Darlene Koldenhoven’s A Grand Memoir Garners Multiple International Music Awards

GRAMMY® Award-winning artist’s latest solo piano project earns honors across classical crossover, easy listening, and spoken-word categories

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, September 17, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Darlene Koldenhoven’s latest creative project, A Grand Memoir, is quickly becoming one of the artist’s most decorated releases, earning awards and recognition from music organizations in the United States and internationally.

Most recently, Koldenhoven received five honors at the 2026 Indie Music Channel Awards on September 6, including Best Easy Listening Songwriter for “Jacaranda Joy,” and Best Easy Listening Female Artist for “Le Petit Carrousel” from the album. The recognition highlights the breadth of A Grand Memoir, which extends beyond Koldenhoven’s original piano compositions and performance to encompass her book’s audiobook version: Put Your Dress Down and Sing – A Memoir, where the piano music is used as underscore: Best Spoken Word Producer, Best Spoken Word Artist, and Best Spoken Word Recording, creating a unique connection between album and memoir beyond its original inspiration.

The Indie Music Channel Awards honors join an already impressive collection of accolades for the project. Among its additional awards and recognitions, A Grand Memoir has received:

• Best Classical Crossover Album from LIT Music Awards, London.
• Best of Pangea — Classical Crossover for “Impressions” from the Intercontinental Music Awards
• Best Classical Crossover Album from Clouzine International Music Awards
• Three European International Music Awards: Best Contemporary Classical Album – Gold, Best Classical Solo Piano Single – Gold, Best New Age Solo Piano Single – Silver
• Best Classical Crossover Album – Silver from the Global Music Awards

The album has also earned finalist and nomination recognition from additional music organizations, including the Creativity Awards (winners to be announced), World Entertainment Awards (winners announced Feb. 6), Intercontinental Music Awards, Elite Music Awards, and two European International Music Awards, further expanding its reach across the independent music community.

A Grand Memoir is Koldenhoven’s third solo piano album and fourteenth release on her TimeArt^® Recordings label. The album features ten original New Age–Classical Crossover compositions, including one improvisation, with pieces ranging from relaxing and reflective to energetic and uplifting.

The project was inspired by Koldenhoven’s book, ebook, and audiobook, Put Your Dress Down and Sing: A Memoir. While writing the memoir, Koldenhoven began experiencing dreams filled with music that would eventually become the compositions featured on A Grand Memoir. She recorded the album live on January 22, 2026, performing on a one-hundred-year-old Golden Era Steinway Model L Grand Piano with its original strings and ivory keys. The instrument had been entrusted to Koldenhoven’s care by the family of its original owner, a concert pianist.

Critics have also taken notice of the album. Early reviews have praised Koldenhoven’s expressive piano performances, emotional depth, and sophisticated blend of classical crossover and New Age influences, with reviewers calling attention to the album’s ability to transform personal experiences into music.

Koldenhoven is a GRAMMY^® Award winner with three GRAMMY^® nominations and is known worldwide for her featured soprano solo in Yanni, Live at the Acropolis and for appearing as the tambourine-wielding choir nun of Whoopi Goldberg’s choir nuns in both Sister Act films. Her previous solo piano albums, The Grand Piano Spa and The Grand Piano Spa: Legacy, debuted at No. 4 and No. 8, respectively, on the Billboard Classical Crossover Charts in 2021. She was also the first inductee into the Indie Music Hall of Fame and has received multiple Lifetime Achievement, “Best” and “Album of the Year” awards.

With recognition spanning classical crossover, easy listening, new age, and spoken word, A Grand Memoir demonstrates the versatility of Koldenhoven’s work as a composer, pianist, vocalist, and spoken-word artist while continuing to introduce her music to new audiences.

A Grand Memoir is available on major music streaming platforms, with CDs and sheet music also available through Koldenhoven’s website.

For more information about Darlene Koldenhoven, A Grand Memoir, her memoir, reviews and upcoming appearances, visit DarleneKoldenhoven.com and check the Upcoming Appearances page for her latest schedule.

Bruce Wawrzyniak
Now Hear This, Inc.
+1 813-854-8000
bruce@now-hear-this.net
Visit us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
TikTok
X
Other
LinkedIn

Le Petit Carrousel

Media gallery