Violinist James Ehnes cheers Grammy win from grocery store parking lot

When one of the world's best violinists won a Grammy on Sunday, the closest thing toapplause wasthe clatter of shopping carts.

JamesEhnes, from Brandon, Man., but now living in Florida, was watching a live streamof the moment whilein the parking lot of his neighbourhood grocery store.

"Really glamorous, right?" he said in an interview Monday.

The 43-year-old, who travels widely for performances,had just arrived home from Spain the night before the 2019 Grammys were presented on the other side of the continent, in Los Angeles.

"There was just no way to get out to L.A. for the ceremony. I looked at trying to fly out there, but it would have been kind of ridiculous [cost-wise]," Ehnes said, before pausing to laugh and add, "I would have tried harder if I knew I was going to win."

Ehneswon best classical instrumental solofor his recording of Aaron JayKernis' Violin Concerto.It was his second career Grammy win, the other coming in 2008.

"It's really exciting. This is a project that was really close to my heart, the chance to get to premiere a new piece of music," Ehnes said about the piece, which was commissioned by the Seattle Symphony.

Kernisalso won the Grammyfor best contemporary classical compositionfor the same work.

Ehnes, who callsKernis"a really good friend," said the two had been trying to put that commission together for about 10 years.

"Finally getting all of the orchestras together and managing to make a recordingthen seeing this recording get this attention, it's just really gratifying."

Being jet-lagged and far from the energy of the Grammy buzz inside L.A.'sStaples Centre, Ehnes' personal celebration was as muted as the moment he heard his name announced.

"This is a little embarrassing. I think I was asleep by 10:30 p.m., but I did have nice bottle of champagne before that," he said.

Bravo to Brandon

Ehnes, who has also won 11Junosand been nominated for another 16, credits Brandonfor helping him achieve his goals in life.

"The support and guidance I got through the School of Music at Brandon University I couldn't have asked for better circumstances," he said.

They really were my family, my extended family. They gave me every opportunity to learn and love the art form.- JamesEhnes

His father was thetrumpet professorthere for many years and Ehnes became close to the faculty at the school.

"They really were my family, my extended family," he said. "They gave me every opportunity to learn and love the art form."

He began violin studies at age four and by age nine, hewas aprotege of noted Canadian violinist Francis Chaplin.

"I didn't have to go away to get top-class instruction. I could be with my family and with my friends," he said. "I feel very lucky and very grateful for that."