Remy Le Boeuf, chair of jazz and commercial music and assistant professor at the University of Denver’s (DU) Lamont School of Music, won his first Grammy at the 2026 awards for Best Instrumental Composition. His winning piece, “First Snow,” has ties back to Denver and his accolade encompasses the importance of collaboration and teaching.
Le Boeuf, a six-time nominee, attended the ceremony in person after learning of his nomination back in November. While he has been nominated multiple times throughout his career, this marked his first win.
The category was full of talent. From Steven Schwartz and John Powell who composed Wicked’s “Train to Emerald City,” to Ludwig Göransson, composer of “Why You Here / Before the Sun Went Down” from Sinners, this win was no small feat. Le Boeuf was also joined in competition by his dear friend Miho Hazama, a New York composer originally from Japan, as well as Zain Effendi and Sierra Hull.
When the piece was announced, he was holding hands with his two closest collaborators, Peter Lund Paulsen and vocalist Danielle Wertz from Nordkraft Big Band in Denmark.
During his remarks, Le Boeuf started by acknowledging his twin brother, Pascal Le Boeuf who won a Grammy in the same category just last year. While the brothers joke about friendly competition, Le Boeuf emphasized the importance of their relationship within their careers.
“Pascal is one of the most inspiring figures in my life,” he said. The two continue to motivate one another and are currently collaborating on a new project.
Inspired by Le Boeuf’s memory of the first snow day of 2023 in the Mile High City, “First Snow” began years before its recognition. The composition appears on “Silent Course,” an album created with Denmark’s Nordkraft Big Band.
Rather than using lyrics for this piece, Le Boeuf wrote the vocal part wordlessly.
“I treat the voice like an instrument,” he explained. This allows Wertz’s unique voice to function as another layer within the orchestra.
Le Boeuf reflected on the significance of the piece after the win. “Collaboration is the most meaningful thing,” he said.
This sentiment carried into his acceptance speech, where he described the project as an effort to build bridges.
“Bridges between genres…between the United States and Denmark…and between people, from myself, my listeners, and you all, so let’s keep building bridges,” he said on stage, Grammy in hand.
Since beginning at DU, Le Boeuf has frequently workshopped new pieces with students and credits them as an essential part of the creative process.
“I learn a lot from my students,” he said. He encourages students outside of Lamont to find ways to get involved and engage with live music on and off campus.
On Feb. 23, the Lamont Jazz Orchestra will perform at the Newman Center, featuring four student compositions alongside guest artist Philip Dizack.
As for Le Boeuf, alongside his current project with his brother, he is bringing the Jazz orchestra to Dazzle on May 2 where they will perform the Grammy-winning piece. You can also catch him sooner than that during his March residency at Nocturne, performing in a quartet on March 12, March 19 and March 26.
In a previous interview, Le Boeuf said, “Awards are just awards – they don’t inform anything.” After winning a Grammy, that perspective has not disappeared.
“I can’t help but feel validated by this award,” he said, “but at the same time, I want to stay centered on my music.”
