Emerging Artist Spotlight | Tamila Salimdjanova

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!

A native of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Tamila Salimdjanova received widespread recognition after winning the first prize as well as the audience award at BNDES International Piano competition in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Her other awards include top prizes at the Birmingham international piano competition (UK), Massarosa international piano competition (Italy), Lagny-sur-Marne international piano competition (France), Animato international piano competition (France), Campillos international piano competition (Spain), and Virtualoso Piano Cleveland. She was also a semifinalist at the Arthur Rubinstein (Israel), Leeds (UK), and Montreal international piano competitions.

Ms. Salimdjanova’s solo engagements have included recitals at the Radio France Festival in Montpellier, Festival Pianos-Folies du Touquet (France), Casalmaggiore Music Festival (Italy), and Festival de Inverno Campos do Jordao (Brazil), plus appearances in Bern Casino, Basel Casino, Salle Cortot, the Steinway Halls of Hamburg and London, St. Martin in the Fields, and Teatro Municipal de Rio de Janeiro. She has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, Orquestra Experimental de Repertório, Orquestra Sinfonica da Bahia, Morocco Philharmonic, and Thames Chamber Orchestra.

After completing her studies at the Moscow State Conservatory, Ms. Salimdjanova entered the Royal College of Music in London and also studied in Bern University of the Arts in Switzerland. In 2024, she received her Doctoral of Musical Arts Degree from Northwestern University.

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

When did you fall in love with classical music?

So, I started playing piano at the age of 7 because I’m coming from the musical family. My mom just brought me to the school because she was working there, and she wanted me to be close to her. My grandfather was established conductor in Uzbekistan and actually made an orchestral debut with him playing solo concerto.

What brought you to Chicago?

I studied in the UK, in London, in the Royal College of Music. And then during the pandemic years, I spend my time in Switzerland. And after that I moved to the United States because I was always wanting to try the opportunities here. And I graduated from Northwestern University with my doctoral degree last June.

What would releasing an album of Cedille Records mean to you?

Yeah, So I was thinking for a long time already to release my debut album, but there were several challenges on the way. It’s a big investment for young people right like me to find a label who is looking for the emerging fresh artists rather than choosing the big commercial names. It’s very difficult nowadays. So I think Cedille is the very unique platform.

Tell us about the album you would like to create with Cedille Records.

I was thinking for a long time already to release my debut album, but there were several challenges on the way. It’s a big investment for young people right like me to find a label who is looking for the emerging fresh artists rather than choosing the big commercial names. It’s very difficult nowadays. So I think Sergio is the very unique platform. So, in my potential album I wanted to explore the power of miniature form in in music, and it will be centered around three composers which inspired me and for me as an artist, Schumann, Kurtág, Hungarian living composer and Brahms. I would say this is a reflection on all human emotions and all human experiences such as love, life, loss or even it’s quite acceptance of mortality.