Your Generosity Fuels a New Cedille Recording

The morning after dazzling the audience at Soirée Cedille, oboist Oliver Talukder was back at work — this time in the first of three recording session days with pianist Moriah Trenk, capturing the artistry that earned him the top prize in Cedille’s Emerging Artist Competition. Their upcoming album — Oliver’s prize for winning — marks the beginning of his journey as a Cedille recording artist and represents the next exciting step in his growing career.

A product of Chicago’s vibrant music scene, Oliver’s musical foundation was laid during his time in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, People’s Music School, and Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative. With his ability to perform fluently on multiple woodwind instruments, Oliver brings both technical versatility and expressive depth to his music. His engaging stage presence and warmth have quickly made him a favorite among audiences and collaborators alike.

At Soirée Cedille, Oliver’s electrifying performance captivated donors and fellow musicians, earning him a standing ovation and enthusiastic praise. Thanks to the incredible generosity shown that evening, Cedille didn’t just raise enough to cover the costs of Oliver’s recording: we actually exceeded our goal, ensuring continued opportunities for Chicago’s most promising emerging artists.

Oliver’s recording will introduce his artistry to a global audience, providing a professional launchpad that few young musicians experience so early in their careers. It’s a powerful reminder of how Cedille’s mission — and the community that supports it — translates directly into life-changing opportunities for artists at the start of their professional journeys.

Only one recording session remains for the 2026 release. The album will feature a new work, commissioned by Cedille Records, from Oliver’s fellow Curtis student, Delfin Demiray, to be recorded early next year. Oliver’s album draws its intriguing title, “Briefly Gorgeous,” from this new piece, inspired by Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, an epistolary novel addressed to Vuong’s immigrant mother.

We look forward to sharing this special album with you — one that marks a career defining moment with, in Oliver’s words, “themes of love, identity, and home.”