Celebrating 10 Years of Innovation: ~Nois Marks its Anniversary with a Bold New Album

Since its inception in 2016, Chicago-based ensemble ~Nois has been dedicated to championing new music for saxophone and building community through innovative, inclusive, and exceptional musical experiences. Dubbed the “saxophone quartet du jour” (Musical America), ~Nois has premiered more than 120 works to date.

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, the quartet will release its Cedille debut album, featuring world premiere recordings of works commissioned by the ensemble. Cedille is thrilled to have ~Nois join our ever-growing roster of innovative musicians and ensembles.

~Nois artistic director, Julian Velasco says:

“Recorded media is such an integral part of any musician or ensemble’s legacy and there couldn’t be a better way to commemorate 10 years of ~Nois Quartet than with our upcoming album on Cedille. The group has thrived this past decade thanks to the vibrant and welcoming Chicago music community, and we are proud to be showcasing so much Chicago music on our city’s premier classical music label.”

The album of world premieres’ centerpiece will be Ordinary Time, by internationally renowned composer Nico Muhly. Commissioned by the ensemble, the 12-minute work explores the full sonic capabilities of the saxophone with the masterful sensitivity and finesse for which Muhly is acclaimed. The rest of this celebratory album will feature new and innovative works showcasing a diverse group of composers including Hans Thomalla, Bobby Ge, and Shawn Okpebholo, the Chicago Tribune’s 2024 Chicagoan of the Year in Classical Music and one of Musical America’s Top 30 Professionals of 2023.

Cedille Records first worked with Julian Velasco after his victory in our inaugural, 2021 Emerging Artist Competition, sponsored by the Zell Family Foundation. The competition prize was the opportunity to record and release his debut recording. As with every Cedille mainline album, all recording, production, and promotional expenses were covered by Cedille, thanks to our generous donors. During the process, Julian remarked on the enormity of the opportunity:

“To be able to have something that I can use as not only a statement of my own artistic vision, but also as a way of connecting with other people. This is an opportunity to expand the world that I touch and reach. So in many ways, I think that this is … the beginning of a new era of being able to share my music.”

Since the release of Julian’s album, As We Are in 2022, Cedille has been pleased to watch his solo career flourish. Similarly, we are eager to finish recording this album with ~Nois in 2026, release it in 2027, and help the ensemble reach new heights.