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Preserving Voices, Sharing Legacies
Cedille Records is delighted to share a meaningful new release supported by the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Fund for Vocal Recordings: Chicago Composer Patrice Michaels‘ digital single, On the Joys of Recorded Music. Performed by soprano Alisa Jordheim and pianist Kuang-Hao Huang, the work sets a witty and heartfelt 1999 letter from Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter to Cedille founder and President (and son of Justice Ginsburg) Jim Ginsburg.
In his letter, Justice Souter reflects on the power of recorded music to capture artistic expression and preserve it beyond the fleeting moment of live performance. Michaels’ setting brings warmth and lyricism to his words, creating a tribute not only to the art of recording, but to its profound cultural importance. Michaels composed the song in 2017 and originally planned it for inclusion in her THE LONG VIEW song cycle — the centerpiece of her Notorious RBG in Song album, inspired by the life and legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The “new” song now serves as an addendum to that landmark recording.
In less than four years, the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Fund has already supported nine Cedille releases preserving the artistry of extraordinary singers.
The impact of this work is especially significant for singers. Unlike instrumentalists, whose instruments may endure for centuries, vocalists carry their artistry within their own bodies. Their careers are shaped by time and the natural evolution of the voice. Recordings, therefore, are essential: they preserve the unique beauty, individuality, and interpretive insight of a singer at particular moments in their artistic life.
Through the RBG Fund, Cedille continues to ensure that these voices are not lost, but instead shared widely and preserved for future generations. We are deeply grateful to the donors whose generosity sustains this work and invite you to experience these sparkling new additions to Cedille’s catalog. For more information or to support the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Fund for Vocal Recordings, visit this page.
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.