The Grammy awards in the classical field honor artists in thirteen different categories. At the 2010 Grammys there were a total of 66 nominations from these 13 categories. The artist with the record number of Grammys won in a lifetime also hails from the Classical field. Sir Georg Solti is the record-holder with 31 Grammy wins. The categories in the classical field are:
- Best Orchestral Performance - The Grammy award for Best Orchestral Performance has been awarded from the very first Grammys in 1959. The Recording Academy has changed the name of this category a few times over the decades.
- Best Classical Vocal Performance - From 1993 till date it has been called Best Classical Vocal Performance. Italian mezzo-soprano opera singer Cecilia Bartoli has been honored the most number of times taking home the award four times.
- Best Opera Recording - Opera is a form of art in which singers and musicians combine text and musical score. Opera is a part of western classical music tradition and is often accompanied by elements of theatre like acting, scenery and costumes.
- Best Choral Performance - Over the years the title of the category has undergone slight changes before it was changed to Best Choral Performance, it was first awarded as Best Classical Performance - Choral (including oratorio) after which it was changed to Best Classical Performance - Choral (other than opera) for the next three years.
- Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra) - From 1967 to 1971 and again in 1987, the award was combined with Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without orchestra) and given out as Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (with or without orchestra).
- Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without orchestra) - From 1967 to 1971 and in 1987 the award was combined with Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra) and jointly awarded as Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (with or without orchestra).
- Best Small Ensemble Performance (with or without conductor) - The Grammy Award introduced the category Best Small Ensemble Performance (with or without conductor) in 1997. The Grammy for Best Chamber Music Performance also included small ensemble performances in 1991.
- Best Chamber Music Performance - The Award was titled Best Classical Performance - Chamber Music (including chamber orchestra) for two years after its introduction in 1959.
- Best Classical Contemporary Composition - Over the years the Recording Academy has made a few changes in the title of the award. It was known as Best Contemporary Classical Composition for the first two years after its introduction.
- Best Classical Album - 1968 saw the only tie for the award between Mahler: Symphony No. 8 (Symphony of a Thousand) performed by various artists & the London Symphony Orchestra and Berg: Wozzeck Pierre Boulez (conductor), Walter Berry, Ingeborg Lasser, Isabel Strauss, Fritz Uhl, Choeur Nationale de Paris & the Orchestra of Paris National Opera.
- Best Classical Crossover Album - The Grammy Awards started handing out awards for the Category Best Classical Crossover Album in 1999. The Turtle Island String Quartet has won the award twice since its inception, once in 2006 and again in 2008.