Discover
Mischa Zupko to Release Album of Saxophone Compositions
Mischa Zupko began learning the piano at age three from his father, composer Ramon Zupko. It wasn’t until much later that he realized composing was his true passion. In an article published in the Chicago Reader, Zupko reflected:
It was really almost like an epiphany, that I needed to do this, when I was about 24 years old. And that’s usually the time when [musicians] are getting some headway on their careers. And here I was, trying to figure out where the trumpets were on an orchestral score.
In 1999, Timothy McAllister commissioned Zupko to write a large-scale work for saxophone and piano. The result, In Transit, raised awareness of Zupko’s work throughout the saxophone community. This interest was amplified when legendary saxophonist Fredrick Hemke made In Transit an audition requirement at Northwestern University for many years.
Later this year, Cedille will record From the Skyline — an album featuring commissioned saxophone works performed by saxophonist Timothy McCallister, composer and pianist Mischa Zupko, the Civitas Ensemble, and ~Nois saxophone quartet.
The recording’s title track refers to the Chicago skyline, which Zupko viewed from his 15th-floor condo on Chicago’s Sheridan Road as he composed the piece.
Civitas will offer the premiere recordings of In Sympathy and Anechoic Rhapsody. The ensemble commissioned the latter in 2020 to celebrate its longtime Board President (and current Cedille Board member), Judy McCue. Zupko created a new version to feature alto saxophone (in place of the original clarinet part) for McAllister to join Civitas in this premiere recording. ~Nois will record Quantum Shift, a work it co-commissioned.
Zupko says: “Writing for saxophone has been a continually expanding journey of discovery throughout my life as a composer ever since Timothy McAllister premiered In Transit over 25 years ago. The instrument’s expressive range and the intrepid creativity of saxophonists, an inspiring community of innovators, continue to feed my imagination. This album is a tribute to their bold spirit, the instrument’s rich and inclusive history, and the ever-expanding possibilities of classical music.”
Cedille is eager to release this album in fall 2026.
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.