Nicolet High School Alum Takes Home 2 Grammys As Composer For ‘La La Land’

A former Milwaukee area resident took home a couple of Grammys from Sunday night’s award ceremony.

Nicolet High School graduate Justin Hurwitz won two Grammys for his work as composer on the acclaimed musical “La La Land.”

Hurwitz was nominated for four Grammys this year, winning best compilation soundtrack for visual media and best score soundtrack for visual media.

Hurwitz won the best original score for “La La Land” at last year’s Golden Globe Awards.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a number of other artists with Wisconsin connections were nominated.

Blanton Alspaugh’s work with the Florentine Opera and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra earned him a nomination for classical producer of the year. He was also nominated in the best surround sound album category.

Kenosha native and actor Mark Ruffalo was nominated for best spoken word album. He appeared on U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ audio book “Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In.”

Musician and Milwaukee native Danny Gokey’s album “Rise” was nominated for best Christian music album.

And the group Sylvan Esso, whose members met at the Cactus Club in Milwaukee, was nominated for best dance/electronic album.