Miami Group Up For Two Grammys

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – While most people watching the 2012 Grammy Awards on CBS4 will be cheering for their favorite pop, rock or country star, several South Florida families will be cheering for their hometown nomination.

Founded in 2002 by Patrick Quigley, Seraphic Fire received its first ever nominations in two categories; Best Choral Performance and Best Small Ensemble Performance.

Quigley recalls shortly after he formed the adventurous classical musical group he got a call Shakira's representatives who were looking for the sound of classical choral for her new album, according to the Sun-Sentinel. Quigley said the group was recorded at the Church of the Epiphany in Miami, where he used to work as a music director. The results can be heard on the singer's platinum selling album "Oral Fixation Vol. 2" which reached the top of the Billboard pop chart.

In 2007, Seraphic Fire was awarded a Knight Foundation grant for the formation of the Firebird Chamber Orchestra, which made its debut in 2008. Seraphic Fire currently performs full seasons in several South Florida venues including Coral Gables, Miami Beach, Key Biscayne and Ft. Lauderdale.

Their August 2010 recording "Claudio Monteverdi: Vespers of the Blessed Virgin 1610" became an Internet phenomenon and hit No. 6 on the iTunes classical music chart.

The Sun-Sentinel contributed to this report