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Grammy Award nomination - Best Contemporary Classical Composition, 2016 "Kip Winger has captured my father's heart and soul. Many have been inspired by Nijinsky in words and dance but no one, until now, in music. Nijinsky was inspired by music he heard and now Kip Winger reminds us of Nijinsky's genius with his work." - Dame Tamara Nijinsky C.F. Kip Winger celebrates the life of dancer and choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky on his debut classical release. Better known as leader of the rock band that bears his name, Winger created a musical tribute to the artistry of Nijinsky, the centrepiece of this programme which includes his ballet Ghosts and closes with the chamber piece A Parting Grace. Performed by the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra with Martin West conducting and recorded by Grammy-winning engineer Leslie Ann Jones, Winger's world premiere declares loudly and clearly that, while he may be a rocker, he is also a force to be reckoned with as a classical composer. Winger's transition to classical was no overnight decision: he dug deep into the process, studying ear training and composition with prominent teachers Richard Danielpour, Michael Kurek and Richard Hermann. "I think (Winger) does feel like he has something to prove. I personally don't think he has anything to prove. For him, I think he would love to be known as a classical composer of note. That's very difficult for anyone to achieve. But as far as I'm concerned, he is and I'm happy to be his advocate and play his music." - Martin West