Emerging Artist Spotlight | Oliver Talukder

As Cedille approaches the semifinal and final rounds of its Emerging Artist Competition on May 17 and 18, 2025, we’re taking this opportunity to introduce you to the very talented artists participating in this year’s event!

Chicago area-raised oboist Oliver Talukder‘s musical journey began at age 10. His musical prowess has been honed through years of dedication. Oliver currently serves as the Second Oboist in the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra. He has collaborated with ensembles such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Princeton Symphony Orchestra, and Symphony in C.

A product of Chicago’s vibrant music scene, Oliver’s musical foundation was laid during his time in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO), People’s Music School, and Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative (CMPI). At CYSO, he immersed himself in the main orchestra and many supplementary programs, including Chamber Music, the Ambassadors Program, the Chamber Orchestra, and the Social Media Team. With CYSO, he went on a memorable tour of the Baltics, where he played in Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, and St. Petersburg and was a member of the ensemble for the Cedille Records album Winged Creatures, featuring CYSO alumni Anthony and Demarre McGill as soloists.

In summer 2019, Oliver was selected as a member of Carnegie Hall’s prestigious National Youth Orchestra of the USA (NYOUSA). Oliver has received accolades such as the First Prize in the 2022 Midwest Double Reed Society Competition and Outstanding Instrumentalist in the 2024 Sphinx Orchestral Partners Audition Competition.

Learn more about Oliver through the video interview and transcription below.

How were you introduced to music?

Growing up, I was always surrounded by music. Thankfully, my older brothers (hello Ricky and Nicky, shout-out!), they were in school band. So, since the age of four, I was going to their school orchestra concerts, their school band concerts and listening to all the instruments.

Why did you choose the oboe as your primary instrument?

I actually used to hate the oboe because I hated the way it sounded in my brothers’ bands! But, as I grew a little older, as my oldest brother got a little better, he joined the Youth Orchestra and I saw one of his concerts. They played Scheherazade Rimsky-Korsakov and I absolutely fell in love with the sound of the oboe.

Tell us about the concept of your album.

My dream album is an homage to Chicago, and kind of telling my parents’ love story. My parents are immigrants to the US, my mom is from Mexico and my dad is from Bangladesh, and they met each other in Chicago and that’s where they decided to have their family. That’s why I love Chicago so much. Highlighting Mexican composers, South Asian composers, composers based in Chicago, along with any pieces that inspire love.

How will this recording affect your career as an emerging artist?

My hopes in recording an album with Cedille Records would be to establish myself as a unique voice in this music industry and also, again, just to tell my story about growing up in Chicago and how that’s changed my life.