2026 CMA Album of the Year

Chamber Music America (CMA), the national network for small ensemble music professionals, has announced the recipients of its Member-nominated annual awards. Established in 2024, the awards program celebrates artists, advocates, ensembles and organizations whose extraordinary contributions are enriching the chamber music field.  

Distinctively rooted in the small ensemble music community itself, the awards invite nominations from CMA Members in all 50 states, recognizing those who are driving meaningful change, despite not always being reflected in major headlines or garnering mainstream accolades. As the program continues to grow, it has become an increasingly visible national platform for recognizing excellence in the categories of ensembles, commissions, recordings, community impact, collaboration, and advocacy.

Each recipient receives $1,000 and will be honored at the Awards Luncheon on Friday, August 21, during CMA’s 2026 National Conference in Chicago.

“In the past year, we’ve seen daring ensembles, bold new works, and projects with deep impact felt well beyond the concert hall,” says Chamber Music America CEO Kevin Kwan Loucks. “It’s an honor to celebrate just some of the extraordinary achievements of the small ensemble music community, reflecting the diversity, breadth, and dynamism of chamber music. This cohort of recipients, including both artists and organizations, are expanding the boundary of chamber music and are a guiding light for the next generation of artists and leaders.”

These six awardees join previously announced major awardees Takács Quartet (Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award), Imani Winds (Michael Jaffee Visionary Award), and Poiesis Quartet (Cleveland Quartet Award), who will also be fêted during the Conference in Chicago.

See the original announcement here.