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A visual history · Grammys

The winners who defined Instr. Arrangement.

63 ceremonies, 1963–2025. 42 different winners. The longest run belongs to Herb Alpert, with 2 straight wins.

Who won most recently?
Jacob Collier, Tori Kelly and John Legend in 2025 for Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Who has won the most?
Dave Grusin, 5 wins (1984, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995).
  1. Bridge Over Troubled WaterJacob Collier, Tori Kelly and John Legend
  2. Folsom Prison BluesJohn Carter Cash, Tommy Emmanuel, Markus Illko, Janet Robin and Roberto Luis Rodriguez
  3. Scrapple from the AppleJohn Beasley
  4. Meta Knight's Revenge from Kirby SuperstarCharlie Rosen and Jake Silverman
  5. Donna LeeJohn Beasley
  6. Moon RiverJacob Collier
Years explored
1963–2025
Different winners
42
Category leader
Dave Grusin · 5
About this record

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella was first awarded in 1963, so it does not run the full 1959–2025 window.

It was previously known as Best Instrumental Arrangement.

It took its current name in 2015, when a cappella vocal arrangements became eligible, and the trophy goes to the arranger rather than to a label.

2000–2025

26 ceremonies

19632025

01 / The reigns

Ben Bram, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan, Kirstin Maldonado and Kevin Olusola set the longest run.

The timeline turns the 2000–2025 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited label.

  1. 01
    Gordon Goodwin3 wins
  2. 02
    Ben Bram, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan, Kirstin Maldonado and Kevin Olusola2 wins
  3. 03
    Chick Corea2 wins
  4. 04
    Jacob Collier2 wins
  5. 05
    John Beasley2 wins
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by label; hover for details.
Don Sebesky'00
Chick Corea'01
Béla Fleck and Edgar Meyer'02
Thomas Newman'03
Michael Brecker and Gil Goldstein'04
Slide Hampton'05
Gordon Goodwin'06
Chick Corea'07
Vince Mendoza'08
Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman'09
Bill Cunliffe'10
Vince Mendoza'11
Gordon Goodwin'12
Gil Evans'13
Gordon Goodwin'14
Daft Punk'15–'16×2
Jacob Collier'17
John Williams'18
John Daversa'19
Jacob Collier'20
John Beasley'21
Charlie Rosen and Jake Silverman'22
John Beasley'23
Folsom Prison Blues'24
Jacob Collier, Tori Kelly and John Legend'25

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

Sony leads the recorded label credits with 2 wins, 2000–2025. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

Sony2 wins
Universal2 wins
Walt Disney2 wins
EmArcy1 win
Hajanga1 win
Stretch1 win
Wins by label
  1. Sony222%
  2. Universal222%
  3. Walt Disney222%
  4. EmArcy111%
  5. Hajanga111%
  6. Stretch111%

17 further wins have no label on record and are not counted in the 9 above.

17 of these 26 wins have no label on record, so the chart covers the other 9.

03 / The near misses

The names that kept coming back without the ending they wanted.

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2025.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    Jim McNeely
    4 noms
  2. 02
    Jorge Calandrelli
    4 noms
  3. 03
    Chris Walden
    3 noms
  4. 04
    Frank Macchia
    3 noms
  5. 05
    Gil Goldstein
    3 noms
  6. 06
    Armand Hutton
    2 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    Gordon Goodwin
    6L · 3W
  2. 02
    Jim McNeely
    4L · 0W
  3. 03
    Jorge Calandrelli
    4L · 0W
  4. 04
    Chris Walden
    3L · 0W
  5. 05
    Frank Macchia
    3L · 0W
  6. 06
    Gil Goldstein
    3L · 0W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2000–2025. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

YearWinnerLabel
2025Jacob Collier, Tori Kelly and John Legend (Bridge Over Troubled Water)
beat 4 others
  • Erin Bentlage, Alexander Lloyd Blake, Scott Hoying, A. J. Sealy and Amanda Taylor (Rose Without the Thorns)
  • Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnnaye Kendrick and Amanda Taylor (Silent Night)
  • Béla Fleck and Ferde Grofé (Rhapsody in Blue(grass))
  • Michael League (Baby Elephant Walk – Encore)
Hajanga
2024John Carter Cash, Tommy Emmanuel, Markus Illko, Janet Robin and Roberto Luis Rodriguez (Folsom Prison Blues)
beat 4 others
  • Esin Aydingoz, Chris Bacon and Alana Da Fonseca (Paint It Black)
  • Hilario Durán (I Remember Mingus)
  • Ludwig Göransson (Can You Hear the Music)
  • Nkosilathi Emmanuel Sibanda (Angels We Have Heard on High)
Not credited
2023John Beasley (Scrapple from the Apple)
beat 4 others
  • Matt Cusson (How Deep Is Your Love)
  • Danny Elfman (Main Titles (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness))
  • Armand Hutton (As Days Go By (An Arrangement of the Family Matters Theme Song))
  • Remy Le Boeuf (Minnesota, WI)
Not credited
2022Charlie Rosen and Jake Silverman (Meta Knight's Revenge from Kirby Superstar)
beat 4 others
  • Emile Mosseri (Infinite Love)
  • Bill O'Connell (Chopsticks)
  • Gabriela Quintero and Rodrigo Sanchez (The Struggle Within)
  • Robin Smith (For the Love of a Princess (from Braveheart))
Not credited
2021John Beasley (Donna Lee)
beat 4 others
  • Alvin Chea and Jarrett Johnson (Lift Every Voice and Sing)
  • Hildur Guðnadóttir (Bathroom Dance)
  • Remy Le Boeuf (Honeymooners)
  • Jeremy Levy (Uranus: The Magician)
Not credited
2020Jacob Collier (Moon River)
beat 4 others
  • Kris Bowers (Blue Skies)
  • Vince Mendoza (Love, A Beautiful Force)
  • Emilio Solla (La Novena)
  • John Williams (Hedwig's Theme)
Not credited
2019John Daversa (Stars and Stripes Forever)
beat 4 others
  • Alexandre Desplat (The Shape of Water)
  • Mark Kibble (Change the World)
  • John Powell (Madrid Finale)
  • Randy Waldman and Justin Wilson (Batman Theme (TV))
Not credited
2018John Williams (Escapades for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra from Catch Me If You Can)
beat 4 others
  • John Beasley (Ugly Beauty/Pannonica)
  • Chuck Owen (All Hat, No Saddle)
  • Nate Smith (Home Free (For Peter Joe))
  • Chris Walden (White Christmas)
Not credited
2017Jacob Collier (You and I)
beat 5 others
  • John Beasley (Ask Me Now)
  • John Daversa (Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds)
  • Christian Jacob (Linus & Lucy)
  • Ted Nash (We Three Kings)
  • Sammy Nestico (Good 'Swing' Wenceslas)
Not credited
2016Ben Bram, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan, Kirstin Maldonado and Kevin Olusola (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Paul Allen, Troy Hayes, Dwight Streets Levens, Evin Martin and J Moss (Bruno Mars)
  • John Fedchock (You and the Night and the Music)
  • Armand Hutton (Do You Hear What I Hear?)
  • Bob James (Ghost of a Chance)
RCA
2015Ben Bram, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan, Kirstin Maldonado and Kevin Olusola (Daft Punk)
beat 4 others
  • Gordon Goodwin (Get Smart)
  • Pete McGuinness (Beautiful Dreamer)
  • Alfredo Rodriguez (Guantanamera)
  • Chris Walden (Moon River)
RCA
2014Gordon Goodwin (On Green Dolphin Street)
beat 4 others
  • Gil Goldstein (Wild Beauty)
  • Chuck Owen (Side Hikes - A Ridge Away)
  • Kim Richmond (Invitation)
  • Nan Schwartz (Skylark)
Not credited
2013Gil Evans (How About You)
beat 4 others
  • Gordon Goodwin (Salt Peanuts! (Mani Salado))
  • Wally Minko (A Night in Tunisia (Actually an Entire Weekend!))
  • Bob Mintzer (Irrequieto)
  • Michael Philip Mossman (Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite for Ellington)
Not credited
2012Gordon Goodwin (Rhapsody in Blue)
beat 4 others
  • Bob Brookmeyer (Nasty Dance)
  • Clare Fischer (In the Beginning)
  • Carlos Franzetti (Song Without Words)
  • Peter Jensen (All or Nothing at All)
Not credited
2011Vince Mendoza (Carlos)
beat 4 others
  • Gil Goldstein (Itsbynne Reel)
  • Frank Macchia (Skip to My Lou)
  • Ted Nash (Monet)
  • Patrick Williams (Fanfare for a New Day)
EmArcy
2010Bill Cunliffe (West Side Story Medley)
beat 4 others
  • Michael Giacchino and Tim Simonec (Up with End Credits)
  • Jeremy Lubbock (Emmanuel)
  • Vince Mendoza (Hope)
  • Vince Mendoza (Slings and Arrows)
Not credited
2009Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman (Define Dancing)
beat 4 others
  • Michael Abene (Duke Ellington's Sound of Love)
  • Robert E. Brookmeyer (St. Louis Blues)
  • Gordon Goodwin (Yesterdays)
  • Frank Macchia (Down in the Valley)
Walt Disney
2008Vince Mendoza (In a Silent Way)
beat 4 others
  • Harry Connick Jr. (Ash Wednesday)
  • Gordon Goodwin (Yo Tannenbaum (from Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas))
  • Frank Macchia (Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair)
  • Steve Wiest (Besame Mucho)
Not credited
2007Chick Corea (Three Ghouls)unverified
beat 4 others
  • Gil Goldstein (Three Women)
  • Gordon Goodwin (Attack of the Killer Tomatoes)
  • Jim McNeely (Up from the Skies)
  • Patrick Williams (Tom & Eddie)
Stretch
2006Gordon Goodwin (The Incredits)
beat 4 others
  • Billy Childs (Scarborough Faire)
  • John Clayton (Lullaby of the Leaves)
  • Bill Cunliffe (Do It Again)
  • Chris Walden (Cherokee)
Walt Disney
2005Slide Hampton (Past Present & Future)unverified
beat 4 others
  • Jorge Calandrelli (Libertango)
  • Chick Corea (The Long Passage)
  • Phil Kelly (Bella Luce)
  • Jim McNeely (Sing, Sing, Sing)
Not credited
2004Michael Brecker and Gil Goldstein (Timbuktu)
beat 4 others
  • Jorge Calandrelli (Oblivion)
  • John Fedchock (Caribbean Fire Dance)
  • Rob McConnell (Autumn in New York)
  • Jim McNeely (Black Holes)
Verve
2003Thomas Newman (Six Feet Under Title Theme)
beat 4 others
  • David Balakrishnan (You've Changed)
  • Bill Cunliffe (Angel Eyes)
  • Carlos Franzetti (Plaza Oscura)
  • Sammy Nestico (Kiji Takes a Ride)
Universal
2002Béla Fleck and Edgar Meyer (Debussy: Doctor Gradus Ad Parnassum)
beat 4 others
  • George S. Clinton and Quincy Jones (Soul Bossa Nova)
  • Bob Florence (Take the "A" Train)
  • Gonzalo Rubalcaba (En la Orilla del Mundo (At the Edge of the World))
  • Lalo Schifrin (Scheherazade Fantasy)
Not credited
2001Chick Corea (Spain for Sextet & Orchestra)
beat 4 others
  • Jorge Calandrelli (The Summer Knows/Estate)
  • Gordon Goodwin (Bach 2 Part Invention in D Minor)
  • Paul McCandless (Round Robin)
  • Jim McNeely (Nice Work If You Can Get It)
Not credited
2000Don Sebesky (Chelsea Bridge)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Jorge Calandrelli (Chelsea Bridge)
  • Dori Caymmi and Tom Scott (Pink Panther)
  • Lalo Schifrin (Fiesta)
  • John Williams (Stella by Starlight (from The Uninvited))
Not credited