The University of Richmond’s ensemble-in-residence, eighth blackbird, is up for three Grammy nominations for its album “strange imaginary animals.”

The album — the group’s fourth for Chicago-based Cedille Records — is nominated for: Best Chamber Music Performance; Best Classical Contemporary Composition for “Zaka,” the album’s first track, written by Jennifer Higdon; and Best Producer of the Year, Classical, for Judith Sherman, the album’s producer.

Albert plays violin and viola for the sextet. The group’s other members are: Tim Munro, flute; Michael J. Maccaferri, clarinet; Nicholas Photinos, cello; Matthew Duvall, percussion; and Lisa Kaplan, piano.

In a telephone interview from Chicago, where he lives, Albert said the Grammy nominations were “a huge, huge surprise. We’re thrilled and honored.”

Kudos to The Winchester Star who not only picked up the story, but also provided links at the end of the story to the eighth blackbird website, and a link on where to get Grammy results when they are announced. Exactly what our local news should be doing when they publish an online article.