Professor Robert Aldridge of Montclair State University’s John J. Cali School of Music received the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition at the 54^th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony held February 12 in Los Angeles. He was awarded the Grammy for his opera, Elmer Gantry, along with librettist Herschel Garfein.

Additionally, the CD of the opera, “Aldridge: Elmer Gantry,” won the Grammy for Best Engineered Album, Classical. The CD’s producer, Blanton Alspaugh, had received a Grammy nomination for Producer of the Year, Classical, but did not win in that category.

“On behalf of the entire John J. Cali School of Music, we congratulate Bob Aldridge on this extraordinary achievement,” said Robert Cart, director of the John J. Cali School of Music. “Winning the Grammy for Best Contemporary Classical Composition is yet another achievement for this acclaimed opera and we are extremely thrilled for Bob and Herschel that Elmer Gantry has been honored with this award.”

A Peak Performances commission, Elmer Gantry had its world premiere in Nashville in 2007 and its east coast premiere at Montclair State in 2008 to glowing reviews. The Grammy Award-winning 2.5-hour CD features the Florentine Opera Chorus, the Florentine Opera Company, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

For a full list of Grammy winners, go to grammy.com.

Read more about Aldridge's Grammy Awards experience at Montclair State News.

Read articles about the Grammy win in The Star-Ledger and The Montclair Times.