On Monday evening at the Microsoft Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, the 2016 Grammys were held, with the award for Best World Music Album going to Angelique Kidjo's SINGS, featuring the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra with Gast Waltzing conducting, and recorded entirely in Luxembourg.

In her acceptance speech, Angélique Kidjo stated "I want to dedicate this Grammy to all the traditional musicians in Africa, in my country, and all the young generation, the new African music, vibrant, joyful music that comes from my continent that you have to get yourself to discover. Africa is on the rise. Africa is positive. Africa is joyful. Let's get together and be one through music and say no to hate and violence through music. Thank you."

SINGS is a musical collaboration between American/West African singer-songerwriter Angélique Kidjo and Luxembourg trumpeter and composer Gast Waltzing. Arranged entirely by Gast Waltzing and recorded in Luxembourg with the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Waltzing himself, won the 'World Music' Category at the 2016 Grammy Awards. This marks the first time that a production recorded in the Grand Duchy and arranged by a Luxembourgish artist has been nominated for, and has won, the biggest music award in the world.

Kidjo and Waltzing first tasted Grammy success together in 2014, with the album 'EVE', featuring a song arranged by Gast Waltzing, winning 'Best World Music Album' and debuting at number one in the Billboard World Music chart. 'SINGS' is comrpised of orchestral versions of nine songs from previous albums produced by Angélique Kidjo, as well as two original songs entitled 'Nanae' and 'Otishe'.

A celebrated Luxembourg trumpeter and composer, Gast Waltzing has instigated several jazz projects including Largo and the Luxembourg National Jazz Orchestra, as well as composed music for films and television programmes. He has previously won 'Best Composer' at the 1989 European Film Awards with 'A Wopbobaloobop a Lopbamboom'; the Deutscher Filmpreis (Musik) in 1997; and the 2005 Lëtzebuerger Filmpräis for 'George and the Dragon'.

SINGS was nominated alongside Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Anoushka Shankar, Zomba Prison Project and Gilberto Gil.