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From Chicago, For Chicago: Artists in Collaboration
Following up on his Grammy-nominated Cedille full-album debut, Songs in Flight, composer Shawn Okpebholo brings together some of Chicago’s most accomplished musicians (and Cedille artists) for a new album of chamber works. The project highlights the strong relationships and shared creativity that define the city’s music community, with many of the artists collaborating as longtime friends and partners.
Each piece is inspired by Chicago — its history, its neighborhoods, and its cultural institutions. From reflections on redlining, to the Chicago River, to a tribute to WFMT, the music connects deeply to the city and the people who shape it.
Cedille is proud to help foster these collaborations. By bringing artists together and supporting their work, Cedille plays an important role in strengthening Chicago’s musical community and sharing its distinctive voices with audiences everywhere
Recommended
Commissioned by Cedille Records specially for our 2025 Emerging Artist Competition winner, oboist Oliver Talukder, as a companion for his Briefly Gorgeous album, Powder is a two-track single of Two Songs for voice, oboe/English horn, and piano by Delfin Demiray, who was Talukder’s classmate at the Curtis Institute of Music. The first song features Chicago mezzo, Sophia Maekawa, while Talukder performs the second song’s special effect and extended technique-infused vocal line himself (as an “overdub”), demonstrating yet another facet of his artistry.
Winner of Cedille Records’ 2025 Emerging Artist Competition, Chicago-born oboist Oliver Talukder makes his solo recording debut with Briefly Gorgeous. Joined by pianist Moriah Trenk, Talukder presents an album inspired by themes of identity, love, family, and belonging. Drawing on his Mexican and Bengali heritage and his Chicago upbringing, the program explores where classical music intersects with Latino and South Asian traditions, creating a musical portrait shaped by Talukder’s unique story.
With the new month comes a new featured playlist on Spotify — or, in this case, a refresh of our Artist Debuts on Cedille playlist, originally created in 2022 to celebrate the inaugural album by the first Emerging Artist Competition winner, saxophonist Julian Velasco.
The update is to celebrate oboist Oliver Talukder, winner of Cedille’s second competition, as well as other artists who have made their Cedille debus since 2022. (Oliver’s track will be added on Friday when his album, Briefly Gorgeous, is released.)
Enjoy Cedille’s Weekly Featured Release.