – Shooting (Bronze medal winner); and
Suzanne Stettinius – Modern Pentathlon.
A CAPITOL FOURTH is the country's premier birthday party, celebrating our nation's independence as well as the many things that make America great, which, this year, includes our Olympians.  The multi award-winning event will air live in HD from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on PBS Wednesday, July 4 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET , as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network.   This resounding civic event can also be heard live in stereo over NPR member stations nationwide. 
The event is hosted by Emmy Award-winner Tom Bergeron (DANCING WITH THE STARS), and also features: AMERICAN IDOL winner Phillip Phillips ; two-time Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick performing songs from the hit Broadway musical NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT with four-time Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara; acclaimed Broadway and television star Megan Hilty (SMASH); singer-songwriter Javier Colon (winner of THE VOICE); country music star Josh Turner ; R&B superstars Kool & The Gang; and the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly , topped off by the greatest display of fireworks anywhere in the nation. 
The program is a co-production of Jerry Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C.  
For the event, executive producer Jerry Colbert and producer Michael Colbert have assembled award-winning production teams that feature the top Hollywood talent behind some of television's most prestigious entertainment awards shows.  The team includes: Emmy award-winning producer Walter C. Miller, whose credits include the GRAMMY AWARDS and COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS; award-winning director Paul Miller whose credits include THE COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE; and veteran television writer Jon Macks.
Capital Concerts is the production force behind two of television's longest-running and highest-rated live programs commemorating America's most important holidays.  THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT , the nation's tribute to our men and women in uniform, and A CAPITOL FOURTH , our country's biggest birthday party, have consistently ranked among the highest rated programs on PBS over the past decade.  Both holiday specials have been honored with over 70 awards including the New York Film Festival Award, the Telly Award, the Golden Cine Award, the Videographer Award, the National Education Association Award, the Aurora Award, the Christopher Award, the Communicator's Award, the AXIEM Award, the Omni Award and the Writer's Guild of America Award.

Change Is Gonna Come To The 55th Annual Grammy Awards

Changes are coming to the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards,  so said The Recording Academy,  when the Board of Trustees held a meeting in Los Angeles recently.  The Board voted to add the following categories:  Classical, Jazz, Latin, and R&B Fields, including the addition of Best Classical Compendium, Best Latin Jazz Album, and Best Urban Contemporary Album as categories. The total number of categories to be recognized at the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Sun., Feb. 10, 2013, will be 81. In additionally, a new Music Educator Of The Year award will be presented as part of the Special Merit Awards Ceremony that takes place during GRAMMY Week, beginning with the 56th GRAMMY Awards in 2014. 

"With the focus squarely on ensuring the Awards process is pertinent within the current musical landscape, the Board of Trustees continues to demonstrate its passionate commitment to keeping The Recording Academy a relevant and responsive organization in our dynamic music community," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "Every year, we diligently examine our Awards structure, including evaluating proposals, to develop an overall guiding vision and ensure that it remains a balanced and viable process, as well as maintains the prestige of the highest and only peer-recognized award in music."
Examination of the GRAMMY Awards structure is a fluid process requiring continuous review, and includes input from elected, qualified voting members from The Recording Academy's 12 Chapters around the country, and a broad spectrum of music makers.

The annual procedure assures that the competition is fair, consistent, and relevant across all musical genres. The Academy's Awards & Nominations Committee formally meets once a year to review proposals that affect the GRAMMY Awards, Special Merit Awards, GRAMMY Hall Of Fame®, voting eligibility and procedures, distribution, new media, and other factors that might have an effect on the quality of the GRAMMY process. Voting and associate members in good standing may submit proposals, which then are reviewed by the committee. The A&N Committee then makes recommendations to The Academy's Board of Trustees for final ratification.

Following is a list of awards changes that will be in effect for the 55th GRAMMY Awards in February 2013:
Classical Field:  Best Classical Compendium category is for an album collection containing at least 51 percent playing time of newly recorded material of performances (vocal or instrumental) by various soloist(s) and/or ensemble(s) involving a mixture of classical subgenres. Albums entered here may not be entered in other classical album categories, but tracks from these albums may potentially be entered in other classical categories. Certain classical crossover albums may also be eligible here.
Additionally, the Best Small Ensemble Performance category has been renamed Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance.
Jazz Field Best Latin Jazz Album is for vocal or instrumental albums containing at least 51 percent playing time of newly recorded material. The intent of this category is to recognize recordings that represent the blending of jazz with Latin, Iberian-American, Brazilian, and Argentinean tango music.

Latin Field Best Latin Pop, Rock Or Urban Album has been split into two categories: Best Latin Pop Album and Best Latin Rock, Urban Or Alternative Album. Best Latin Pop Album is for albums containing at least 51 percent playing time of new vocal or instrumental Latin pop recordings. Best Latin Rock, Urban Or Alternative Album is for albums containing at least 51 percent playing time of new vocal or instrumental Latin rock, urban or alternative recordings.
Best Banda Or Norteno Album and Best Regional Mexican Or Tejano Album are now merged into one category: Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano), for albums containing at least 51 percent playing time of new vocal or instrumental regional Mexican (banda, norteno, corridos, gruperos, mariachi, ranchera, and Tejano) recordings.
R&B Field Best Urban Contemporary Album is for albums containing 51 percent playing time of newly recorded contemporary vocal tracks derivative of R&B. This category is intended for artists whose music includes the more contemporary elements of R&B and may incorporate production elements found in urban pop, urban europop, urban rock, and urban alternative.
Also, mastering engineers will now be considered nominees and award recipients in the Record Of The Year category.

Additionally, a Music Educator Of The Year award has been established and will be first presented at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony (Lifetime Achievement Awards, Trustee Awards, Technical GRAMMY) during GRAMMY Week beginning with the 56th GRAMMY Awards in 2014. A joint partnership and presentation of The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation®, this special award will recognize current educators (K – college, public and private schools) who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools.

The eligibility year for the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards is Oct. 1, 2011, to Sept. 30, 2012. The submissions process for the 55th GRAMMY Awards begins on July 2, 2012, and will be followed by various Academy Screening Committee meetings later this year. Nominations for the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be announced as part of "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night®," a one-hour special that sets the stage for the annual GRAMMY Awards telecast with nominations announced in several categories and performances by past GRAMMY winners and/or nominees. This year's nominations special will be broadcast live on CBS on Wed., Dec. 5, 2012.

The Recording Academy, organized in 1957 is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture.