Professor Christie Dashiell Earns Second Consecutive GRAMMY Nomination for We Insist 2025!
By Chad Eric Smith, Director of Marketing & Communications, Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts
Featured Image: Prof. Christie Dashiell
The Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts is proud to celebrate an extraordinary achievement by Professor Christie Dashiell, acclaimed vocalist, composer, and faculty member in the Department of Music. She has earned her second consecutive GRAMMY nomination, this time for her album We Insist 2025! in the category of Best Jazz Vocal Album at the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
This is a moment that reflects not only Christie's rising national profile, but also the artistic excellence rooted in our Jazz Voice program. Her recognition reinforces the power of our faculty to shape, challenge, and inspire our students through their own world-class artistry.
Honoring a Tradition of Excellence
A Washington, DC–born and North Carolina–raised vocalist and composer, Christie Dashiell stands at the musical crossroads of jazz, rhythm and blues, gospel, and soul. Known for her improvisational command and her unmistakably rich, clear tone, she has become one of today’s most sought-after artists—an artist whose work moves between tradition and innovation with ease.
Her musical lineage runs deep. As the third of four children in a profoundly musical family led by jazz bassist and Department of Music Chair Carroll Dashiell Jr., Christie grew up immersed in sound, storytelling, and the expressive forms of the African Diaspora. Singing has been part of her life for as long as she can remember.
A proud Howard alumna, Christie is a graduate of both Howard University and the Manhattan School of Music. While at Howard, she performed with the university’s premier vocal jazz ensemble, Afro-Blue, appearing nationally on NBC’s The Sing-Off and sharpening the artistry that continues to define her work today. She went on to receive major recognition from DownBeat Magazine’s Student Music Awards—earning honors as Outstanding Soloist and Best Vocalist—and was later selected as a semifinalist in the 2015 Thelonious Monk Institute International Vocals Competition, one of the most prestigious competitions in jazz.
Her latest album, We Insist 2025!, continues her exploration of voice, history, and contemporary sound. Its GRAMMY nomination affirms what her students, colleagues, and listeners already know: Christie is a singular artistic force and a beacon of creative excellence at Howard.
A Celebration for the College
Christie’s achievement is a moment of pride for the entire College. It uplifts the work of our Department of Music, strengthens the visibility of CABCoFA’s Jazz Studies program, and demonstrates the profound impact of faculty who are not only educators, but active contributors to the national cultural landscape.
Her second nomination also serves as an inspiring model for our students—an example of what is possible when talent, discipline, and opportunity converge. It exemplifies the best of who we are as a College: a community where research-active faculty, dedicated staff, and gifted students work together to advance the creative traditions of the African Diaspora.
As the GRAMMY Awards approach, we celebrate Professor Dashiell’s continued rise and applaud the excellence she brings to Howard University every day.
Experience Christie Dashiell Live
Before you leave this story, take a moment to experience Christie’s artistry for yourself. In this 2022 performance from CapitalBop’s Artist Residency at Eaton DC, she brings her signature clarity, control, and emotional depth to “Invitation,” arranged in collaboration with Noble Jolley and performed alongside an extraordinary ensemble that includes pianist/keyboardist Allyn Johnson, Director of Jazz Studies, University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and members of her own musical family. It’s a vivid glimpse into the sound world that continues to shape her students and inspire audiences around the country.